Herbert M Mace

Wreck Kills Three

Rear End Collision At St. John Last Night

Dead Men Were All Known In Newton

Local railroad men, and in fact the entire town, were shocked this morning by news of another disastrous railroad wreck that took place this morning about one o'clock at St. John, on the cut-off between Kinsley and Hutchinson. In this most distressing accident, three persons lost their lives and a fourth was very seriously injured. The dead men are W. B. McCarty, a fireman, Elmer Tyndall, a student brakeman, and Herbert Mace, a brakeman from Halstead. The first two were single men, the latter leaves a young wife.

The accident that resulted so disastrously was in the nature of a rear-end collision. An extra had taken the siding at the water tank at St. John and, being of unusual length, did not get entirely in the clear. Train No. 33, the fast through freight, came dashing along from the east and crashed into the rear of the extra, throwing the engine across the track and piling up nine cars on top of it. The men that were killed were riding on the engine and were pinned under the ruins of the wreck. The engineer of the fast freight, Theodore Dischner of Newton, was picked up badly hurt, taken to Hutchinson and placed in a hospital. At last accounts today the physicians in charge thought his prospects for recovery good. The pile of wrecked cars took fire, adding to the horror of the situation.

The dead men were removed by the trainmen and later the bodies were taken to their homes. Tyndall, who was making his first trip on the road as a student brakeman, was taken to his home in Hoisington, where his parents reside. McCarty's relatives are Nickerson people and are well known to the Nickerson colony in Newton. Mace's home is in Halstead, his parents living in the south outskirts of the city on a small farm. He had been married about a year, his wife being a gust at the home of her step-father near Stafford when the accident happened.

Particular concern will be felt by the people of Newton in the outcome of the injuries sustained by Mr. Dischner, as he is a Newton man, well known throughout the city and much esteemed. The hope will be general that the favorable reports that have so far come from the hospital will continue.

The Evening Kansan-Republican, Monday 12 Sept. 1904. Page 1.

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Suffered Great Agony

Mace and Tyndall Pinned Under Wreckage Where Escaping Steam Enveloped Them.

Later details in regard to the accident at St. John Sunday night convey the welcome news that Engineer Theodore Dischner's injuries, though severe, are not dangerous and that there is no occasion for any alarm among his friends. Mr. Dischner does not know whether he jumped or was thrown from his engine. He saw the impending danger only a few seconds before the crash came. He reversed the engine and the next he knew, he was lying on the ground far enough away to escape the wreckage. He was able to walk to the station at St. John, from which place he was taken to Hutchinson and placed in the Welsh hospital. He was bruised about the head and body and received internal injuries, though the latter are not serious.

Fireman W. B. McCarty was probably killed outright. He was pinned under the locomotive and was terribly scalded. His head also was crushed and his body horribly mangled. His friends could not get to him until nearly noon yesterday, when the wrecker managed to lift the wreckage that covered his body. Brakeman Herbert Mace of Halstead was terribly scalded about the head and chest. He walked to the caboose and lived nearly six hours after the accident. He died at Stafford while being brought to Hutchinson. Albert Tyndall, the student brakeman, was found under the burning cars of the wreck, bruised and mangled and helpless to escape from the steam that was pouring from the pipes. He was finally rescued and was taken to the caboose in which Mace and Dischner were lying. He was taken to the Welsh hospital at Hutchinson where he lived until yesterday afternoon, when he finally succumbed to his awful injuries after suffering great agony from the burns and bruises he received. He probably inhaled some of the steam.

The wreck caused nine cars to leave the track in addition to the engine and the tender. Six of these cars were burned and the engine was turned over with the fireman under it. It is said the crew of the extra claim to have set out the regulation signals, but this is denied by other trainmen. The truth may be brought out at the investigation being held at Dodge City today, though it may never be known.

The Evening Kansan-Republican, Tuesday 13 Sept. 1904. Page 1.