The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-20

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ty yesterday This all-destroying angel
swooped down with merciless fury and
without warning or notice made three
widows, and nine orphans and sent three
souls to the great unknown beyond. Never
was the uncertainty of human life better
illustrated than on this occasion when
three men, the picture of robust manhood,
started out after dinner to resume their
daily toll and were brought home before
supper either dead or dying. Misery and
sadness and death itself seemed to be in
thr air that enveloped Wichita and the
wailing of the disconsolate widow and the
pitiful cries of the recently orphaned child
could be heard on every side. The sounds
Of these manifestations of grief have
made lasting impress on many a stout
heart and will re-echoI for many years to
come on the ears OF those who heard
them.
The cause of all this was the wreck. 1t
was the same old widow and orphan
maker. The story is as follows:
At noon, yesterday, news came to Wich-
ita that cattle train had been wrecked
on the Santa Fe road south of Derby; that
eight stock cars had been thrown of the
track.
To assist in clearing it away a crew was
made up in this city, and an engine and
material car was sent out there Those
who accompanied them were Phil Reamer,
engineeri John G. Wade, fireman, Frank
Malby, yardmaster, A. Stabler, James
Martin and j. +. Young. switchmen. They
got as far as the wreck where they left the
material car and hitched on to stock car
which they started with to Wichita, and
also for the purpose of getting water.
When about two miles north of Derby the
engine left the track and after running 800
yards or so on the ties it turned over and
fell on the east side of the track. All but
Stabler who were in the cab of the engine
were injured. AT the instant
it turned over they jumped for
their lives but it was too late.
Wade was instantly killed, his head being
badly crushed under the engine. Malby
had been crushed terribly and Reamer
was not only scalded by the escaping
steam from head to foot but had his leg
broken in two places. Young had his leg
fractured and Martin was seriously hurt
in the chest and about the head and face
besides having two ribs broken
Messengers were sent at once to Derby
and Wichita for doctors and Drs. Tucker
and Young of Derby, and Purdue, Oldham
and McClees of this city were soon on the
fatal scene. All that medical aid could |
do was done and an engine and |
box car with the dead and wounded |
left at once for Wichita. The |
Mr.. Malby, complained of |
great pain in the back when he was being |
put in the car, but beyond that he did |
not seem to be so badly hurt. After half |
hour he began to breathe heavily and |
passed away like the extinguishment of |
candle, about three miles south of town.
When the train reached Kellogg street |
t stopped and four stout men bore the
suffering Reamer to his home at the cor
her of Kellogg and Fourth avenue. His
wife was distracted with grief, and when
he saw her condition he demonstrated
great nerve and presence of mind by shout
ng out in a merry tone of voice that be
was worth six dead men yet. This cheered
her, butt was only for short time, for in
ess than an hour he was dead.
When the train reached the Union depot
he platform was crowded by fully five
lundred people and, strange as it may ap-
|
bear, pin could have been heard drop, so
was the stiffness of the null
itude as theengine and the car.pulled up to
he crossing. 1t was an exceedingly
olemn scene and one that will be remem-
'ered for long time Two drays were
lrawn up to the side of the car and the
'odies of Malby and Wade removed to
hem and taken to Boaz & Figg's under
aking rooms. The two wounded men
we're put in spring vehicles and Young
ent to his home on North Topeka and
Iartin to the home of cousin on the cor
er of Second and Washington
Stabler, the sixth man of the fatal crew,
ras unhurt. He was standing on top of
be stock car, and although it left the
rack it did not turn over The engine is
complete wreck.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.