The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-03-06
TERRIBLY FATAL WRECK.
OVER A PRECIPICE.
One Hundred and Four People Killed
In a Mexican Railroad Wreck.

One of the most frightful accidents in the
history OF the Mexican railroads, resulted IN
the killing of 10i persons and the serious II
not fatal injury Of nearly hundred Others,
occurred Thursday afternoon on the Inter
Oceanic railroad at point about 20 miles
from the City of Mexico.
few days ago a great number Of persons
lett the capitol and the towns in the vicinity
10 20 ON a pilgrimage to the Catholic shrine
at Saere Monte. Tickets for the pilgrimage
were sold Mt reduced rates over the Inter
Oceanic line and this road carried the bulk
Of the pilgrims. Thursday long train, on
board OF which there were 1900 passengers,
was returning from the place Of the pilgrim
aRe.
All went we'll until point about midway
between Temamtla and Tenango was reached.
On this part OF the road there is steep in
cline, the line at one place on 1t having a
sharp curve where II runs close to the edge
OF nigh precipice. This is one OF the most
dangerous places on the road, and was rem
dored more so by the fact that the track here
was not in the best OF condition.
As the train began to run down the incline
the speed began to increase, aud II was soon
running at frightful rate. As the pilot
wheels of tho engine took the dangerous
curve the locomotive swayed outward and
then back. As the drivers went on the curve
either jumped the track or turned rail- 1t
dashed across the scanty space between the
rails and the edge OF the chasm, and then
plunged downward. One after another three
coaches filled with passengers dashed after 1t
and piled up in mass OF wreckage at the foot
OF the precipice.
The next two coaches also jumped the
track, but did not 90 over tho edge of the
precipice. As the nth coach left the metals
II twisted and broke the coupling connecting
II with the coaches behind. These coaches
kept the rails and passed safely around the
curve. After running considerable dis
taDce they were stopped by the hand
brakes.
When the engine akd the three coaches fell
TO the bottom Of the ravine there was fear
ful crash, and mingled with 1t were the
shrieks OF the passengers. The passengers
In the two derailed coaches at the edge OF tho
precipice got out as quickly as possible, and
many OF them .eli on their knees, and offered
thanks for their escape from most awful
death. In the meantime number OF passen-
gers In the other coaches had returned to the
scene OF the wreck and devoted themselves
TO the work of rescuing those imprisoned in
the wreck. The sight here was a most grue-
some one The carriages were shattered and
a majority OF the occupants were lying be-
meath the wreckage. Here and there
among the debris could be seen an upturned
face, the eyes fixed in the CLASSY stare OF
'uo ichturcs WIN uuhhONh
fear. Again, what had been face could be
seen crushed out OF all semblance to human
ity. Here was an arm, there was leg that
had been severed from trunk lying perhaps
so feet away.
The train hands were Americans, and some
OF them as soon as possible telegraphed news
OF the disasterto Mexico city. The intelligence
quickly spread and caused the greatest con-
sternation among the inhabitants, many OF
whom had relatives or friends on the train.
A relief train was dispatched to the scene.
Aided by some OF the men who were in the
coaches that did not go over the railroad en-
ployes and the relief corps soon cleared away
the wreckage sufficiently to allowthe extrica-
tion OF the dead and wounded.
One hundred and four dead and S5 wound
ed we're taken out OF the wreck. The injur-
brought to the City Of Mexico and taken to
the military hospital, which was thrown
open to the sufferers by orders from President
Diaz. Many OF the dead will never be identi-
fed, being so horribly manged.
SO far as can be learned, the accident was
due TO the negligence OF the engineer. 1t is
stated that when the train entered the In.
cline he made no attempt to check Its speed
by the use OF the air brakes Had the brakes
failed to work, the momentum could have
been checked with the hand brakes; but per-
sons on the train state that they heard nc
whistle for the application Of the hand
brakes. The engineer and fireman are be-
lieved to be under the wreck OF the engine
and tender, and why the train was allowed to
run practically wild on one Of the most dan.
gerous sections Of the roud will probably
never be known.