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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1915)
Neb State Historical Soo tte VOL. XXXIV. PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1915. NO. 30. FRIGHTFUL THE MISSOURI PACIFIC Passenger Train Coming Going North Collide Some Three Miles North of Plattsmouth. ENGINEER, FIREMAN The Two Engines Completely Wrecked and Bag gage Car and Several Freight Cars Entirely Demolished. From Friday' nally. This morning at 8:30 a terrible head-on collision occurred on the Mis souri Pacific, northwest of this city, which resulted in the death of En gineer Mike Sherlock and Fireman VV". R. Goodman of passenger train No. 104, and Head Brakeman Wilson of north-hound freight train No. 53, as well as the serious injury of George Cotton, baggageman of the passenger train. The locomotives of both trains were practically demolished and the baggage car of the passenger train was completely torn to pieces when the two locomotives hurled themselves together and were scatteied on both side of the track. The freight crew had received orders at this city to meet the pas senger train at La Platte and were unaware of the approach of the pas senger train until, when coming down the hill toward the crossing of the Burlington, they saw the passenger train coming around the bend and running at a high rate of speed. En gineer Reed of the freight train, look ing from his cab window, saw the passenger approaching, and realizing that a collision could not be avoided, shut down the brakes and calling to Fireman Wyeth to jump, leaped from the cab as the two trains came to gether. In a few seconds from the time the two men jumped the two locomotives met and in an instant were hurled to either side of the track arid practical ly stripping each other, while the baggage car was smashed to splinters within a few minutes, with the result that the contents of the car were scat tered over the remains of the engine of the passenger train, which was torn off of the trucks. The engineer and fireman of the passenger train were killed at their post of duty and their bodies were found lying in the midst of the wreck of their engine and broken and lacer ated in a terribel manner, The fire man, Goodman, was found lying head down from the wreck of the engine cab and had evidently been engaged in putting in coal when the crash came, while the engineer was at his station on the right-hand side of the cab, which probably accounted for his not seeing the approaching freight train until too late, as a grove of trees shut off the view along the track until within a short distance of the spot where the two trains met. The passengers on the train were not any of them seriously injured, al though the cook in the cafe car re ceived rather severe cuts on his right arm from the splintered glass, and a greater part were bruised about the hands and face, as the sudden shock threw them out of their seats in all directions and piled the occupants up in the aisles of the coaches. It was stated by passengers on No. 104 that they had met a freight at La Platte and that the engineer and fire man had understood thz.t it was the freight they were supposed to meet at that place, and at once started at a good rate of speed on to Plattsmouth, and the first intimation of danger was when a number on the right-hand side of the train, glancing out, saw the ap proaching freight. The crew of the passenger train state that the block was not set against them at the cross ing and they were running at a good rate of speed to make the hill leading into this city when the wreck oc curred. The freight train crew had not been WRECK ON South and Freight Train AND BRAKEMAN KILLED exjecting the passenger and the train was proceeding at. a leisurely rate of speed on the down grade, and it is probably due to this fact that there was not more deaths among the pas sengers when the two trains met. The head brakeman, Wilson, was sitting on the seat in the cab of the freight train, and when the trains came to gether was hurled into the midst of the wneckage and was instantly killed. All the dead men reside at Kansas City, where they have families. It was stated that after the wreck that the block was set on the freight train by some of the passengers on No. 104, but if this was set before the wreck occurred it was ignored or over looked by the freight crew, as their train was ten car lengths past the block when the mixup took place. As soon a? the report of the wreck was telephoned in the citizens pro ceeded to the scene of the terrible ac cident and every physician in the city hastened to the scene to volunteer their services to care for the wounded. Cotton, the baggageman, and Mc Coy, a mail clerk, were suffering from the most serious injuries, but these were not dangerous, while the colored cook, with his injured