The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-10-26

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were loaded on fiat car at the seen,
of the wreck and taken to Battl,
Greek station of the Grand TrunE
railroad, thence to Bangor & Farley
undertaking rooms where a morgut
had been extemporiZed.
While everything was done that ex-
perienced hands could do to relieve
the remains OF their ghastly appear
ance the scene at the morgue after the
dead were taken out appalled, the
stoutest heart. The dead were ar.
ranged along the side of dark base,
ment, which was illuminated by a
feeble, Pickering let. They rested or
/ sheets of canvas and covering of the
same material was over them. No one
after a careful examination of some OF
the bodies, could say which was male
and which was female. No shred OF
clothing was left upon them and the
remains were so mangled and dis.
Inquired that they resembled nothing
but an ancient mummy that might
have been disfigured by death. The
best preserved corpse was that of a
boy about 10 years of age. A fringe of
hair, which was of reddish color,
was left about the ears and base of
the skull. The upper part of the head
had been consumed by the flames. A
portion of the brain protruded,
literally cooked, The boys body was
free from any bruises or cuts. The up,
per portion of the body and legs were
not badly burned. Examination would
lead to the belief that the lad had not
been fortunate enough to receive any
blow severe enough to cause death
and must have persisted by fire in full
consciousness of his fate.
Another of the best preserved bodies
was that of a man with powerful ply.
sique. Some of the under clothir g that
covered the lower portion of his BODY
and his shoes were untouched by the
flames that licked the victim's face,
shoulders and body. Those parts are
black as ebony. This body had no
articles upon it that might lead to
Identification, but the features and
contour of the figure remain as in life
and might be identified by those ia
miliar with his appearance. These
two were least Scared and best pre-
served of "a row of 25 recognizable dead.
Other remains were those only in
parts, some of the bodies headless,
some armless and all shriveled and dis.
figured beyond resemblance to human
beings. The undertakes received
several enquiries from eastern people
today regarding the disposition of re-
mains of those known to be among
the killed. A dozen others telegraphed
tonight making inquiries about friends.
The 9th victim will be added to the
list before morning. This will be F.
II. Smith, a lad of 18. One of his legs
was amputated early in the evening
He is failing very rapidly. His sister,
mother and father, also here, were
severely but not fatally hurt. Albert
Bradley is next of the most seriously
injured. One of his legs was ampu-
tated. The rest of the patients are
and were out of danger at
midnight.
Conductor Scott denies the state
Iuent of Engineer Wooley. He said:
Il got orders at Battle Creek to meet
No at the double track and under
stood them and did not forget them.
compared orders with the engineer
and we agreed. l had no conversation
with Wooley after the train started. l
lid not tell him No. had gone by u.s.
went into the baggage car soon after
We left Battle Creek, taking it for
granted that the engineer knew where
lie was going, did not discover that
lie had run by the double track until
We were struck. In fact, l had no time
% find out such was the case, as
Judge it was not more than half
minute after we lett the double track
until we met the other train"
The most awful experience of this
terrible affair was that of Mrs Vandu-
zen of Sproutbrook, N. Y, who was
burned to death with her hands free
md in full possession of her senses in
pite of the utmost erdeavors to save
Ter. Soon after the wreck occurred |
Mr. Vandusen was removed from be-
heath pile of debris and taken to the
hospital where he died in ashort time.
lie was conscious to the last. He left |
lis business affairs in the hands of
Rev. George Cup of this city, friend, |
md died without knowing that his
wife had received the most awful fate
If all.