This is from 1933 - Robert C. Carr, of Cranston, Rhode Island, was my
great-uncle ...
"EDGEWOOD MAN ON BURNING TRAIN
Robert C. Carr Treated, Injured After Collision with Gasoline Truck.
TWO KILLED IN ACCIDENT
Cranston Resident Was on Way to Claim Body of Mother who Died in New Mexico.
Two men were killed at St. Elmo, Ill., last Sunday when a train on which he
was a passenger crashed into a gasoline tank truck at a railroad crossing,
Robert C. Carr of 58 Albert avenue, Edgewood, related on his arrival here
last night.
Mr. Carr was en route to St. Louis at the time, to claim the body of his
mother, Mrs. Henrietta Carr, who had died in New Mexico Saturday. The train
ran wild for almost a mile after the accident, Mr. Carr said, when the
fireman and engineer were burned and scalded so badly that they lost control
it it. The conductor, he said, finally stopped the train by applying the
air brakes.
When the train struck the tank truck at a grade crossing both the driver and
his helper, on the front seat, were killed, Mr. Carr said. The impact was
so terrific that the gasoline in the tank truck exploded, igniting the fuel
and setting fire to the train in several places.
Several passengers were burned and injured, as was the crew in the engine
cab. Escaping steam from a broken pipe added to the agonies of the fireman
and engineer. They were so badly scalled and burned, Mr. Carr said, that
they were unable to stop the train.
As the swaying train roared along the rails with its horrified spectators,
Mr. Carr, who always carries a first aid kit, went through the train,
treating the injured and those that had been burned, he said. He smeared
the burns and scald wounds of the fireman and engineer with molasses and
soda and a coating of olive oil from dining tables in the train.
A report of Mr. Carr's service was wired to New York. When the train
bearing the body of his mother arrived at Grand Central Terminal yesterday,
late, Mr. Carr was surprised to find that the railroad officials had held up
the Boston express so that he could board it with the body of his mother for
the trip to this city.
As far as could be determined it was the first time a train had been delayed
by a railroad for one man for a service of this type. Still rather shaky
from his experiences, Mr. Carr boarded the train, after being complimented
by railroad authorities.
Mr. Carr's trip West started last week when he received news that his mother
was seriously ill at Gallup, N. M. While en route he learned that his
mother had died Saturday. He made arrangements to meet the body at St.
Louis and to arrange for its transportation home.
The funeral of Mrs. Carr will be held this morning at 9:15 in the home of
her son in Edgewood."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"A requiem mass will be sung in St. Paul's Church, Edgewood, at 10 o'clock.
Mrs. Carr, widow of John J. Carr, was born in Boston, the daughter of the
late Robert Clingin [Clingen] and Henrietta (Stoner) Clingin. She was
stricken while returning from a visit to her son, Charles, of Santa Monica,
Cal. In addition to him, she is survived by three sons in this city, Robert
C., Edward A. and Walter E., all of Edgewood; two daughters, Mrs. James J.
Hogan of Edgewood and Mrs. William Polleys, Jr., of Barrington, and seven
grandchildren.
The bearers will be Thomas Carr, Edward C. Carr, Anthony Artesani, Edward
Artesani, William J. Burns, and M---- Carr." (ripped corner)
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Beth Hurd
Johnston, RI USA
beth(a)the-hurds.com
http://www.the-hurds.com
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