Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1917 — RUSH INQUEST HELD TODAY [ARTICLE]

RUSH INQUEST HELD TODAY

DR. C. E. JOHNSON HEARS LARGE NUMBER OF WITNESSES AT INQUEST. An inquest was held this Tuesday forenoon in the court room by the county coroner, Dr. C. E. Johnson, and a number of persons who saw the Rush accident at the McKinley avenue railroad crossing Saturday afternoon were examined. Among these were D. E. Grow, Mell Abbott, Madeline Abbott, Perry Washburn, Mark Schroer, Winfred Pullin, Lewis Ott, Lesta Wasson, W. C. Babcock and George Gorham. These facts were developed by the testimony: No. 6, the train that killed Rush, which is due here from the east at 3:31 p. m., was about a half hour late. Both the north and south local freight trains had been switching in thevicinity of the accident just proceeding the arrival of this train. A great many rigs were using the crossing, as it is on one of the main streets used by a great many people coming into and going out of the city, from the north. The gateman, George Gorham, had been very busy on account of the switching of the two local freights. In order that the bell would not ring all the time he had disconnected his electric bell which is used to give warning of approaching trains. When the local freights took siding to let No. 6 come through, the one on the east was about two blocks below McKinley avenue, at which crossing the tower is located. Gorham claims that just a few minutes before the arrival of the passenger train he had looked for it and did not see it.

One of the local freights had backed their cars well on to the McKinley crossing and Gorham was just ready to lower his gates on this account when he saw the unfortunate man and his team upon the main trade and the fast moving passenger train but a few car lengths away. As the man raised in his seat and attempted to pull hit team back, the train hit the team about at the collars and with the result that the man and both horses were killed and the wagon badly demolished. Perry Washburn, who was in his big Indian oil truck, was just back of Rush and saw him run down by the train. He did not hear the train whistle, nor did anyone who testified today. Just as Mr. Washburn approached the track he saw ■ the smoke of the approaching train, and stopped his truck at once. Winfred Pullin had just crossed the track and did not see the passenger train approaching. Mark Schroer had just crossed the track going north and he also failed to notice the Approaching train. The passenger train was stopped as the last coach came upon the crossing. Gorham claims that he had his bell off on instructions from his superiors. He claims that he could not see the coming passenger train on account of the smoke and steam coming from the engine of the freight train which was. on the siding just two blocks below the crossing. He says he did not hear the passenger train whistle. He says that he did not get his gates down until after the accident had happened. The coroner continued the hearing for further evidence and has no| rendered, his verdict.