Mathers - JW
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 26 July 1901
An ugly wreck occurred last Friday at three o’clock on the Big Four at Tile Siding, three miles west of the city, in which the head brakeman was killed, and the fireman had his ankle badly sprained. The loss to the road will not be heavy as only one of the seven cars derailed, and this one was full of merchandise.
The exact cause of the accident is not known, but it is supposed that an east bound freight which had orders to take the siding and wait for a west bound train, pushed four coal cars which were on the siding off onto the main track, and the west bound train, going at full speed, ran into them. Seven cars, five box cars and two of the coal cars were piled up in a delightful confusion.
A peculiar thing about the affair was the manner in which the cars were strewn across the track. The five box cars are lying at right angles with the track and about half and half over each side. The engine was left in a nearly upright position, with both sets of drive wheels off the track. The engine is not badly damaged.
J. W. Mathers, the brakeman of the west bound train who was killed, was a married man and resided at Moorefield. Immediately after the wreck he was taken to Covington, and medical aid summoned, but he died about five o’clock, suffering greatly the while. His wife arrived on the morning train and was taken on to Covington. The exact manner in which Mathers was killed is not known, he being found in a dying condition at the side of the track. It is supposed, however, that he was standing on a car and was thrown off by the force of the collision.
The west bound train was in charge of Engineer Gibson and Fireman Weimer.
The passenger trains approached the scene of the wreck last Friday and transferred their passengers and baggage and the noon trains did likewise.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 26 July 1901
Danville Commercial: The accident at Tile Siding a few days ago in which John Mathers was killed, was one of the worst the P & E had had in years. It will probably mean the discharge of the entire crew of train 92, as while it is alleged that McCauley failed to do his duty and follow the passing track clear out to the switch, the railroad will assume that it was the duty of all the crew to know that everything was all right.