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Worksheets FINAL
Cindy, Check out what I got so far with the photo analysis worksheet. I like this a lot better than the cartoon. If you are struggling making corrections, remember I can help. Thanks and have a great day!

Cindy's Reflection
Sara Hi Sara, This is an interesting picture. My first impression was that it was a horrific train wreck with bystanders, possibly some being passengers on the train. They had cranes and work crews working through the debris. It appears that the train engine is facing the wrong direction, although I'm not sure. It does seem to be a passenger train with all the windows. Men and women are dressed in clothing/styles that are more indicative of an earlier time period, perhaps the early 20th century, not 2009. This could mean that it was 1909 by what is recorded by the wording in the middle of the photo, Oct. 5, '09. This would indicate to me that the picture was either taken in 1909 or staged perhaps for a movie or a re-enactment and has a sepia type finish. Also the panoramic picture is copyright by a photographer, International Stereograph out of Decatur, Illinois - not a local from Farmer City. After looking on a map, it seems that Decatur is a much more populated city and is about 30 miles southwest of Farmer City. There are men and women, and possibly 2 children bending down by the side of the engine. Looks to be a special rail crane working on sifting through the rubble. Also looks like there maybe a box car or maybe another rail clean-up car on the far right-hand side. There does not seem to be any rescue vehicle which could indicate that the injured that they could get to were already removed. If you could add my comments on the first picture, and I will now look at the other one. Cindy

Hey Cindy, I added what I could of your comments and I am leaving the rest of your posting on this page. There is only so much room and then the computer starts dinging at you if you try to add more (LOL! Gotta love it!) You got a lot out of the photograph and it is important information. Thanks, Sara

Cindy's Reflection
Hi again Sara, This seems to be a completely reversed view of the same train wreck taken the day after. Could be that this panoramic view was taken from the opposite side of the wreck. It does have the year date stamped of 1909, eliminating the whole movie, reenactment idea. Crowd again is mostly men, some women, and few children, most people seem to just be onlookers. Seems to be a little further in their clean-up efforts, some debris on rail cars. Copyrighted by same photographer company from Decatur. 2 men are standing on the crane. As in the other one, since it is a panoramic picture, everyone was very still and poised for the picture. Doesn't seem to be any blurred areas indicating movement. Definitely not an "action" shot, more a planned photograph.

Thanks, Cindy

Now I'll work on the KWL. Again if you want to just add my comments to both the NARA worksheet and KWL in pdf and save I would appreciate it. Thanks so much!

Cindy, I added in your reflections for photograph #2. Now I will go on to KWL

Thanks, Sara

Cindy's Reflection
KWL - Know: Passenger Train Wreck in 1909, two pics taken one on 10/5/1909, one on 10/6/1909 - International Stereograph copyright out of Decatur, Illinois. Mostly men onlookers, some women, few children. Cleaning up debris with rail cars/crane. Want to know: How did this horrific wreck occur? How many were injured? killed? Where were these people traveling? Were the onlookers family members or community members from Farmer City? How long did it take to clean up this mess? Why did the first pic seem to have the engine turned the wrong direction, did it get spun around in the wreck? Learned: from http://www3.gendisasters.com/illinois/9711/farmer-city-il-head-on-train-collision-oct-1909 "One is dead and many are injured, some gravely, as the result of the head-on collision between two Illinois Central trains, one a regular local and the other a state fair special, two miles west of Farmer City last night." "The collision was between local No. 525, south bound from Chicago and a special state fair train from Springfield to Gilman. The regular train was pulled by Engineer CLARK with Conductor CARPENTER in charge. The special was pulled by Engineer McCUE with Conductor DOCKENS in charge. As far as can be learned, the blame of the wreck lies on Engineer McCUE, who misread his watch and thought he had fourteen minutes more than he really had. The trains met on a curve west of Farmer City at 9:50 o'clock. Both engineers applied emergency brakes when they saw the collision coming. The regular train came to a stop just an instant before the special, still tearing along the track, struck it. Both engines were demolished and laid across the track. In the special the combination baggage car and smoker telescoped the first day coach, catching the unfortunate excursionists in a trap. The other coaches were unhurt, but all were jarred from the track. In the regular train the baggage car was completely wrecked and the smoker was also wrecked. The day coach, one of the new steel coaches, recently adopted as the standard by the Illinois Central, stood the shock and stayed on the tracks. It was hardly damaged beyond being battered at the end. An ordinary wooden coach would have crumpled up like cardboard and doubtless taken lives with it, for the train was crowded." The Daily Review Decatur Illinois 1909-10-06

Cindy, I added this information to the KWL chart. You had a lot of the same information that I discovered after searching the text on the photograph. I was amazed that there was not more deaths than just the one. I also couldn't believe that this could have all been avoided had Engineer McCue read his watch correctly.

Sara

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