Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1892 — FOUR MEN KILLED IN A WRECK. [ARTICLE]

FOUR MEN KILLED IN A WRECK.

Negligence of a Switchman Onuses a Fatal Accident In Nebraska. A Grand Island, Neb., dispatch says: At Alda Siding; eight mites west of Grand Island, express train No. 8, going at a speed of forty-live miles an hour, crashed into an extra freight train standing on the switch. The passenger train, which was due here at o o’clock and at Omaha at 10:40, was nearly ono hour and a half late, and, striking the grade west of Alda, Engineer McDonald determined to make some of the time, and pulled the throttle open. The freight engine had been doing considerable switching on the siding. After the work had been completed the engine was comparatively dead at the head of the siding. The morning was foggy, and unmindful of danger and secure m the thought that the switch was properly placed, the engineer and fireman of the extra waited for the passenger tra n to rush by. But the switch had not been olosed ijnd the passenger train brought death to four men find fatally wounded three others through orimlnai negligence of the switch tender. The men killed were: J. W. Keller, conductor of the freight, Grand Island. He leaves a widow and two children. Barney McDonald, engineer of the passenger, North Platte. Leaves a widow, but no children. Gus Barrett, engineer of the freight, North Platte. Leaves a widow and three children. Ira Owens, fireman of the freight, North Platte. Leaves a wife and five children. , The Injured are: William Costella, fireman of the passenger, Grand Island; single; badly spalded; both ankles fractured and will probably dio. Wiliiam Sutherland, brakemnm on the freight, Grand Island; single; caught in wreck and feet broken. A. M. Lyons, mall agent, Kearneyt head wounded analog fractured., „„ j . . /•» No passengers were Injured. Both engines are wrecked, while the mall and baggage cars are badly damaged. Inside of half an hour a relief train from Grand Island was on the Scene with physicians to look after the wounded and all passenger and baggage were transferred from the wreck to the relief train, which reached Omaha at 3 o’clock.