The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-21

BATTLE CREEK, Mich, Oct. 2o-The
worst accident of the year occurred
early this morning in the yards OF the
Chicago and Grand Trunk railroad
closely the roundhouse, by which at
least twenty-six persons lost their
lives and double as many more were
badly injured
Raymond and Whitcomb's special
train OF passengers from New York and
Boston was returning from Chicago.
The train was in charge of Conductor
Scott, OF this city, and Engineer Wolley
and took orders at this station to meet
at Nichols No. 0, the passenger express
going west, due at this station az las
O'Clock this morning, but which was
three hours late.
The conductor or engineer or both of
the Raymond special disobeyed orders
and passed Nichols station and collided
with the express coming west at the
rate of about thirty miles an hour. The
two engines were driven into each other
and are total wrecks
The engineers and fremen, when they
saw that collision was inevitable shut
Off steam, reversed engines, put on
oAohCo ohu oil JuupSu AuU escaped
without serious injury. The engineer
of the passenger express was named
Gilcranshow and the conductor, Burke.
The conductor was badly hurt.
When the collision took place the
second and third coaches on No 9, the
train going west, were completely tele-
scoped. AS the third csr crashed
through the second it swept the people
in a mass to the front end OF the latter
4 ~, q ,,., ~.
most of the bodies were afterward
found The cars Immediately took fire
and in an instant they were all in
blaze.
The ME hit yardmen and the nelghbors
in the vicinity were on the scene as
soon as possible. One passenger escaped
through the doorway. Others who
| escaped smashed out the windows and
climbed through. Only three escaped
from the left side, and no more than six
from the other side. All the rest OF the
occupants Of the second coach persisted.
The bodies were burned so badly as
to be almost undergraduate. Nearly
all had their heads, arms or legs burned
off, and but few have been identified.
The engine and baggage car of the,
special were badly wrecked, but the
coaches being sleepers and the train
moving slow, escaped serious injury.
The accident occurred mile from the
fire station and before the water could
be turned on the cars were all burned.
No one on the Raymond special was
injured. The Pacific express was made
up OF thirteen old coaches and four of
them were completely burned, catching
| fire from the lamps in the cars
The tiremen responded promptly to
an alarm sent out from the station but
the wreck was over mile away The
distance OF the nearest hydrant from
the wreck. and the difficulty of driving
the hose wagon between the cars and
tracks delayed them, and the fire had
gotten good Roadway when the line OF
hose was finally laid, it taking 1900
feet to reach the burning cars.
| AT 9 o'clock twenty-six dead bodies
had been taken out of the ruins OF the
wrecked cars and this is supposed to be
the total number OF victims. AS soon
as the charred satchels, valises, pocket
books, watches, etc =, were rescued from
the debris they were turned over 10 the
, ,.ol,ce officials. 1t is hoped that some
OF these grim relics will give clue to
the identity of some OF those who met
such an awful death.
The injured were taken to the Target
House, the railroad office, to the dwell
| ling boarding houses and to the resi-
dences in the immediate vicinity of the
disaster. Fifteen badly injured are now
in the Nichols Hospital. The wreck
was attended with incidents that horri-
fed those obliged to witness them and
some escapes seemed miraculous.
The bodies taken from the burned cars
were in horrible condition, some be-
ing so badly burned and dismem bored
they could only be taken out in pieces.
These pieces were placed in blankets
and baskets and have become so mixed
and separated that it will never BIO
known to whose body they belong.
| Following is q correct list OF the dead,
as identified by cards, and of persons
known to have been on the train and
who are missing: Mrs. c. w. Vandusen,
Fort Plain, N. Y; G. ". Vandusen. Fort
Plain, N. Y, died in the hospital; E. W.
Wirts and James G.. Workman, New
York; Mrs. +. r. Kensie, Stratford,
Ont; III. Opperman. New York Harry
| Archbell, New York; CUM Roberts. New
York; Miss Warren, Garland, N. Y; J.
f. Archbell. New York.
The most horrible sight was that
represented by Mrs. Charles Vandusen,
OF TT. Plain, N. Y. She succeeded in
getting half way out Of the window, but
her legs were fastened. and those who
ran to her assistance could not release
her. She WAS burned to death before
their eyes with one.half OF her body
still hanging out OF the window Her
agony was terrible, but she retained
her senses to the last, giving her name
and address and telling those who were
powerless to save her what friends to
notify OF her fate.
She was q teacher in the Methodist