The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-01-21
A BROKEN RAIL.

II Causes a Frlghtful Disaster in Minne-
sOta--The Wrecked Cars Take Fire and
Two Female Members of the Andrews'
Opera Company Are Burned to Death
Many Others Injured.
BRA1NARD, Mimi, Jan 16. A fright
full railroad accident occurred on the
Northern Pacific road miles east of
Rrainard at o'clock a. NJ. Friday The
second section of No. ., with the
Andrews opera company on board, left
West Superior at midnight for Grand
Forks. Near Jonesville the train
struck broken rail, the engine and
baggage car passing over in safety,
but the sleeping car was derailed and
ran some 800 feet on the ties when it
toppled over, breaking loose from the
train, and went down an embankment
some five feet high, lying on its side.
In minute all was confusion. The
sleeping inmates realized their peril.
The Pullman CONDUCTOR Herbert c.
Scott, was one of the first to get out
side, and whep he did SO no fire was
visible, but as soon as windows were
broken to liberate those inside, flames
shot out, and in very short ord.r the
car was enveloped.
Willing hands of trainmcn soon liber-
ated those who were unable to eXtri-
cate themselves. but none were able
to save their clothes and the night be-
ing the coolest Of the season. the ther-
mometer reaching 46 below, the suffer
ing of the injured was terrible.
At this time it was discovered that
Mrs Ed Andrews and Lille Was were
missing, but no human effort could
render them assistance. as the car was
a mass of flames. The injured were
placed in baggage-car and brought to
Brainard and quartered at the Earring
ton hotel. A list of the dead and in
iured, so far as obtained, is as follows:
Mrs Ed Andrews fknown Miss Mamie
Wilkinson), burned to death: Mrs. L. Wallace, of
Minneapolis, burned to death: Florence JOY,
verely burned on back and head, will probably
die; May Douglas, burned on head and arms will
probably recover: Miss Letitia Frtch, burned
on hands and arms: Mrs. l.. F. Barker, shoulder
dislocated: Miss Marie Roe, slightly burned and
bruised: George Andrews, burned on arms;
Miss Ella Harris burned on neck and arms: J.
c. Taylor. cut and bruised; H. Allen, burned on
neck; Fred Allen, bruised Miss Jo Shearer,
slightly burned; l.. F. Barker burned on hands
and face; w. A. Wirth. chorus, slightly in
jured; Bert Lincoln chorus, arm fractured: G.
F. Moody, leader of orchestra. slightly burned;
Mrs. Al Wakefield, wife of advance agent. feet
frozen; c. W. Andrews, business manager bad
ly burned and cut: Miss Grace Hale, chorus
slightly burned; Willie Rhys, orchestra, hands
slightly burned: Etna H'lrning, chorus, feet
frozen; Mrs. Enheare, badly burned; G. A.
Parker, comedian, back injured; J. l.. Watson
feet frozen.
Miss Douglas, when she was
brought from the car, was literally en-
veloped in flames, her hair being on
fire. The women were nearly nude,
but were wrapped up as they were
taken out. The bodies of the two
women burned to death were
charred beyond all recognition, the
heads. legs and arms being entirely
gone. Mr.. Ed Andrews rescued their
little baby, and supposed his wife was
safe until count was made. lie is
wild with grief. The members of the
company lost all they possessed, except
stage clothes, incluling musical in
struments, watches and money.