The dead:
Peter Zillig, age 46, stoker on No. 1 Engine, Eighteenth street,
The injured:
William McClain, second engineer, Central station; rib fracture, cuts and bruises about head and shoulders. Joseph Keppler, Lieutenant; shoulder heard, internal injury, severe cuts in bruises.

At the intersection of Eighth and Clay, and Eighth street car halted on the west side of the crossing , served to obstructive the view of the Eighteenth street crew. The "James Saul" had almost cleared the dangerous crossing the front end of the big seven-ton "Jumbo" struck the rear of the lighter machine. The crash was terrific and was heard with alarm for a distance of several blocks.

The miraculous escape of the others of the two crews is hard to understand. Dougherty, driver of the truck that struck the "Saul" was uninjured Joseph Keppler, suffered most. Both retain their positions on the truck, although the latter swerved onto Clay street and crashed into the curbing on the west side and several yards south of the corner.

Second Engineer McClain, who was standing on the side running board of the truck was tossed from the wrecked car after he had been jammed against the side of the machine. He suffered a broken rib and a severe cut across the forehead, besides other bruises. Frank Lonergan, who was riding the rear end of "Jumbo" was hurled through the air and alighted on his hands and knees on the brick pavement. He did not require medical attention, although he was considerably bruised. Lester Benzer, also on the side running board was thrown in a heap to the street, a short distance from the wreck but escaped uninjured.

Whether or not there was a slight delay at the Central station that hindered the driver of "Jumbo" from getting away as promptly as the time would indicate, it is evident that he could not make as rapid progress as the Eighteenth street machine. He had to turn twice; once on leaving the doors of the station, and again at Eighth street. He therefore had one block to travel in which to get up speed before the collision occurred. Woodward, driver of the "James Saul" on the other hand had a clear course before him to the scene of the wreck.

The damage to the two trucks is considerable. "The James Saul" appears, after a hasty examination, to have suffered the most. The rear end of the machine was almost totally wrecked by the force of the blow, while the fender, running board and hood were twisted and crushed.

"Jumbo" was hauled back to the Ninth street station shortly before 10 o'clock this morning, and mechanics aided by Driver Dougherty, were busy at work endeavoring to make repairs. Twisted springs on the front axle, together with badly damaged fenders and radiator and a sprung axle make up the damage. The heavy machine had to be towed back to the station.

The "James Saul" was removed to the Muntz garage, Fourth and Main, where it was said this morning repairs would be promptly made and the truck would soon be returned to service.

It was shortly before 9 o' clock that the second alarm was turn the end. The call came from Eleventh and Main where sheds in the rear of the W. S. Gow plumbing establishment and back of the Saunders meat market caught fire. The cause was not discovered. The flames spread rapidly until the arrival of the department and threatened for a time to menace the Saunders residence on the Eleventh street, as well as the back porches of the Main Street buildings owned by the Peabody estate. Gow's sheds contained some valuable gas tanks and other plumbing supplies, all of which were more or less injured. The sheds were almost entirely destroyed before the fire was gotten under control.

"We went out of the Central engine house on a box alarm. I was driving Jumbo, as you know. I intended to go is far is the corner of Eighth and White streets and their attach the holes to the plug on the corner."

"After rounding the bend at Eighth and Iowa streets I noticed a street car a short distance to the west of Clay. The car was moving slowly, I believe. It obstructed my view of Clay street proper. Momentarily expecting the other truck to swing into sight, I slack and speed."

"I can but dimly recall what occurred immediately after the smash up. I know that Lieutenant Keppler, who had been sitting beside me, was hurled to the street. McClain on the other side of me lost his hold and also when sprawling into the street."

In speaking of the fateful drive, Harvey Woodward, driver of the "James Saul", said:

"When the alarm came in at station No. 1, Mr. Zillig was seated on the truck adjusting some part of the mechanism. He quickly clambered down and took his place in the rear. In but a few moments we had started to the scene of the fire. I intended to go straight down Clay to Seventh and then make the turn."

"I succeeded in retaining my position on the driver's seat as did Lieutenant Heer. While the shock caused the truck to tremble from one end to the other, it was not very pronounced in front. Of the violence of the impact in the rear there can, of course, be no question. I believe that we were in the vicinity of the center of the street when Mr. Zillig spiraled through the air for a distance of many feet."

