Obituary

Danger of Scalding.
Fear of This Worried Engineer Romig. Caught Between Cab and Tender, He Hurt Himself Getting Away From the Escaping Steam.

The friends of Engineer James Romig, who are legend hereabouts, especially in railroad circles, have been anxious today to learn of his condition. It has been a source of regret to many of them to learn that he shows little improvement. His system was weakened by the large loss of blood that followed his injury and the exposure to the elements that could hardly have been avoided under the circumstances. Friends called at the home to see him in large numbers yesterday and the attending physician fears this may prove to have exerted a bad effect on his condition. It is very probable he will be taken to the hospital at Topeka this evening on No. 116 or tonight on No. 8. There he would have absolute rest and quiet and the very best possible medical attention.

Mr. Romig was engineer of the light engine that headed No. 9 the night of the accident. His engine had been taken from its train at Peabody and hooked to the front end of No. 9 to assist the engine on that train in getting over the Braddock hill and through the snow drifts. No. 30's train had been pulled back to Walton and the engine was at work near the Doyle siding bucking the snow with a plow. Both Mr. Romig and his fireman took special pains to find out whether or not the block was against them at Braddock and both were sure it was not. When the crash came on Doyle hill, Mr. Romig was caught between the cab and the tender and held tight. He heard the hiss of escaping steam and knew he was in danger of being scalded. He thereupon made frantic endeavors to work himself free and it was while doing this that the muscles in the calf of his leg were torn and an artery severed. He finally got loose and rolled down the right-of-way, which is the last he remembers. He was picked up and taken back to Peabody where he was given medical attention and was kept there until Sunday night, when he was brought to his home here. His experience was indeed an awful one and his friends will be glad if he comes out of it with nothing more serious than a badly bruised leg that may trouble him the rest of his life.

The Evening Kansan-Republican, Tuesday 14 Feb 1905. Page 1.