The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-11
TRAINS CRASH TOGETHER
Disobedience of Orders Results in q
Terrible Railroad Accident.
VICTIMS WERE EXCURSI0NISTS.

Fatal Result of a Head-End Collision
An Accommo odati Dashes Into An Ex
cursion Train on the st. Louis and Sa1
Francisco Road Near st. Louis---Th,
Wreck Due to Neglect of Instructions
ST. LOUIS, No. (SpeciaD. excursion
train on the st. Louis and San francisco
Railroad collided Sunday morning at II
o'clock with the Valley Park accommoda
ton. fourteen miles from the Union Station
Eight persons were killed outright. one dice
while being removed to the hospital, and the
body of woman was buried under the
debris.
The killed: C. c. Blevins: William Cart
wright, thirty-fve years old; Adolph Hohl,
forty-two years cid, engineer of the accom-
mediation train; Frank Hussler, fireman OF
the excursion train: Conrad Kuntz, sixty-hVe
years old; Bernard McKsnna, forty-fve years
old, proprietor of the Arsenal Laundry;
Mrs. Bernard McKenna. body under tne
debris: Mamie McKenna. ten years oia'
daughter Of Bernard McKenna: Charles u.
Mobius, twenty years old; Henry Thole.
thirty-one years old.
There were eleven cars to the excursion
train, all of which were crowded.. More tnan
half the occupants Of these cars were injured
in a greater or less degree, though the list OF
injured as reported to the police is only
twenty-five.
The wreck is the most disastrous that has
happened in tho vicinity OF St. Louis, and it
Is believed is due entirely to the carelessness
of the engineer OF the excursion train. The
excursion was bound for st. James's Springs,
where there was Grand Army reunion and
the dedication Of soldiers monument.
The train was run in two sections, the first
OF eleven cars and the second OF twelve.
Fourteen miles from st. Louis,just beyond
the town OF Kirkwood, there Is switch at
the top of heavy grade. The engineer OF
the excursion had orders to stop at this
stead, he kept on, and evidently believing
that the place to pass was at the switch two
miles further along the line, he sent his train
at full speed down the grade.
In the meantime the Valley Park accom-
modation-two cars, basides the engine
was running toward town, also at high
rate of speed, for the train was late and max
ing Up time. The two trains met at the foot
ofthe grade in a deep cut. There was no
time for anybody to Jump, for the accommo-
dation had rounded curve Just before the
collision.
The crash occurred exactly in front Of the
fourteen mile post and was witnessed by
score of bicyclists who happened to be on the
bluff at the time gathering autumn leaves.
One Of them says there was crash and then
for half minute nothing could be heard ex-
cept the rush Of steam that escaped from one
of the locomotives, which had been partly
Gu: In two. Then screams and groans Of
anguish filled the air and mass OF people
poured from the crowded excursion train and
from the second section, which came up
few moments after.
As soon as the train hands who had not
been wounded and the passengers could re:
gain their presence OF mind they commenced
the work Of rescue. The first body dragged
from the wreck was that Of a little child,
Mamie McKenpa. She was literally out In
two by mass Of metal and was gasptng In
death when taken from under the side OF a
car.
The next body was that of her father. The
child's mother could not be found. Six more
bodies were taken from the wreck and placed
in one Of the excursion cars.
In the meanwhile physicians had arrived
from the little towns near the scene or the
wreck, and in half an hour shey were rein
forced by dozen surgeons from st. Louis.
These did what they could for the many
wounded, tying up severc'l arteries and
bandaging wounded limhs tha! they might
stand the ride to the city At IL o'clock
train was made up Of half the excursion
coaches, and In this the lead and wounded
were conveyed to St. Louis.
The wreck is one Of the most complete
that was ever seen in Missouri. The locomo-
tive of the Valley Park accommodation Is
welded at least two feet into the locomotive
OF the excursion. The first car on the latter
train was combination baggage, and 1t was
In this that the greatest number was killed.
The force Of the collision was such that
pieces OF iron as large as man were hurled
over the thirty-foot enbankment and into
field fifty feet distant.