Rhodes, IA Train Wreck, Aug 1902 - Work Train & Freight Train Collide

WRECK ON MILWAUKEE ROAD.

Work Train and Freight Train Collide – Two Engineers and Eleven Laborers Killed.

Marshalltown, Iowa, Aug. 6.-- A work train and freight train collided on the Omaha division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road two miles west of Rhodes, Iowa, this afternoon, killing both engineers instantly as well as several laborers. Twenty others, all laborers, were injured. The dead engineers are BRANNAN and MARKRESS.

Another Report.
Collins, Iowa, Aug. 6. -- A freight and gravel train on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul collided between here and Rhodes this afternoon and Engineer S. D. MARKRESS of the freight train and FRED BRENNAN, engineer of the work train were instantly killed as were 11 laborers, while fully 30 were injured, some seriously. Both engineers lived at Perry and both leave families. The wreck is said to have been caused by a misunderstanding of orders by the conductor of the work train.

Latest Report.
Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 7.-- At 1:30 this morning a special train brought in nine of the men injured in the wreck of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul at Rhodes. One of the men, Fireman WM. THARP, is dying. DR. A. W. TROUT, Milwaukee's surgeon at Perry, who brought in the train, stated that in the wreck eleven were killed and 39 injured. Killed:
Engineer DENNIS MARKRESS, fast freight, Perry.
Engineer WILLIAM BRAYMAN, construction train, Perry.
NINE WORKMEN on construction train.
Seriously and possibly fatally injured:
Fireman WILLIAM THARP, fast freight, Manila.
Eight workmen on construction train injured.
OTTO M. KLINGMAN of Rock Island was among the wounded brought here. His right arm was broken and he was badly bruised. He was one of those on the work train. Thirty injured who were not brought to Des Moines were left in and near Collins.
DR. TROUT said: “We have been so busy caring for the injured that details of the wreck were not gathered. About 30 injured were left at Collins. There are none so seriously as the nine brought to Des Moines tonight. Eleven were dead when I left the scene of the accident.”
“The collision occurred just two miles out of Rhodes. The construction train was running out from dinner and met the freight on a sharp curve. Aside from the train crews the injured men all lived in the East and had been brought out by the company to do construction work. They are Irish and German, largely, and their names have not been secured. They have no relatives in this state.”

Official Statement.
Chicago, Aug. 6.-- The following statement has been issued from the office of the general superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul in this city, regarding the accident at Marshalltown.
“From information in possession of the general superintendent's office it appears that a work train in charge of Conductor CRAIG started west from Rhodes without orders, and notwithstanding the fact that a signal was set against the work train and the further fact that the telegraph operator informed Conductor CRAIG that the freight train had already left Collins, the next station west of Rhodes, and then was east-bound between the two places. Officials of the company are utterly at a loss to explain the conduct of Conductor CRAIG and that of the engineer of the work train in leaving Rhodes without orders, with a signal set against their train and the information that another train was on its time. Relief trains were sent out promptly and every aid was given to the injured men.”

Davenport Daily Republican Iowa 1902-08-07

THIRTEEN KILLED IN A WRECK

Forty Persons Hurt, Most of Them Railroad Workmen.

Des Moines, Iowa (Special) – In a collision on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, near Rhodes, 13 persons were killed and 40 injured.
The dead are Engine Drivers BRAYMAN and MARKRESS, a fireman, who died from injuries, and 10 railroad laborers.
The injured are all workmen.
One, M. KLINGMAN, of Rock Island, was among the wounded brought here. His right arm was broken and he was badly bruised.
The 30 injured were not brought to Des Moines and were left at and near Collins.
Fireman WILLIAM THARP, of Manila, who was on the regular freight, was injured, losing a leg and being seriously bruised. It is thought he cannot survive.
The collision occurred just two miles out of Rhodes. The construction train was coming out and met the freight on a sharp curve.

The Chateaugay Record New York 1902-08-15
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!