"I cannot say that I heard an outcry of any description above the noise of the crash. I was not harmed in the least and I don't think Lieutenant Heer suffered any either."

The decedent was a member of St. Mary's parish and has been a devout Catholic all his life. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Forresters and of the Eagles. Mr. Zillig was born in Germany where one brother still resides. The funeral arrangements have not been completed.

While all traces of the disaster were easily erased from the scene in the picture, its imprint is indelibly traced upon fire department history, and the havoc wrought upon the two heavy motor trucks will serve as a reminder of the ruin for months at least.

Contrary to first estimates of the accident, the big "Jumbo" truck of Central station presents the most serious difficulty. The twisted chassis offers a problem that will be hard to solve with facilities available in local garages and repair shops. The various parts also, such as the radiator, spring shackles and so forth, which must be replaced are all hand made by different concerns, several of which have gone out of business or ceased to manufacture auto truck appliances.

The big motor when in operation develops 110 horse-power and is capable of drawing 800 gallons of water a minute. It was purchased over three years ago at a cost exceeding $9,000, and has figured in one previous accident.

Through the Muntz garage, repairs for the "Saul" have been promptly secured, the damage being of such nature that new parts could be more readily substituted than in the case of the Central station apparatus. There appears to be every prospect that the "Saul" will soon be in commission again.

Both machines weigh in the neighborhood of seven tons. When it is considered that one had attained a speed much faster than exhibited by a street car, and the other a pace comparable only to a locomotive, there appears to be grounds for congratulation that of the eight men aboard the trucks only one life was lost in the clash. In a general sense the department has escaped fortunately in the matter of fatalities.

From the picture above (Ed. note: Picture missing) that includes both trucks and a section of the corner, can be obtained an excellent idea of the distance Zillig's body was thrown. The clash occurred a few feet east and south of the exact center of the intersection of Eighth and Clay streets. The rear end of the "James Saul" was whirled around by the force of the blow and Zillig, who was standing on the rear platform, was projected from the truck as though from a sling-shot. He alighted on his head and shoulders at the point on the sidewalk where the arrow points. Traces of blood had not been entirely obliterated when this picture was taken.

The two trucks were whirled into their position at the curb by the impact. The "Saul" struck the cement curbing with the rear wheel which was badly smashed as a result, while the front truck of the other machine mounted the sidewalk as is revealed in the other picture. (Ed. note: As seen below)

"Jumbo" Mounts Curb on Clay Street After Fatal Crash.

In later years--he passed seventeen of them in the service of the Dubuque fire department--Zillig was fortunately removed from close contact with dangerous situations that so often confront the firemen at a big blaze. After being transferred to the Eighteenth street station under Captain Eitel, he was assigned to the engine and this duty required his presence constantly at the throttle in order that the pressure might be kept in trim for the men who were handling the stream. He accepted the task cheerfully enough but the men who knew him best understood that he longed for the more active service, where the flames were hottest.

It was in the Jones Overall plant fire at Third and Iowa streets in March 1907, that Zillig was first injured seriously. On that occasion he had been commissioned to mount one of the walls, the day after the structure was reduced to ruins, and tie a rope at the top on order that the pile of brick and twisted framework might be razed. Instead of using a ladder, he ventured on the fire escape, although the chief had cautioned against it, when midway up, the wall tottered and fell with a crash, burying him underneath. Firemen and bystanders hurriedly lifted away the mass of brick, expecting to find Zillig crushed and lifeless. His escape with his life was, in fact, miraculous. Although painfully hurt, not a bone was broken and he was able to return to duty within a few days.

"Zillig was always being hurt," said one of the boys at the Central station yesterday. "He was mighty nervy-didn't know the meaning of fear."

The engine house at No. 1 station, Eighteenth street, was draped in black in honor of the deceased fireman and as the funeral cortege passed Thursday morning the bell was tolled. Honorary pallbearers were chosen from the Fraternal Order of eagles of which the deceased was a member: Sam Swift, Charles Scherr, Pat Fury, and Mike Kelly. Active bearers were all firemen from Station No. 1: Captain M. Eitel, Albert Heer, A. McDonald [McDonnell], S. Montach [Frank Motsch], Jack Noonan and L. Wemet [Wemett].

Flowers in a great profusion testified to the sincere sympathy of many friends for the family in this deep bereavement, and the attendance at the services was very large.