Two Brothers Lost Lives When Hit By Fast Big Four Train

Fifteen Head of Stock Were Killed, Crash Along Route 4

Truck Demolished at Scene of Accident in Which Engineer Was Scalded to Death as Engine and Several Passenger Cars Were Upset.

Two brothers lost their lives and a truck load of stock was killed last night at 11 o’clock when struck by St. Louis - New York Big Four passenger train No. 24 on Route 4 at the intersection of Livingston. The truck in which the men were riding was demolished.

The scene of the accident was the same place at which another truck driver escaped death when his truck was demolished but wrecked a Big Four passenger train last October. In that accident the engineer was scalded to death when the engine and several cars upset.

Those killed last night were:
SILAS PITCHFORD, 49 years old, Girard, Ill.
OSCAR PITCHFORD, 37 years old, Virden, Ill.

Until a few day ago Oscar Pitchford followed farming near Virden. Last week he gave up life on the farm to engage in trucking stock to the East St. Louis Stock Yards. He was making one of his first trips last night.

His brother lives on a farm southeast of Girard and was accompanying him. He intended visiting the yards while his brother disposed of the truck of cattle.

Animals killed last night included one cow, eleven calves and three hogs.

So far as known the accident was not witnessed by anyone and versions of the engineer and firemen, if they saw the truck, were unobtainable today. Names of the train crew were unobtainable.

The brothers left Virden last night between 8 and 9 o’clock expecting to arrive at the stockyards during the early morning hours for the opening. It is possible that the brothers failed to see the train or did not realize it was so near the road.

Although the railroad and concrete slab intersect at an angle it is possible to see for considerable distance either way. The train was eastbound and the truck was proceeding toward the south. Under such circustances [sic] the train may be more readily seen than had it been west bound.

There are all indications that the train hit the truck squarely, carrying parts of it with the stock some distance down the track before the engineer was able to stop. The train is operated at a high speed. A delay of half an hour followed the accident.

Bodies of the two men were taken to the Meyer & Wegener undertaking establishment at Worden by Deputy Coroner A. J. Meyer. He swore a jury over the bodies this morning, permitting removal of the badies (sic) to their homes and the inquest has been postponed.

A large number of the relatives went to Worden early this morning to claim the bodies. No definite plans had been made for the funeral.

Silas Pitchford is survived by a wife and five children. Six brothers and two half-brothers also survive.

Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville Il 12 Feb 1929

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ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR TWO BROTHERS

Bodies of Two Are Taken to Girard for Double Funeral Set for Thursday.

An examination of the concrete pavement at the Big Four intersection with Route 4 where Silas Pitchford, of Girard, and Oscar Pitchford, of Virden, lost their lives Monday night failed to reveal any sign of wheels slipping on the pavement after application of brakes. That fact was developed last night when the official investigation into the death was made at the undertaking establishment of A. J. Meyer at Worden.

The jury, learning the circumstances entering into the deaths, returned a verdict that the men were accidentally killed when struck by Train No. 24.

Shortly after the accident members of the crew went back to the crossing and made the examination along the pavement. The truck approached the railroad from the north and Fireman Russell Handlon, of Mattoon, saw it when the train was a mile away. He testified that the truck did not slow up nor stop.

He first observed the truck as the engineer began blowing the whistle as the train passed the whistling post along the railroad. The whistle was kept blowing until only a short distance from the crossing.

The fireman said he exclaimed “Look Out” to Engineer Thomas Clark, also of Mattoon, but the noise of the whistle made it impossible for the two to hear each other.

Engineer Clark said he was unable to see the truck and that the crash occurred as he heard the fireman’s warning. The train ran nearly half a mile before it was stopped. The train was delayed for two hours.

The bodies were taken to Girard yesterday. Double funeral services will be held Thursday morning.

Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, IL 13 Feb 1929
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Transcribed by Audrey. Thank you, Audrey!