right arm, was looked after. Charles White of Kan sas City suffered a severe bruising and his hands and arms were lacerat ed quite badly. Mrs. Arthur Baker of Murray suffered a severe shaking up and was bruised somewhat about the face. C. L. Stull, who was working in his field near the scene of the wreck, was an eye witness of the collision, and states that as the two locomotives came together they reared high in the air as they met, and descending were reduced to a mere scrap of iron. The tender of the passenger engine was thrown clear of the track on the east side of the right-of-way, while that of the freight engine flew to the left side. There were five freight cars demolish ed in the mix-up, and their contents strewn over the ground for a great distance. ;The wrecking crews were summon ed from Falls City and Omaha, reach ing the scene of the accident shortly after noon, and it will require until to morrrow morning to remove the wreckage and clear the track of the debris of the wrecked cars and the locomotives. A special train was run from Falls City, reaching here about an hour and a half after the accident, to take care of the passengers and remove them from the scejie of the wreck, and on their way to their destination. While the loss of the trainmen is bad enough, it is really fortunate that the death list was not greater and that the passengers escaped prac tically uninjured. The condition of George, Cotton, the injured baggageman, is very serious and he may not recover from the ef fect of his injuries, which seem to be of an internal nature. Mr. Cotton was taken from the midst of the debris of the demolished baggage car, and how he escaped instant death seems strange, as there was not enough of the car left to make a showing, and to the fact of the bag gage car being demolished may be laid the fact that the remaining five cars on the passenger train were not dam aged. The mail clerk on the train suf fered the breaking of the right leg and was taken to the hospital at Oma ha for treatment. Almost all the passengers on the train were bruised ind injured in the wreck by being thrown from their seats, and among these were E. E. Ed wards of Omaha, a salesman for the M. E. Smith Co., who had his right arm sprained in the general mix-up. Coroner J. F. Brendel of Murray was notified of the wreck and came to this city and impanneled the follow ing jury: C. A. Rosencrans, Ben Windham. T. S. Barrows, Lee Nickels II. C. Creamer and W. H. Puis, who viewed-the bodies and took the testi mony of the members of the train crews of both trains, and returning to this city brought in a verdict that the three men came to their death in a wreck caused by passenger train No 104 on the Missouri Pacific leaving the station of La Platte contrary to orders. The three dead men will be prepar ed for burial and the remains sent to their families at Kansas City. FILES SUIT AGAINST RINGLING BROTHERS AT NEBRASKA CITY From Frldav's t)aily. Yesterday while in Nebraska City Attorney Matthew Gering, for Wil liam Rinker of this city, filed an at tachment against the property of the Ringling Brothers circus to cover a damage suit for $25,000 which Mr. Rinker has against the circus com pany for injuries which he alleges were sustained last year in Omaha as the result of a runaway of one of the horses belonging to the defendant ccompany. The representatives of the circus at once signed up a bond for $16,000 for their appearance and the matter will be taken up later in court. Mr. Rinker was injured a year ago when the Ringling shows were in Omaha, when he was standing on the Street watching the parade." of the circus and the accident occurred when one of the horses became frightened and started to run away, and in so doing struck Mr. Rinker down, and his head struck on the curb, and which later caused paralysis, and for several weeks his life was despaired of, but he is now able to be around, but is a permanent cripple as a result of the accident and unable to perform labor of any kind or provide for the care of his family. ANOTHER PATENT ISSUED TO LEE C. SHARP OF THIS CITY From Friday's Dally. A patent issued to Lee C. Sharp of this city has been transferred, accord ing to reports from Washington, to the firm of Bremer & Bruckman of Brunswick, Germany. This is a patent for a forming and soldering machine on which Mr. Sharp has been working for a long time, and its efficiency and usefulness has been recognized by those who have looked the machine over, but it seems that it is to become the property of a foreign country and will be manufactured there. Mr. Sharp has devoted much time to the work ing of the machine, and with his usual skill in this line has turned out a machine that can meet the require ments of the trade, and the new form ing and soldering machine is one that will be found to be a great improve