EKER, Charles
Source: Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger
of Porter County 13 June 1936 p 2
Greencastle, June 13 – Charles Eker,
Lafayette engineer, died in Putnam County Hospital early today from scalds
suffered when the locomotive and 19 cars of a northbound Monon freight train
left the track at the Putnamville station.
Six others were injured, including: Nathaniel S. Goforth, Lafayette,
conductor, head and arm injuries; Lawrence A. Gray, Louisville, Ky, fireman,
scalds; Clelland Ash, 16, Greencastle, William Ash, 19, Greencastle; Eugene
Thomas, 16, Greencastle, mangled leg.
Amos Skimmerhorn, 19, Greencastle, suffered cuts and bruises but was not
taken to the hospital. Railroad
officials said a pony truck of the engine was derailed a mile south of the spot
where the accident occurred and that the cars were derailed when the pony truck
hit a switch. The Ash boys, Thomas and
Skimmerhorn were riding on a car loaded with stone about 5 cars behind the
engine. Thomas was caught under a block of stone and difficulty was experienced in extracting him. - kbz