Station:  Arbutus, WI

Arbutus was a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, about 7 miles south of Iron Mountain station, just into the State of Wisconsin.

Notes

Time Line

1898. February 12. TRAINS COLLIDE. HORRIBLE DISASTER ON THE CM&StP ROAD - ENGINE, CABOOSE AND THIRTEEN FLAT CARS CRUSHED TO PIECES IN THE WRECK.

Conductor and Brakeman Hurled Into Eternity and Their Bodies Crushed and Burned

Blame Laid to Night Operator at Arbutus, who is Placed Under Arrest by the Authorities.

Two men were killed, in a rear end collision on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road one mile south of Arbutus and nine miles from this city shortly after midnight Thursday night.

The killed are: Conductor Charlie Anderson, 30 years of age, residing with his wife and two children on South Carpenter avenue in this city, and Brakeman John Tews, 28 years of age, a resident of West Green Bay.

HOW THE COLLISION OCCURRED.

An extra log train in charge of Conductor Anderson left this city at 10:50 Thursday night for Green Bay. At Arbutus the train was ordered to pick up a few cars at Carney's Spur, 1 mile south. At 11:45 a second extra left here in charge of Conductor Babcock for Green Bay and should have, it is said, been held at Arbutus until Anderson's train reported safe at Pembine.

OPERATOR WAS SLEEPING.

It is alleged that Henry Hadash, the night operator at Arbutus, was asleep when the second extra pulled into the station. He gave Conductor Babcock the block clear and the second extra pulled out for Pembine. There was a heavy fog and the engineer was unable to see more than twenty feet ahead. The first extra had picked up its cars on the spur and was about to pull out. Conductor Anderson and Brakeman Tews were in the caboose on the main track and little realized the horrible fate that awaited them, nor did they hear the rumbling of the oncoming train on the same track behind.

JUMPED FOR THEIR LIVES.

Extra No. 2, in charge of Conductor Babcock with Engineer John Kern and Fireman Joe Bush coaling, came thundering along the rails. When within twenty feet of the caboose in which Anderson and Tews were sitting, Kern and Bush saw the danger for the first time. Levers were instantly reversed and the engineer and fireman jumped to save their lives. They escaped none too soon, for, in another instant, the snorting engine crashed into the caboose ahead. The impact was terrific. The caboose and thirteen logging cars were completely demolished and piled in a tangled heap on the bank and across the track. The engine of the second extra plowed through the debris for a distance of ten cars length, when it left the rails, broken and demolished.

TWO INSTANTLY KILLED.

The fate of Conductor Chas. Anderson and Brakeman John Tews was a most shocking one. They were sitting in the caboose when the crash came. Their car was crushed to pieces and the two men were buried beneath the wreck. To add to the horror of the disaster the debris caught fire and the flames licked up the dry pieces of splinters from the cars and was gradually eating its way to where lay the crushed and mangled bodies of the two men.

WORK OF RESCUE.

The news of the accident flashed across the wires from here to Green Bay. One wrecking crew was sent from here and another started from Green Bay. The first work of the crew was to subdue the flames and this required about an hour's valuable time. As soon as the fire was put out the men were ordered to search for the bodies of the men killed. The wrecking crew from Green Bay reached the scene of the accident at an early hour, and with those already on the ground the work of rescue was systematically and vigorously prosecuted. Shortly before seven o'clock yesterday, and the hour at which the north bound passenger train is due to pass the spur, the tracks were still heaped with logs and pieces of demolished cars. It was nearly 10 o'clock, nine hours after the accident, before the main track was cleared and the passenger train allowed to proceed on its run north.

SEARCHING FOR THE BODIES.

Immediately after the passenger train passed the scene of the disaster every man of the rescuing party bent his efforts to locate the bodies of the conductor and brakeman. The logs, timbers, car wheels, iron castings and other portions of the wrecked train were piled in a heap fifty feet high and covering a space of ground not more than thirty feet square.

FIRST BODY RECOVERED.

The men labored heroically and at 11 o'clock their efforts were rewarded by the finding of the body of Brakeman John Tews. He was lying on his face, a mangled mass of humanity. Arms and legs were torn to shreds, and one side of his face was crushed by a broken piece of timber. The body wa[s] picked up and placed in a box.

About an hour later the men at work came across the body of Conductor Anderson, lying face upward.

FIND ANDERSON'S REMAINS.

The remains of Anderson were, in addition to being mangled, shockingly burned about the head and legs. His right hand was burned to a crisp, while one leg was burned completely away from the body, leaving only the charred bones of that member.

BODIES BROUGHT HERE.

Agent Clifford was present at the scene of the work of rescue. He directed that the bodies be brought to this city. A special train consisting of an engine and a caboose brought the remains of the two victims to Iron Mountain, reaching here at 1 o'clock. They were placed in charge of Undertaker Robbins and conveyed to the morgue to be prepared for interment.

FAULT OF THE OPERATOR.

The blame is laid to the operator at Arbutus, Henry Hadish, a young man about 24 years of age. It is said that he was sleeping at his post when the second extra pulled into the station. A blast from the whistle and the noise made by the on coming train wakened him with a start, and he gave the engineer the block clear when he should have held the train until the operator at Pembine had reported Anderson's train safely out of the station. Hadish was immediately released and the night operator at this point was sent to take his place.

OPERATOR PLACED UNDER ARREST.

The coroner from Pembine held an inquest over the remains at noon. No verdict was rendered, but that official considered the evidence against Henry Hardish [sic] of a nature sufficiently criminal to warrant his arrest. The young man was taken into custody and accompanied the officers to Pembine. He admits having been asleep at the time and offers no excuse for his negligence. He is a bright young man and is popular with all the employees on the road. He feels his disgrace keenly and has spent the time since the accident crying like an infant. [RTR-1898-0212]