Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-01-21
rns FATAL RAIL.
A Broken Rail Causes lad Wreck on the
Northern Pacific Road and Disaster TO An
Opera troupe


A broken Rail Causes had wreck on the
Northern Pacific Road and Disaster TO An
Opera Troupe
BRAINERD, MINI, Jan 16 The
second section of a Northern Pacific
passenger train with the Andrews
Opera company on board left West SUI
perior at miinight for Grand Forks.
Near Jonesyille the train struck a
broken rail The engine and baggage
ear passed over in safety, but the sleep
Ing car Of the opera company was de-
rallied and ran some 800 feet on the ties,
when It toppled over, broke loose from
the train and went down an embank-
ment some five feet high.
The Pullman conductor, Herbert S.
Scott was one OF the first TO get out Of
the wrecked ear and when he did so no
fire was visible, but as soon as windows
were broken TO liberate those inside
flames shut out and in a very short time
the car was enveloped. Trainmen soon
liberated those who were unable to ex-
tricate themselves, but none we're able
TO save their clothes, and the night be-
ing the coolest OF the season---the ther-
mometer reaching 80 below-their suf-
fering was terrible.
At this time 1t was discovered that
Mrs Ed Andrews and Tillie Wallace,
her maid. were missing, but no human
effort could render them assistance, as
the car was a mass Of flames The in
iured were placed in baggage car and
brought to Brainerd.
The list of the dead and injured as
far as obtained is as follows:
Mrs Ed Andrews (lxnown as Miss
Mamie Wikinson), burned to death.
Tillle Wallace, OF Minneapolis,
burned to death.
Florence JOY, chorus girl, severely
burned on back and head, probably
fatally
May Douglass, chorus girl, burned
on head and arms
Letitia Fritsch. prima donna, burned
on head and arms.
Mrs. J. f. Barker. Miss Fritsch's sis
ter, shoulder dislocated
Marie Roe, soprano, slightly burned
an / bruised.
George Andrews, barytone, burned
on arms
Louise Harris, chorus girl, burned on
neck and arms.
Jay A. Taylor, tenor, cut and bruised
Ed Allen, chorus, burned on neck.
Fred Allen, chorus, bruised
Josie shearer, chorus girl, slightly
burned.
w f. Barker, son of Mrs Barker
burned on hands and arms.
w. A. With chorus, slightly injured
Bert Lincoln, chorus, arm fractured
&. + Moody, leader OF orchestra,
slightly burned
Mrs. Al Wakefield, wife Of aivalce
agent foot frozen.
c w. Andrews, business manager
badly burned and cut
Grace Hale, chorus, slightly burned
Willy Rhys, orchestra, hands slightly
In jured and burned.
Etna Hurning. chorus, feet frozen.
MIS- Enhoare, badly burned.
c. A. Parker, comedian, back In
jured
The bodies Of the two women burned
to death were charred beyond ali recog-
milton, the heads legs and arms being
entirely gone.
The train was running smoothly and
not faster than twenty five miles an
hour. when there came terrific lurch
which suggested at first TO the train
hands that the engine had plunged
through d culvert Everyone in the
baggage car was pitched against its
sides and more or less hurt When |
the full extent Of the wreck be- |
came apparent organized efforts
were at once made to save the occu-
pants OF the sleeper. Twenty were
taken odt, most OF them badly injured |
There was no outcry from the end |
berth occupied by Mrs. Andrews ana |
her maid II was thought they had |
escaped and before second effort
could be made in their behalf the car
was cnveloped in flames Conductor
Hall believes that both were instantly |
killed when the car capsized
All the members Of the opera com |
pany were fast asleep when the crash /
came. An overturned stove caused the /
dre.
I he accident was an unavoidable one, /
the rail breaking some FIVE yards from /
the end, the piece breaking in five I
pieces. The members of the company /
lost everything except stage clothes
including musical instruments, watches (
and money