The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-26

FRIGHTFUL WRECK AT KOKOMo.
Three Train Men Killed Thirteen Tank-Cars
Filled with Oil Explode.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
KOKoMO, Oct. 25.-The most disastrous
railway accident ever occurring in this vi
cinity, and indeed the worst one ever ex-
perienced by this railroad. occurred at the
south limit of this city at o'clock this
morning. to a north-bound freight train on
the Lake Erie & Western railway.
This train was two hours late and was
moving alta speed of probably twenty miles
an hour The crash occurred at the frog of
small factory switch. and the theory of the
cause generally accepted is that some OBJ
struction must have been placed on the
track by some unknown train wrecke-s.
At the fatal moment the engine and nine
teen cars were hurled from the track and
heaped up in indescribable confusion.
Three men were killed:
JACOB MEHL, engineer, of Peru. Ind.
ED BURNETT, fireman, of Peru, Ind, and
JOHN SPELLMAN, front brakeman, OF Peru,
Ind.
All the men were occupying the cab of
the locomotive when caught in the crash.
and were probably killed instantly. Con-
ductor Fobes and brakeman ID. Heitchew.
who were in the middle of the train. es-
capped injury by jumping. In the front part
of tho train were thirteen tank-cars filled
with oil. The petroleum took fire at once.
and tank after tank exploded with terrific
force, scattering the heavy iron debris in
every direction, and throwing the burning
oil 200 feet in the air. 1t seemed like one
VI
up the whole heavens with dazzling brill
fancy, making most appalling spectacle.
So intense was the heat that the paint on
the houses near by was blistered and
burned. and many windows were cracked
and broken. The fatal switch was just this
side of the kokomo creek bridge. and IN
few minutes the creek was filled with blaz-
ing oil, which flowed down and burned the
wagon bridge
The city fire department and regular
wrecking crew soon appeared on the scene,
where a vast crowd of people had already
| collected. The rear part of the train was
cut loose, and allowed to run down the
| grade out of danger. Besides the engine
and tanks, two box cars containing much
valuable merchandise, billed to kokomo
merchants. were consumed by the fire be-
| fore it was finally extinguished by the
united efforts of the firemen. wrecking crew
and citizens.
| -Four hours after the crash the bodies of
| the ill-fated three were recovered. crushed
| and half cremated, totally unrecognizable
except BY. personal effects found on the
| bodies. These men all resided in Perm.
Mehl is man of thirty-eight, leaves wife
and two children. Burnett is thirty years
| of age and leaves wife and one child.
| Spellman Is unmarried, aged twenty-five.
| All were experienced and popular railroad
ers Their charred bodies were prepared
| for burial. encased in handsome caskets
/ and taken to Peru. where funeral services
| and interment will occur tomorrow.
| Besides this terrible loss of life the COM
| pany suffers very heavy money loss,
| amounting to many thousand dollars.
| The morning trains were run via Elwood
| and Upton, but the track was cleared TO
| admit the passage of Irregular trains by p. NJ.
Later examination shows that the dlsas-
ter was evidently the criminal work of
| train-ditchers The switch is what is called
| split switch, but, having been abandoned,
| was spiked down solid and was immovable.
| After the debris was cleared away it was
| discovered that the spikes had been drawn
and the switch partially opened and held
SO by wedges. This is proof positive that
the calamity was the work of diabolcal
train wreckers. The engine was fonnd re-
versed, with brake set, showing that the
| engineer was apprised of the obstruction,
| though not in time to avoid the calamity.
past few months to wreck Il. Il. & w. trans
near this place, but have proved abortive.
| Up to this time there is no tangible clew to
the cowardly scoundrels.
The disaster has occasioned great excite
ment. and there is universal sorrow for
those who lost their lives and their be-
reaved families. If the wreckers could be
found they would surely be lynched, so
high is excitement running.
At the Home Of the Dead.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
PERT Ind Oct 2-The horrible wreck