Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
4 Swltchman's Blunder.
4 TERRIBLE sNAsu.rP oS ruE MICHIGAN
CENTRAL RAILROAD RESULTS ~ \
SCORE OF DEATHS ANp ~

CENTRAL RAILROAD RESULTS ~
SCORE oF DEATHS ANp ~
AENr or WOUNDED.
DETROIT, Mich, October l0-A scri-
Gus accident occurred on the Michigan
Central railroad, n short distance east
of Jackson. about one o'clock this
morning. The Pacific express train
which lef, Detroit forty minutes late,
collided with switch engine on the
main track at that place, telescopinr
the baggage and express cars and pll.
ing the remaining coaches, eleven in
number, on top of each other. The
first coach was filled with cmigrants,
most of whom were killed or seriously
injured. Many of the occupants Of the
other coaches were also killed or scri.
ously injured The engineer and FIRE
man OF the express train were literally
torn in pieces. but the engineer and
fireman Of the switch engine escaped
injury 10y jumping from their ingine.
The train was made up Of seven Wng.
ner sleepers, four passenger coaches
and the mail and baggage cars. The
tender OF the express engine was telcs-
coped into the baggage car about half
its length. This car in turn forced its
way into the mail car and these crowd.
ed the first passenger coach TO the right
on the embankment aud crushed hack
through the two following. The pass.
engeTs in the first coach Nere compare
lively unharmed, the harvest Of death
being rcaped in the second and third
coaches. The fourth coach escaped
with slight damage, and none OF the
Wagner coaches were injured. As near
as can be ascertained the accident was
caused by the swi,chmau having charge
of the making up OF freight trains at
Jackson junction occupying the main
track with the switch engine and ca.
boose, he understanding that the Pacific
express was considerably behind time.
The express train, however. hs.l made
up nearly all the lost time.
Physicians and surgeons were at once
summoned from jackson TO the scene
Of the disaster. and a special train carry.
ing physicians left Detroit at ) o'clock
N. a large force Of employees Of the
railroad company, together with a large
number Of citizens Of Jackson, were
promptly on the ground, engaged in the
work of extricating the bodies from the
wreck. Railroad officials and surgeons
were also busily at work among the
wounded, doing everything in their
power to alleviate their suiferings. Up
to noon eighteen dead bodies had been
taken from the wreck, ten of whom,
taken from the emigrant car have not
yet been identified.
The following is the list Of the killed:
William G.. Elkins, Lowell, Mass; Miss
Annie Garland. Mrs. Mary Gartland,
William John Rice. and Mrs Elizabeth
Rice, Philadelphia; Milton Gilbert, De.
troit, engineer of the express train /;
Mrs. Green, VT; infant daughter of
Mrs. George A. Jones, Shenandoah, Pa.
Louis Morgeon, Buckingham, Canada ;
G. i. Smith, Jackson, fireman of the
express train; Mrs. Catharine Spartline.
Edith Spartline. aged 6, and Marion
Spartline, aged 4. Westminster, Nd:
unknown man, evidently a Canadian,
% years old, FIVE feet ak inches in
height, short black hair, smooth face,
and dressed in gray checkered suit /;
unknown man, supposed to be sailor.
lie has on one arm the initials so. f.
X. and device with the words "Faith,
Hope and Charity" There were thirty.
two persons injured