By TOM WILSON
The Register-Mail <http://galesburg.com>
Posted Dec 08, 2009 @ 10:17 AM
Last update Dec 08, 2009 @ 02:19 PM
On Dec. 10, 1909, a century ago a Burlington Route freight train left
the tracks one mile east of Gilson, resulting in the death of the
engineer, fireman and brakeman. The wreck was reported to be one of the
worst in history of the Burlington Route.
The locomotive and 27 freight cars went over a 15-foot embankment while
going around a curve tearing up the track and road bed for more than a
hundred yards. Roadmaster R.C. Violet testified at the inquest that as a
result of the wreck scene inspection it was determined that the cause
was a broken rail. On the day of the accident five trains had passed
over the rails including a passenger train. It could have been a
previous train that actually broke the rail.
A multitude of startling evidence was revealed during the inquest. The
section foremen Herman W. Brockelhurst who was in charge of the rail
tracks in the accident area testified that during the winter months he
often had only two men to inspect and repair track in a five-mile area
that also included the town of Gilson. He also testified that the
available men were only being paid 15 cents an hour and worked 9-hour
shifts.
One of the first cars to follow the engine down the steep embankment was
loaded with 22 head of fine butcher's cattle from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
When the car was chopped open 15 head of cattle rushed out unharmed, but
badly frightened. Other freight cars contained coal, lime, flour and
cement. Another car contained bottled beer from a St. Louis brewery.
Although the beer car was badly mangled the contents were intact and
rolled out of the car like apples out of a sack. Another remarkable
discovery was that a car loaded with fancy and expensive crockery had
few broken pieces.
Losing their lives in the tragic rail accident were engineer W.P. Burns,
fireman G.C. Hoffman and brakeman H.E. Gibbs. Burns who was 48, was born
in Galesburg and educated in the local public schools. He entered
employment with the C.B.&Q when he was only 15 years old. Hoffman was
originally born in Sweden and moved to the United States when 13 years
old. Gibbs was from Appleton, Ill., where the funeral and burial took
place.
John Sheridan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
CBQ-digest@yahoogroups.com
CBQ-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|