Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-09-24
DIABOLICAL DEED.
A Santa Fe Passenger Train
Wrecked By Robbers.
-Four Passengers Killed aud More Than Q
Score InJnrcd-The Mlscrcants I'm
doubtediy Intendcd Robbery hut
We're Frightened Away.

robbers, three IN lies west OF Usage City
at 4:SO o'clock yesterday morning and the
engine the baggage, express and mail
cars, two day coaches, two chair cars
and three sleepers thrown over an en-
bankment three feet and the first six
cars telescoped. Four persons were
killed outright and twenty-five serious
ly injured.
There were over 81, 900, 900 in the eX-
press car with extra guards on board
and the motive was evident.
The outlaws had pulled out six spikes
and removed the rail clamps, leaving
the rail loose. The work had been
done with tools stolen from the tool
house at Barclay, two miles away. No
attempt at robbery was made by the
wretches after the disaster.
The killed were:
Frank Baxter, express messenger,
Kansas City.
Bloomenthal, express guardsman,
Mexico.
James Chaddicks, fireman, Topeka.
Ed Mayer, engineer, Topeka.
The injured were:
Mary Lyman, Bloomington, Ill, bad
.1y bruised and injured about the head
and face.
William Door and child, Chillicothe,
NO., badly bruised and scratched.
Mrs. NJ. Jones and two children,
Wichita, slightly bruised.
Thomas Nelson, Topeka, bruised
about head and face.
NJ. A. Roberts, Emporia, back injured.
Mrs. w. II. Miller, Macon, Mo-, in
jured in spine and side.
J. +. Waddell, Bayonne, Kan, injured
in left hip.
S. G. Kelly, of Kansas City, postal
clerk, internal injuries, probably fatal
C. T. Wordlaw, Elliott, Ill, badly
bruised.
W. A. Cary, Burlingame, head cut.
Ollie Young, Poplar Bluff, Mo-, head
badly cut.
A. c. Roark, Newton, head cut.
j. Is. johnson, Minneapolis, badly
bruised.
II. C. Mcclure, Richmond, Mo-, knee
fractured and head badly cut.
w. ID. Minor, Ness City, knee hurt
Ii. S. Foster, Lawrence, Kan, postal
clerk, badly bruised
Il. b. Donohue, Kansas City, leg
mashed and badly bruised.
C. Il. Kinney, express messenger,
Kansas City, slightly bruised.
j. u. Oberlin, postal clerk, Kansas
City, slightly injured in back
The rail was removed at small
bridge which crosses ravine. There
was n down grade run of five miles
from Barclay to that point and the
train was running fully forty-6ve miles
an hour. 1t was impossible for the en-
gineer to see the twisted rail in time to
check the speed of the train and the
coaches piled one over the other until
the baggage and express car was COM
pletely hidden from view The three
Pullman sleepers remained on the
track, but the other cars were COM
pletely demolished.
Men, women and children were piled
over each other, caught in the broken
seats and thrown through the windows
Of the cars Relief first reached the
wrecked train from Emporia.
An examination of the track was
made, and it was found that the fish
plates had been carefully removed and
the bolts taken out and the spikes
drawn from ten ties and the rail bent
over to the inside.
The one million dollars in currency
was on its way from the Mexican Gen.
trial railroad to its headquarters in
Boston.
In examining the ground about the
wreck spot was found in which three
tnen had lain in the grass and tracks
were found leading from this spot to
the track. A wrench and a sledge
hammer, stolen from the Barclay tool
house, were found and the fish plates
and bolts which had been removed
were also discovered.
The passengers were brought to this
city ut 10 o'clock this morning. Some
of the wounded who could not be re-
moved were left at Usage City and the
Others were brought to Christ's hospital
here.
The mysterious feature of the whole
affair is that the robbers did not
make an attempt to take the money,
which could have easily been picked up.
The passengers saw men run for the
brush near by, but it is not known how
many there were. The only clews are
the footprints near the water, where
the drawbar and spikes were found.
William B. Jansen, assistant to Cen
.eral Manager Robinson, in denying a
rumor that the track was not In good
condition, said: 1.-THE wreck occurred
on our main line, and on account of the
grade, it is necessary to keep the track
in perfect condition. The fact that the
fish plates and bolts were found care
fully withdrawn is conclusive evil
-dence."
..,Io-o ,r,1,vHo ~ fc