The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-10-25
TELESCOpED.
Horrible Head-End Collision on the
Grand Trunk Railroad.
Twenty-six People Were Crushed and
Burned to Death in the Wreck.
Many of the Bodies OF the Victims Mutt
lated aud Burned Beyond Recogni-
tion-A Large Number Sustain
Serious Injuries - Accident
Caused by Criminal Care
lessness. 49,
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER

DETAILS OF THE DISASTER
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, Oct 81. -
Twenty-six heaps Of charred, black
ened flesh, all that remains Of what
less than twenty-four hours ago were
men, women and children in their en-
joyment of life, health and happiness,
rests upon the floor in an improvised
morgue in the basement of furniture
store in this city. A mile away in the
city hospital are score or more Of
human beings with gashed bodies and
broken limbs. Added to this an engi-
neer in Jail and conductor fugitive
from the law, and the story is told in
brief, of the latest OF railroad horrors
and one of the most appalling in its
character of this or recent years. This
is the list of the dead and unidentified
bodies:
Z. t Magoon Providence, r. L, identified by
papers In pockctbook.
Woman burned TO a crisp, no clothing romain.
ing
Boy, apparently about ls years old, face and
upper PORTION OF head, as well as feet, burnt to
crisp
W. W. Henry, Woonsocket, r. 1
Male, paper in vest pocket with statement
from John Monroe, banker, New York to C. E.
wenzle.
Male, apparently about oS years old, heavy
build.
Male; apparently weighed about 1870 pounds
Clothing destroyed burnt beyond possibility OF
Identification.
Woman, burnt: hands clenched and horrible
expression OF anguish on face. Had in pocket
OF skirt letters addressed TO Mrs Il, r kensie,
and signed by Mrs. NJ Parker; envelope post
marked Stamford, Conn
Woman, burnt beyond Identification; no
clothing remaining.
Man supposed to be I. A. McGarvey, OF onta-
rio. Gold opened.faced watch In the vest
pocket
Mrs. Charles Van Dusen, OF Sprout Brook, "
Y Burnt to a crisp
Charles Van Dusen. husband OF above, died OF
injuries In the afternoon.
Baby, burnt beyond recognition.
Male, too badly burned for Identification
Male, weight about lSO pounds. Silk hand
kerchief in hand; clothing destroyed; no iden'
tihcaton
Woman. burnt TO a crisp; no Identification.
Man, about l4S pounds no papers; silver
watch with engraved initials wv. A"
Woman, liO pounds; chain bracelet with key
lock on right wrist; burnt to crisp
Woman, weight about 100 pounds no identih'
tion
Woman, burnt beyond Identification; portion
OF black silk dress aud blue striped undersItrt
remaining, also chain bracelet on right wrist
Woman, burnt 10 crisp
Male; supposed from papers 70 be ]. W.
Beardsloy, Of Watkins, N. Y.
Male apparently about ibO pounds; open
faced watch Of Illinois make; no means OF iden.
nacation .
Three oharred trunks; limbs and heads miss
ing; medical examination necessary TO deter
mine sex.
One OF the female bodies is believed TO be that
Of Mrs w. w. Henry OF Woonsoeket R
One OF the male victims Ii believed 10 be WI.
liam Lewis Wilson, OF Ss2 Sheridan road. Ey-
nnston. Ill
Iniured-EzelSiel Davidson, eI.prosident OF
Fairport village, N Y
Miss Belle Williams, Lockport ~ Y, ankle
broken
Mrs, Henry Bursnell, Broekport ~ Y, head
injured
William Thompson, Woodstock, Ont, head
injured
Frank Rogers, Woodstock, Ont. right hand
bruised
Fred wurtz, Rochester, N. Y. left side
bsnised
Eveline Wurtr. daughter Of above, left arm
Harvey Smith. Fort Plain, N. Y, left side
bruised. one rib broken.
Mrs Harvey Smith, Fort Plain, N. Y, right
leg broken
Frank IL Smith, Fort Plain, n. Y, both
limbs crushed; amputated.
Nellie L. Smith, Fort Plain. n. Y, right foot
crushed.
Albert Bradley, Toronto. Ont, left limb
broken; amputated below the knee.
Frank Turner Middle Smiihyille, Pa, injured
an the back.
John S. Stewart Dalton Ill, shoulder bruised
Jennie, daughter OF aboyv, aged II years, left
arm broken
Mrs Vance, Simooe, Can, both limbs broken.
George Vance, Simcoe, Can, son OF above.
aged years, bruised.
Joseph $, Archbell, Evanston, Ill, ankle
smashed.
Direct disobedience Of orders on the
part Of a Chicago & Grand Trunk en-
gineer and conductor, both of whom
had seen long service with the com.
pany and were regarded as model EN-.
ployes, was the cause OF the tragedy,
A Raymond and Whitcomb special
train Of eight palace cars filled with
eastern folks who had been taking in
the sights at the worlds fair left Chi
cago at Sis as the first section Of the
night express known us No 0. The
train was in charge OF Engineer Henry
Woolley and Conductor Burt N. Scott
both residents Of this place. All wen,
well until the Battle Creek depot was
passed. This was at 1887. From here
to the railroad yard, a distance Of Q
mile and half, there Is double track
When the Whitcomb special came x
a full stop in the depot, the night oper
tor handed to Conductor Scott two
copies Of an order for the train to pro
ceed to the double track east OF MAR
street about half mile distant ant
there await the passing OF the west
bound Pacific express known as No o
This train, which was nearly three
hours late, was composed OF thirteer
day coaches and two baggage cars.
Every one OF the fated coaches wa,
packed with eastern people, the major
ity Of whom, taking advantage OF the
low rates, were on their way to take II
the last week OF the exposition. Tn,
Pacific express was in charge OF En-
gineer Gil Cranshaw and Conductor
John Bird, both Of whom had received
orders at Lansing TO lookout for tn,
eastbound train on the double track
and were accordingly on the alert
After receiving his orders at the Bat
tie Creek station Engineer Wooley pro
ceeded up the double track, but in
stead Of stopping in accordance will