The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1892-01-23
THE FATAL RAIL.
A Broken Rail Causes Bad Wreck on the
Northern Pacific Road and Disaster to an
Opera Troupe.

A Broken Rail Causes Bad Wreck on the
Northern Pacific Road and Disaster to an
Opera Troupe.
BRAINERD, Mimi, Jan. 16.-The
second section of a Northern Pacific
passenger train with the Andrews
Opera company on board left West SUI
perior at midnight for Grand Forks,
Near Jonesville the train struck a
broken rail. The engine and baggage
car 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 car and when he did 80 no
fire was visible, but as soon as windows
were broken to liberate those inside
flames shot out and in very short time
the car was enveloped Trainmen soon
liberated those who were unable to ex-
tricate themselves, but none were able
to save their clothes, and the night be-
ing the coldest Of the season-the ther-
mometer reaching 36 below-their suf-
fering was terrible.
At this time it 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 mass of flames. The in
jured were placed in a baggage car and
brought to Braiuerd.
The list of the dead and injured as
Gov os ohfo;pad Ia 20 foIlouvss
Mrs. Ed Andrews (known as Miss
Mamie Wilkinson), burned to death.
!Tillie 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. L. +. Barker, Miss Fritsch's sis.
ter, shoulder dislocated
Marie Roe, soprano, slightly burned
and bruised.
George Andrews, barytone, burned
on arms.
Louise Harris, chorus girl, burned OF
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. E. Barker, son of Mra Barker
burned on hands and arms.
WA. With, chorus, slightly injured
Bert Lincoln, chorus, arm fractured
G. E. Moody, leader of orchestra
slightly burned.
Mrs. AL Wakefield, wife of advanc
agent, foot frozen.
G. w. Andrews, business manager
badly burned and cut
Grace Hale, chorus, slightly burned
Willy Rhys, orchestra, hands slight
injured and burned.
Etna Hurning. chorus, feet frozen.
Mrs Enhoare, badly burned.
C. A. Parker, comedian, back il
jured.
The bodies Of the two women burne
to death were charred beyond all recol
milton, the heads, legs and arms bein
entirely gone.
The train was running smoothly an
not faster than twenty-five miles a
, hour, when there came terrific lure
which suggested at first to the trai
hands that the engine had plunge
through culvert Everyone in tt
baggage car was pitched against i
, sides and more or less hurt. Whe
the full extent of the wreck b.
, came apparent organized effor
: were at once made to save the occ,
pants of the sleeper. Twenty wei
taken out most of them badly injured
There was no outcry from the en-
berth occupied by Mrs. Andrews an
4 her maid. 1t was thought they ha
: escaped and before second effol
}, could be made in their behalf the CT
s was enveloped in flames Conductc
Hall believes that both were Instant
n killed when the car capsized.
II All the members of the opera con
q pany were fast asleep when the cras
came. An overturned stove caused th
fire.
% The accident was an unavoidable on
the rail breaking some five yards fro
} the end, the piece breaking in fly
pieces. The members of the compar
o lost every thing except stage clothe
d including musical instrumental, watch,
a and money.