Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-10-21
THAT AWFUL WRECK
The Accident Said 10 DO Due 10 tho
Negligence Of The Engineer.
APpALLlSGsleaIsN THE MoRGUg
Survivors Relate Their Experiences.
Mrs. Van Dussn's Awful
Fate.

In charge Of Conductor Scott OF THIS
city. Engineer Henry Wooley was
pulling It, aud there appears 10 be no
doubt that Engineer wooloy's negh-
gence caused the accident Tho con-
duotor and engineer received orders
here TO meet the Pacific express ut
Nichols. Engineer woOley got the
orders at Battle Creek, apd getting
beyond the stretch Of double track,
kopt right on At fattling pace. lie met
the Pacific express half a mile or less
below the meeting point made TOT MIN.
The Pacific opnress WINS coming at
thirty miles an hour. From Nichols a
curve uegins. 20 it was inn O.sihle for
either engineer to sec the other until
the headlights appeared. They had
scarcely time 10 reverse, apply the AFT
brakes anu save themselves as best they
could.
The Baltic Creek Ere department
did heroic work. They received the
alarm 1--WE minutes after the accident.
The horses could not DO driven between
the cars because Of the flames, -
rope was hiluhcd 20 the chemical, anu
u was hauled by hand into position
and the rear sleeper "5nbinA," saved.
Tho nfemon took out ever body and
practically cleared away the debris.
The bodies were loaded ON fiat car
and taken 20 Battle Creek station, and
then conveyed into Ranger y Earley's
uudertsking.roOms where u morguo
was exitmpoTized. The scene at the
mofguo appalled, the atoutsat hearts.
Tho dead were ranged along the side OF
the dark basement, which was illumin-
hted by feeble fliokering jet. Not a
shred Of clothing WAS lett upon them,
and the remains were 30 mAngled ana
disngured that they rosembled nothing
but AN ancient mummy that might
have been disiiguTed before death.
The best preserved corpse was that
Of hoy about u years Old. a fringe
OF hair Of reddish hue WAS left about
the ears ana base Of the skull. The
upper part Of the head was gone, con-
sumcd by the flames. A portion Of
the brains protrudod and were Of n
white yollowish color. They were
literally cooked.
Another OF the best preserved bodies
was that Of man Of powerful physi.
cal frame. This flames licked the VIC
tins face, shoulders and body, but tho
features aud contour Of tho figure re-
main rs In life, and might bo identified
by those familiar with his appearance,
and these two worO the least SCARED
aud best preserved OF that row Of
twenty unTrcognizable dead.
Survivors tell vivid stories Of their
experiences. II. q. Crowley OF Port
Huron, ut the time OF the accident,
had Just LETT his brother, w. IL. Crow
ley, in the second coach. lie couldn't
find him after the wreck, aud spent oil
day In futile search.
John &. Stewart, Of Dalton, ILL.,, had
his body badly bruised, aud his daugh-
ter, Jennie, was ALEC seriously injured,
and had her arm broken. He had two
children with him, boy and u girl.
This boy herolcally rescued his sister,
pulling her out through n coach win
dow.
&. G. Van Dusen, OF Sproutbrooll, n.
Y, was accompanied by his wife, on
thslr way TO the Fair. He was taken
out OF tho wreck crushed aud bruised,
aud taken TO the hospital, where he
died Ia a short time. lilo was conscious
10 the last, and calmly arranged his
business Affairs, leaving everything Ia
the hands OF his friend, Rev. George
Culp. He did not know VI the awful
fate Of his wife.
Aln. Van Dusen was pinned In the
telescoped cars, anu nj first had no
doubt OF escape. Al she looked out Of
the window and awaited the TtscueIs
the alarm Of fire was givon. "Hurry
up, please" she said.
A minute later, while strong men
were Atrainiug TO CNtricate her, the
flames began TO creep rapidly towards
her. "YOu than't burn; wen get you
out" cried the men, M they wrestled
irHntically with the aplintered timber.
The resCuers became giants In
strength and mhdmen In desperation
and struggled wildly with tho tangled
mass OF wood and iron. The woman
WIS silent and gazed implOtlngly into
the faces Of the bremen.
Only God, Obi my GodW suddenly
burst from the Hips OF one of the heroic
workers, ana In that deepniging cry the
helpless woman read her death war
Iantshe gave one ngonizod wall, ana
then her w0man's weakuoas gave way
10 martyrs strength.
81 eau die, oh yes, / can de, ~
must" She Fald aOothingly 60 tho
strong men who were weeping lin their
impotent strength.
Again they struggled 10 rescue, but
the flames were euciroiing the patty
the crash had spared.
81 am a ChflsliRn," she said 70.
signedly, and moment later her
voice was raised In pIayei. The
flames now completely oncircled the
helpless victim, aud the hromrn were
driven away as tho blaZe caught her
nrmt; and ~ Sue fought wildly 10
keep the flames from her face she told
her npmo anu address aud left mes.
tages Of love TO her husband anu
family,
The closing minute was pathetic
struggle against the inevitable, but II
was the tceh that struggled, not tho
spirit. While thn face OF tho woman
gnEed heavenwnrd, aud her lips moved
IN prayer, even the Jury OF the flames
that wTeathed her limbs ana blisteiud
aud eufled her whole II sh, were pow.
eriess 10 provoke scream.
Suddenly, there was a swRylng and
. suig.ug Of the burning timbers above
her, a wild groan burst simultan,.
Ousy from the lips of the apectgtors
anu strong men wept Through their
tears they Jaw tho flames eweep
around tue face OF the mnrtyred wo.
man and her hair burned wildly for n
moment, Her head dropped to QUE
side ns the victim inhaled the flames;
the praying Inns were stillpd, anu
the soul VI Mrs Van Dusen had passed
beyond the Jury Of tho elements OF the
earth.
An hpuF later her husbaph Tor