125 years ago: O’Fallon man loses fingers while sleeping off ‘an extra supply of booze’
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 125, 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
125 years ago, Nov. 24, 1899
“Patrick Loughlan, a grader for the Meyer Construction Co., grading for the B. & O. near here, had three fingers of his right hand mashed off sometime Sunday night, leaving only the thumb and index finger.
“No one knows how the accident occurred, but it is supposed that he lay down beside the railroad track to sleep off an extra supply of booze with his hand grasping the rail. He can give no account of the accident.
“Dr. Bechtold rendered surgical aid and the sufferer was sent to St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, Monday morning.”
100 years ago, Nov. 20, 1924
“One man was severely injured and another escaped with slight bruises when the boiler of a Baltimore & Ohio locomotive exploded at 5:45 o’clock Tuesday morning at the foot of the Fuhrman hill, 3-1/2 miles west of this city.
“William Luckett, 33 years old, fireman, of East St. Louis, was thrown 50 feet by the concussion and landed at the bottom of a six-foot embankment. He was badly scalded on the face and suffered numerous body bruises.
“William Trousdale, 35, engineer, of the train, was thrown from the cab and escaped with slight bruises.
“The engine, No. 2386, is used as a ‘pusher’ in assisting heavy freight trains up the grade west of Fuhrman station. The locomotive was engaged in this work and was shoving a heavy B. & O. freight when the explosion occurred. The detonation was heard for some distance.
“The head of the locomotive was blown out, parts being hurled through the air for several hundred feet. The firebox was completely demolished and pieces of the heavy grate were thrown in all directions, large rivets on the boiler being snapped off, some of the heads being found a block from the scene. A semaphore signal post, in close proximity of the locomotive was torn from the ground and thrown to one side. The explosion occurred in a cut, the escaping steam tearing rents into the ground.
“How the firman and engineer escaped from being scaled to death is a mystery, as the grass and dry leaves within a distance of some sixty feet were shriveled by escaping steam and hot water.
“The crew from the train hurried to the scene and it was some time before the fireman was found, who was partly hidden in a narrow ditch where he was blown. He was brought to the office of a physician in this city where he received first aid treatment and was then taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis in Schwarz’s ambulance.
“The engineer had his injuries treated and was able to go to his home in East St. Louis on the street car.
“No theories are advanced as to what caused the explosion but is believed to have been due to a defect in the boiler.”
(Fuhrman station was located near the Old Collinsville Road railroad crossing.)
75 years ago, Nov. 24, 1949
“The hand-operated gates by two tower men at the four Baltimore & Ohio railroad crossings in the city limits of O’Fallon are now a thing of the past.
“Starting Tuesday, the gates at Oak, Cherry, Lincoln and Vine street crossings were replaced with a modern electric flasher system which is in operation 24 hours a day to warn traffic and pedestrians of approaching trains.
“The intricate mechanism, electrically operated, has been in the course of installation for the past several months. This new system was instituted by the railroad on permission from the Commerce Commission to afford continuous protection, day and night.
“At the Vine street crossing, an additional gate, which operates with the flashers, was installed since this crossing is double-tracked.
“With the now discarded gate system protection was provided only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., while the crossing watchmen were on duty.
“Tuesday was the final day for James J. Shannon, 70, of Lebanon, who was in charge of the tower at the Oak and Cherry Street crossings. Shannon is retiring on pension after being employed by the B. & O. for 54 years, of which 39 was with a maintenance crew and the past 15 years at the local tower.
“Harry Parmenter, in charge of the Lincoln and Vine street crossing gates, completed his work at the tower Wednesday. He has been with the railroad for the past 20 years and intends to go back to his former position on a maintenance crew.
(The towers were located on the south side of the railroad tracks. One was between Vine and Lincoln, and the other was between Oak and Cherry.)
50 years ago, Nov. 21, 1974
“Regular daily bus service throughout the city of O’Fallon will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. The bus will operate on a regular daily schedule making three separate routes through the city.
“Each route will be made three times each day Monday to Friday, starting at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The routes begin at the old B&O Railroad depot at First and Lincoln Sts., and conclude with stops in the downtown area, Southview Plaza, Plaza East and the Parkview Colonial Nursing Home.
“This service to the people of O’Fallon is a result of the combined efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, the city of O’Fallon and Our World, Inc. whose representatives have been planning the program since early August. Serving on the planning committee are Mayor Gary Mackey; Joan Weinel, president of the Chamber of Commerce; Art Erb, director of Our World, Inc.; Dave Horton, city zoning administrator; Loyed Cavins; Dan Hertenstein; Viola Barnard; Bill Baxter and John Anheuser, township supervisor.
“Anyone in the community is welcome to ride the bus. While no fare will be charged in the initial months, riders will be encouraged to donate any amount they wish to support the program. The Chamber of Commerce of O’Fallon is contributing $700 for the first month’s operation and is soliciting organizations and business to underwrite the next three months.
“The budget covers driver’s salary, liability insurance and administrative costs of the program, including activities of the Later Years Activities Center located at the First Baptist Church. Ways to fund the final four months of an eight month pilot program are now being sought.
“’Our goal is to provide a community service to all citizens, supported by the entire community,’ said Mrs. Weinel.
“Mrs. Weinel originally initiated the idea of bus service for older citizens.
“’It’s exciting the way the original idea offered by Joan has grown. An increasing number of individuals and groups have become interested, offered ideas and contributed support,’ reports Art Erb, who has served as chairman of the planning group.
“The bus has been loaned to the project by Calvary Lutheran Church of Belleville. The city of O’Fallon has agreed to service and maintain the bus.
“The planning committee had difficulty in locating a permanent driver for the bus. Fortunately a concerned citizen, Ted Warma, agreed to serve as temporary driver.
“Anyone interested in applying for the position of permanent driver may call Our World. It may be that two drivers will be hired to divide the responsibility.
“While bus service has been extended to all, the program to meet needs and wants of older persons also continues to develop.
“During the week of Dec. 1, a series of five special programs of interest to people in their later years will be offered at the First Baptist Church, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. These include presentations by representatives of Social Security and the Internal Revenue Service.
“Negotiants will soon be finalized to offer a nutritious noon meal for people over sixty, beginning Thursday, Jan. 2.
“The planning and administration of these programs will be under the direction of Our World, Inc., a recently formed non-profit organization. Art Erb is the director of Our World which has a basic goal to match the resources of people with the needs and wants of people.”