David, Herbert 1889 - 1918

DAVID

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/12/2024 at 16:52:06

Source: Cresco Plain Dealer Feb. 1, 1918, P5 C6

Fatal Railway Wreck at Calmar.
Calmar was visited early Friday morning at about 2:25 o’clock by a bad railroad wreck, in the yards, this being the second bad wreck in the yards here in a few months. This accident happened in the east end of the yard limits. The yard crew had a string of cars switching, where the yard is only a single track, when an extra freight train came into the yards from the east and collided with the switch engine.
Herbert C. David, who was the fireman on the switch engine was killed instantly his body being horribly mangled, his head being severed from his body, one leg and one arm torn off, and he otherwise badly {illegible} under the wreckage. He was a married man and has one child, his {illegible} at Monona, Iowa. He {illegible} for Robert Eppens and this {illegible} his second night on duty {a large portion of this article is missing}
The engineer and fireman{illegible} freight train both jumped when they realized there would be a crash. H. E. Miller, the engineer, sustained injuries to his back. He has been taken to his home at Austin, Minn.
One of the brakemen on the extra, Joseph H. Lux has a broken leg, and Chris. Norley, fireman on the extra had his face cut some. They were both from Austin, Minn.
Passenger train No. 1 was held up here for several hours, being unable to get by the wreck until the track was cleared of the wreckage and the track repaired. Fortunately the wrecking outfit was near—at Lawler—and brought up soon and put to work. The steam derrick soon cleared the track.
The switch engine was a mas{s} of wreckage in the ditch and the big freight engine was across the track and crushed and twisted out of all shape. Several freight cars were derailed and the track torn up.
It made stout hearts quake to look at the result of the catastrophe.--Calmar Courier.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born March 18, 1889 and died Jan. 25, 1918. He is buried in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Monona, IA.