The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Description of the Terrible Wreck-Ajr
Brakes Gave Out.

Description OF the Terrible Wreck-Air
Brakes Gave Out.
LAFAYETTE. Ind, Nav 7.-One of the
most horrible wrecks in the history of
railroading occurred on the Big -Four
road in this city at 1:l5 this
morning, as a result of whichten men
Ere now dead and many manv more
injured. The train was the east-bound
passenger, leaving Chicago ats D. IN.
The accident was caused by the failure of
of the sir-brakes to work. The engineer
undoubtedly discovered this before reach
ing the cut beyond the Wabash river, as
vigorous whistling of the engine for
brakes could be heard when the train was
still a mile west of the city. The en-
gineer's desperate eifor. to stop the train
was shown by the large amount OF sand
thrown by him in the bridge through
which the train came just before the fatal
crash.
Terrific Speed
The engine dashed out Of the bridge
over the Wabash river at speed not less
than sixty miles an hour. crashing into
the depot building, carrying off a portion
of the depo. and train sheds, carving them
several hundred feet The engine. when
il left the track, was followed by the bag
gage car. two postal cars. and express car
and all were piled IN one promiscuous
mass total and complete wreck, burying
a score of victims in the awful pile OF
debris.
The trucks of the first day coach were
dragged out and the side of the car
knocked into fragments, but no passeng gers
in this car were injured. The chair car
and two Pullman sleepers remained on
the track. The wreck was a most complete
one, the engine and cars being torn to
pieces and piled up together with their
contents.
Fire Broke Out.
To add to the CONSERVATION fire broke
out from the stove in the baggage car. but
the city fire department speedily extin-
9uished the fames A large crowd of cit
liens grthered quickly at the scene of the
disaster and assisted in rescuinS the vic
Tins, and large force OF local physicians
gave the necessary attention TO the
wounded. Several victims of the wreck
were persons standing in the depot watt
ing for the train.
The damage by property destroyed will
be fully $4,000, while the subsequent
losses which will grow out of the disaster
WAAA nun o AhO bOhdi q NCi ASC BULL nC
accident was caused by the failure of the
air brakes to work properly. High bluffs
rise on the west bank of the Wabash Just
opposite the city, and there is long aud
steep grade at that point.
The Awful Discovery.
The Inflated train must have been q
mile up the grade from the river when
the engineer made the discovery that
there was something wrong with the air.
for he began to shrilly whistle for hand
brakes. The speed had by that time in
creased so terrifcally, however, that
its control was beyond human agency.
With almost lightning like-speed the
engine dashed around the curves end
across the long bridges. although the man
at the throttle had reversed the machin-
cry. and immense streams of fire were be-
ing dashed off from the driving wheels,
running in opposite direction to that OF
the swiftly flying cars that followed
Just after leaving the east end of the
long bridge over the Wabash, the tracks
describe a semi-circle at the midway point
of which the union station is located.
Piled One Hundred Feet High.
When the engine struck that sharp
curve it left the track, followed by the
cars. in an awful swirl, and they piled