ment over other machines of a similar nature that have been placed on the market. SUIT FOR DIVORCE FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT From Fridays Dally. Yesterday afternoon a suit was filed is the district court entitled Eugene R. Warner vs. Nora Warner, and in which the plaintiff asks that a decree of divorce be granted to him from the defendant. The plaintiff, in his peti tion, states that they were married at Sturgess, S D., April 27, 1908, and that the present residence of the de fendant is unknown, but was last heard of in Montana. The plaintiff is a resident of this city and the charges in the petition is desertion. Paints and 'Phone 36. Oils. Gering & Co. YOUNG COUPLE ARE MARRIED IN FALLS CITY The Groom a Young Man Born and Reared in Cass County and Well Known Here. From Friday's Dally. The following from the Falls City Journal of Wednesday gives an ac count of the wedding of Mr. Maurice McHugh and Miss Angela Mead in that city and will be most interesting, as the groom is a former Plattsmouth boy and was born and brought up in this city, where the news of his mar riage will be very ' pleasing to his friends. Mr. and Mrs McHugh have been spending a part of their honey moon here at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Walling: A very pretty, quiet wedding was celebrated this morning at nine o'clock at St. Peter and Paul's church when Miss Nina Angela Mead, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cass Mead, was married to Mr. Maurice McHugh. The service was read by Father Hoff man. Special musical numbers were sung during the service by Miss Irene Mead, among them the Ava Maria. The bride wore her going away gown, a handsome suit of dark brown broadcloth, with picture hat of white. Miss Margaret McKeiver and Mr. Virgie Johnson attended the bride and groom and the wedding march and special musical program was played by Miss Julia Frederick. After the ceremony a delicious wedding breakfast of five courses was served at the Mead home, 20th and Chase streets. The bridal table was adorned with a wreath, of smilax and white roses and dainty appointments. From the chandelier above a wedding bell of white flowers was suspended and ropes of smilax reached to the corners of the table. The guests were imited to the closest relatives, the friends serving during the ceremony at the church and Father Hoffman. The house was decorated through out in white and green with a pro fusion of cut flowers. Mrs. McHugh was born and reared in this city, w;here she is well known and greatly esteemed by a large cir cle of friends who admire her for her many splendid womanly qualities. Mr. McHugh has lived here for sev eral years and has made a host of friends by his manly, straight-for ward characteristics. The happy couple have the hearty good wishes of their many friends. They left this afternoon for a short visit in Omaha and will return here to make their home, Mr. McHugh having a fine position in the M. P. offices. DAOLY BITTEN BY LAW RENCE STULL'S WATCHDOG From Friday's Dally. This morning while Byron Arries was out at the Stull farm inspecting the wreck he came in contact with a watchdog belonging to C. L. Stull, and as a result Byron received a very severe laceration -on his left leg just above the knee, where the teeth of the dog inflicted quite a nasty wound. It was fortunate that the surgeons from this city were on the ground, and the injury was dressed at once by Dr. E. W. Cook and the young man returned home with a rather sore limb, but it is not thought that the wound will result seriously The dog was watching the horses of Mr. Stull at the time of the accident and was very much annoyed by the large number of people travel ing through the field where he was guarding the property of Mr. Stull. Visitors Come From Union. From Friday's Dally. This morning D. B. Porter, C. L. Graves and W. H. Brown of the Union Ledger motored up from their homes in Mr. Porter's new Overland car to view the wreck, and while here Mr. Porter called at the Journal office, in company with Mr. Brown, and renew ed his subscription to the Semi-Weekly. Mr. Porter has just returned home from Minnesota, where he visited with John Porter, John Snavely and S. W. Copenhaver, formerly Cass county citizens. THAN IN NEBRASKA. There may be homes as dear, But none are dearer, There may be skies as clear, But none are clearer, Than in Nebraska. There may be days as rare, But none are rarer, There may be lands as fair, But none are fairer, Than in Nebraska. There may be skies as blue, But none are bluer, There may be hearts as true, But none are truer, Than in Nebraska. William Reed Dunroy. CHARLES D. GRIMES VISITS OLD FRIENDS IN PLATTSMOUTH From Frldav's Dallv. Charles D. Grimes of Fort Worth, Texas, was in the city for a few hours last evening and this morning visiting with his