SRHS
Steamboat Rock Historical Society
MOVING BEYOND THE OLD LIMITS
1913 TRAIN WRECK
The worst train wreck in Steamboat Rock’s history took place not quite two years later, on March 14, 1913. This one left two stockmen dead and one seriously injured.
The accident was the result of a rear-end collision on the Minneapolis and St. Louis bridge over the Iowa River in Steamboat, at 10 a.m.
An eastbound stock extra No. 433 had stopped in Steamboat Rock yards to pick up some stock cars. The rear of the train was halted on the northeast side of the river, and No. 94 an eastbound time freight rounded the curve and crashed into the caboose of freight No. 433.
Because of the steep grade the heavy train could not stop in time to avoid the collision. The engine plowed its way thru the caboose and demolished three stock cars loaded with cattle.
Three stockmen that were in the caboose at the time of the collision. James Donaldson (age 50), of Chapin, Iowa, Pearl Denton (age 30) of Geneva, Iowa, were killed instantly. The third by the name of Ingebritson from Sheffield was seriously injured.
The bodies of Donaldson and Dentor were both badly mangled. The caboose was completely demolished and described as being, “reduced to kindling.” It was considered a miracle that Ingebritson escaped with his life. both his legs were broken, and had serious internal injuries. He was taken to the Eldora Hospital.
The stockmen were en route to Chicago with cattle shipments from their own farms. Twelve head of cattle in the stock cars were also killed.
The Engine men for No. 94 jumped from the train and escaped serious injury. The engineer Ed Brown of Marshalltown had a slight leg injury. His fireman was a man by the name of wells, and the train was in charge of Conductor G.W. Kinney, also of Marshalltown.
The train that was hit No. 433, was Engineered by Ed Henderson of Marshalltown.
Three days after Christmas on December 28, 1919 another train wreck occurred a quarter mile north of Steamboat Rock.
Extra freight No. 476, south bound was derailed about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and eight cars ran off the track. Five of the cars were loaded with flour and three were empty. The cars were badly smashed.
As an aftermath of the wreck it was rumored that some sacks of flour were taken from the wreck. Reports had been made that the flour was going to be burned and the townspeople, rather than see the flour wasted, helped themselves. Word was sent out however that the flour belonged to the government, and it was expected to be returned. If it was indeed returned or not is not known.
There was a considerable amount of damage to the equipment and freight as a result of this accident. Passenger and freights that were going north were held in Steamboat Rock through the night, and south-bound trains were held north of town.
A wrecker and crew was sent out from Marshalltown and they worked through the night clearing a long stretch of track damaged by the wreck. Around 10 o’clock the next day the job was finished and trains could once again pass through.