The morning call., 1893-05-08
DASHED TO DEATH
Fatal Railroad Wreck in
Indiana.
TEN LIVES LOST OUTRIGHT.
A Wild Train on the Big Four Road
Smashes Into the Station
at Lafayette.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

LAYFAYETTE. Ind, May 7.-One Of the
mos: horrible wrecks in the history of rail-
roading occurred on the Big Four road in
this city at 1915 O'clock this morning, as
tie result Of which ten men are now dead
and many more injured.
The wrecked train was the eastbound
passenger. leaving Chicago at 9 p. NJ. and
the wreck was caused 10y the failure of the
airbtakes to work. the engineers desper-
ate efforts to stop the train are shown by
the large nmoput of sand thrown by MIN
on the bridge over which the train
came just before thu fatal crash and by the
vigorous whistling for brakes.
The Inflated train, wheF almost mile
from the station. was found to be running
wild, dashing around curves and tearing
across Long Bridge, although the man at
the throttle had reversed the machinery
and streams Of fire we're being dashed from
the driving wheels running in the opposite
direction TO that Of the swiftly flying cars
that followed.
Just before leaving the east end of Long
Bridge the tracks describe a semicircle at
Midway Point, where the union station is
located. When the engine struck this sharp
curve it lett the track, followed by the cars
in an awful swirl.
The engine dashed out of the bridge over
the Wabash River at a speed OF not less
than sixty mi es an hour. crashing into the
depot building, tearing off a portion ana
carrying the train sheds several hundred
feet. The engine, when 1t left the track.
was followed by the baggage ear, two
postal ears and the express car.which were
piled in one promiscuous mass, 4 total and
Il. oftra
OF victims in the debris. The chair car
and Two Pullman sleepers remained on the
track To add to the CONSERVATION fire
broke out from a stove in the baggage ear,
but the fire department speedily eXtin-
Rushed the flames.
A large crowd gathered quickly at the
scene Of The disaster aud assisted in Tescu-
ing the victims. and a large force Of local
physicians gave he necessary attention to
the wounded. Several victims OF the
wreck were persons standing in the depot
waiting for the train.
The dead are as follows:
Michael Welch, engineer, Indianapolis.
Fireman McInnis, indianapolis.
Z. D. Myers. Logausport, mall clerk.
McMahon, Cincinnati, mail clerk.
Charles Meyers, Lafayette, hackman.
JOIl 16uuOit I-dlhl elteB lldI4-Cdl I III fsI
Jesse Il. Long, Lebanon. Ind, mail clerk.
Charles Schahill, Indianapolis.
Otto Jerselson, Chicago.
These were all irIghtfully crushed and
manEled, limbs being severed in several
instances and bodies terribly disfgured.
The injured are as follows: Jefferson
Reese, Kemp:on; Richard Jones, Pontiac.
ILL.,, Louis LETTER. Fowler; Sophas Bergen
hale. Milwaukee; William Place, Frank
fort. Ind; Charles Rnush, Lafayette; VIII
liam Bechtell. Lebanon. Ind. and c. a.
Wissell, A. ". CorHahan. L. A. Wertsol
and j. y. Vickert, all mail clerks from
Cincinnati.
The damage TO property will be fully
$4,000 Superintendent Bender arrived
at an early hour, and, under the direction
of trained wreckers. the track was soon
cleared and ready for the resumption Of
traffic.
The injured were removed to their homes
OF the hospital. and no other fatalities are
expected than those noted.