many old friends and ac quaintances here in the old home. He is en route home from a short vaca tion trip east, in which he visited at New York City, Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago, and while in Cleveland was a guest at the home of Mr. and Mr.?. J. A. Gutsche, where they are now living. Charley is engaged in the l ail road business and this is the first tin-e in three years that he has been able to get up north to see the old hortie, and while the visit here was limited to hours, it was one much enjoyed, and meeting the old acquaintances v.as a most pleasant occasion. JOHN A. GUTSCHE, FORMER CITIZEN, MAK ING GOOD SHOWING From Friday's Daily. . . One of Plattsmouth s lormer citi zens who is making a most notable showine in the big world outside is John A. Gutsche, who was for several ears foreman of the Burlington brass foundry, and for two years mayor of this city. Mr. Gutsche is at present superintendent of foundries of the New York Central lines and has a splendid position, with the full super vision of this line of work, in which he is most proficient. He, with his fam ily, left Plattsmouth thirteen years ago, going to Schenectady, New York, where he remained for some time until the Lake Shore and Michi gangan Southern opened a new foun dry at Collinwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, and he was transferred to that place to take full charge. After declining several offers from private corporations, he was made superin tendent of foundries and placed in charge of all foundries on the system with headquarters at Cleveland. He has built himself an elegant home in the Ohio city and here the family are enjoying themselves in their well de served success, and both Mr. and Mrs. Gutsche are lovers of Cleveland and delighted with their surroundings. Mr. Gutsche's sons-in-law, Messrs. Hugh Roberts and McFadden, with their families, are also living at Cleveland and doing very nicely in their new home. The success of this worthy fam ily will be most pleasing to their friends in this city, and it is to be hoped that they will live long to enjoy their happiness. DEATH OF FORMER LADY RESIDENT OF THIS CITY From Friday's Daily. . Friends in this city have received word of the death of Mrs. Dora Shramm, which occurred September 13th. Mrs. Shramm was a former resi dent of this city and at the time she resided here made her home with Mrs. Peter Mumm on Vine street. Mrs. Shramm was a dressmaker and at the time she resided here was engaged in this work. Those who remember Mrs. Shramm and who knew her at the time she made her home here, will re gret to learn of her death. Read the want ads in the Journal. V.B. WISE, FORMER PLATTSMOUTH PRINT ER, HERE VISITING From Frldvs Dallv. Willard B. Wise of Price, Utah, a former Plattsmouth man, accompanied by his sister, Mrs. Jesse L. Root, of Omaha, was in the city today for a few hours visiting with friends and re newing old acquaintances. This is the first time in several years that Mr. Wise has been here in the old home, where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Wise, made their home for years, and his appearance was the source of much pleasure to his old friends. Mr. Wise is engaged in the newspaper business at Price, and was formerly with W. C. Benfer, also an old Platts mouth newspaper man, there, and is meeting with much success in the new location. Mr. Wise has been east on a trip to Chicago and also at Kansas City with his relatives, and enjoys very much meeting the old familiar faces of those with whom he spent so many happy years. He departed this afternoon for Omaha and will leave from there for his home in the west. While here Mr. Wise was a caller at the Journal office and noted the changes that have occurred since he was one of the force handling the work of this paper. TRESPASSING AC CIDENTS 60 PER CENT OF ALL FATALITIES From Friday's Daily. Accidents to trespassers on rail ways are increasing so much faster than accidents to other persons that in the last six months for which the statistics are available the number of trespassers killed amounted to nearly GO per cent of the total number of persons killed by railways. For the preceding ten years fatalities to tres passers had constituted only 53 per cent of the total. These facts are brought out by the Railway Age Gazette in an analysis of the accident bulletin just issued by the interstate commerce commis sion for January, February and March of this year, together with the bulletin for the preceding quarter. During the same period only two passengers were killed in collisions. In other words, the chances of an accident of this kind were so small that the average passenger could travel continuously at a speed of sixty miles per hour for 16,770 years before meeting death in a collision. LET'S PREPARE FOR A "HOME COMING DAY" NEXT SEASON