The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-03-08
'ME HUNDRED WERE KILLED.
Frightful Railroad Wreck Near The
CITY OF Mexico,
Down THE SIDE OF 4 MOUNTAIN.

Three Coaches Packed with Pilgrims
Jump the Track While Roundinga
CurYe-Many injured.
CITY OF MEXICO. March a.-onsof the
most frightful accidents in the history
Of the Mexican railroads, resulting IN
ths killing Of iO4 persons and the Sc
riOps, if not fatal, injury Of 100 others,
occurred on the hterocesnic railroad %
miles from this city. A few days ago a
great number Of persons left the capital
and the towns in the vicinity to go on a
pilgrimage to the Catholic shrine at
SaOre Monte. A long tram, aboard Of
which there were 200 passengers, was
returning from the place Of pilgrimage.
It went well until a point on the line
about midway between Timalntla and
TensngO was reached. On this part of
the road there is q steep incline, the
line at one place having a sharp curve
where it runs close to the edge Of 0
high preoipiee.
As the train began to run down the
incline many of the passengers were
laughing and joking, while others were
looking out Of the windows at the rap
idly passing scenery, which at this
pOins is superb. Soon the spssd of the
train began 70 increase and it was soon
running at a frightful rats. The pas
sengers ceased their joking and looked
st each other with a strange fear de-
picted in their faces Steadily the mo.
mentum of the train, which was now
swaying and bounding fearfully, in
creased and soon the dangerous curve
was reached. AS tbs pilot wheels Of
the engine struck the curve the locomo-
tive swayed outward and then back.
as ths drivers went on the curve the
engine again swayed heavily aud then
jumped the track or turned rail. It
dashed across the scanty space between
the rails and the edge OF the chasm and
then plunged downward.
One after another three coaches
filed with passengers dashed after it
and piled up in a mass Of wreckage at
the foot Of the precipice. The next two
coaches also jumped the track, but most
fortunately did not go over the edge Of
the pTecipice. As the fifth coach left
the rails, it twisted and broke the
coupling connecting it with the coaches
behind it. These coaches kept the rails
and passed safely around the curve. Al
ter running a considerable distance they
were stopped by the handbrakes. When
the engine and the three coaches fell to
the bottom of the ravine, there was a
fearful crash and mingled with it were
the shrieks Of the affrighted passengers,
which could be easily heard above the
shrieking Of the escaping steam Of the
engine, which was knocked to pieces by
the fall.
The train hands were Americans and
some Of them as soon as possible tels-
graphed news Of the disaster to this
city. The intelligence quickly spread
and caused the greatest CONSERVATION
among the inhabitants, many Of whom
had relatives OF friends on the train.
Railroad officials displayed commend
able activity and an ambulance, medi-
cines, bandagas, etc, was promptly dis
patched to the scene. Arriving there
everything that was possible to alleviate
the sutfeTings Of the injured, some Of
whom were IN such agony that they
prayed for death to relieve them from
their tortures Aided By some Of the
men who were in Tho coaches that did
not go over, the railroad employees and
the relief corps soon cleared away the
wreckage sufficiently to allow the xtri.
cation Of the dead and injured One
hundred and four dead and So wounded
were taken ont OF the wreck.
The injured who could stand TO be
moved were brought to Che City Of
Mexico on the special train and taken to
the military hospital, which was thrown
open TO the sufferers by order OF Pre5i-
dent Diaz, The whole staff Of the hos
pital busted themselves in attending TO
the injured, who vera made as com
Portable as the circumstances permitted.
Many Of the dead will never be inlenti-
fed, some Of them being so horribly
mangled that it is almost impossible to
recognize the remains as those OF hui
man beings.
As is the case in Mexico. whenever a
railroad accident occurs the feeling is
very bitter against the railroad company
and the train hands. Al the latter who
survived viii be held to strict accognta-
bility under the Mexican law although
as a matter Of fact they were IN no way
responsible for disaster.