Since, the report of the amusement committee of the Commercial club a few days ago, giving a total of their receipts and expenditures, there has been turned over to them the sum of $14.20 from the Burlington shop boys, as well as $2 from Dr. Livingston, which, is to be added to the $36.43 bal ance on hand and applied in the work of the committee during the coming season. Now that the cool weather is here and the work of conducting any open air amusements is out of ques tion, it will be a mighty fine time to start in to plan for the work next sea son and to prepare a program of special events for next summer and to fully discuss and determine the prac tical ideas of a home-coming day for the former residents of this city and county. It is well worth considering and the Commercial club and citizens should get busy without delay. Returns From Arkansas. This morning Grovernor Knapp and daughter, Mrs. W. K. Fox, came in from Monticello, Arkansas, where they have been residing on the farm of Mr. napp, near that city and will remain i this city, as Mr. Knapp has rented his farm. They have been in Arkan sas for the past ten months and are well pleased with the country there, but enjoy very much being back in Nebraska. RAYMOND MAUR ER ACCIDENTALLY SHOT AND KILLED While Taking Gun From Boat Trigger Strikes Seat of the Boat and Both Loads Discharged. A tragedy came yesterday to mar the peace of the Sabbath day, when Raymond Maurer was accidentally shot and killed yesterday morning when returning from a hunting trip on the Missouri river. Young Maurer, in company with Harry Forbes, had been out on the river for several hours and shortly after 10 o'clock came in their boat to the landing near the Burlington bridge, where the accident that resulted so seriously took place, and which resulted in the almost in stant death of Maurer. The boys had made their landing all right and Harry was in one end of the boat stooped over adjusting some of the equipment when the accident oc curred, and was not aware of the danger of his companion until the re port of the discharged gun came to his ears. Maurer took hold of the two shotguns by the barrels and started to drag them after him, when the trigger or hammer of his gun caught on the seat of the boat and in an in stant was discharged and the charge from the gun buried itself in the left breast cf the young man, inflicting a fatal wound. As the gun was dis charged the palm of the left hand which was holding the gun barrel was torn off and the discharge, following the left arm, lodged in the breast and tore into the lungs of the young r.ian. As soon as the accident occurred help wts summoned and Raymc.nd hurried to the city, but before they could reach the Burlington station with the injured boy he died from the effect of his injuries and was taken to the Straight undertaking establish ment to be prepared for burial. The ictim of this most regrettable tragedy was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Maurer, who reside south of this city on a farm, and he had spent a greater part of his nine teen years in this locality with the ex ception of a few years in New Mexico, where the family resided on a ranch, and he was a young man to whom hi associates were warmly attached, and to his friends the news of hi death was a most profound frhock, as it came without warning, and in its sharpness was stunning, as he had been so full of life and fun when de parting on the trip.- and to return home cold and still, the victim of the most distressing accident. It is thought that the boy, supposing the guns to be empty, had not watched closely when taking them from the boat, and as a result was caught un awares when the gun poured forth its leaden message of death. Besides the parents the unfortunate young man leaves three brothers, Ed ward, John and Eugene, all of this city, and one sister. Miss Lottie Maurer, of Glenwood, to mourn his untimely death. The funeral services will be held to morrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 2:3 o'clock at the home of his brother, Ed Maurer, in South Park. AID SOCIETY PLEAS ANTLY ENTERTAINED AT CHURCH PARLORS From Friday's Dally. The Ladies' Aid society of the M. E. church and their friends were very pleasantly entertained in the church parlors yesterday afternoon, Mesades Brady being the hostesses on this oc casion. The ladies held their regular business session, at which time various plans and the work of the so ciety were discussed. After the busi ness session the ladies spent- some very happy moments with their fancy work and in conversation. At the pro per time dainty refreshments were provided by the hostesses, which were likewise most thoroughly enjoyed. On their departure the ladies declared the hostesses to be splendid entertainers and were very much indebted to thm for the delightful afternoon.