The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-13

Omaha. July I2-omahA Is a city OF
mourning today The bright Saboa@h
morning brought the fun realization Of
the sreatest catastrophe that ever wreak-
cd dearh and desosation IN the hearts and
nresaeS Of the people. Never before has
faEs, with one awful stroke made so many
nournErs. TwenFy-@ight people were killed
and ffty-one seriously injured, many OF
whom wfi die. Twenty-four dead are
identified and the remains OF others are
80 badly maniaSed that Identification Is
kfaruSy possible. al s1mbsance Of human
by being crushed out OF the corpses.
II vas not until after the morning papers
were out that the first authentic snforna-
ton WAS generally known. Then Il spread
with wonderful rapsdsty. The early riser
IN the residence district glanced al has
morning paper and for the frst time real
lied the calamity Those VINO had no
friends on the Inflated train were almost
equally concerned and long before the
motor trains started hundreds OF men and
women waikei down to learn something
more OF the terrible catastrophe. These
were added to the thousands to whom the
story brought the fear or certainty OF a
personal bereavement.
The depot was the center toward which
al turned and when the morning trains
brought their sad burden Of dead and dy-
ng the depot approaches were thickiy
nassed with people. Very Htfle was said
next act In the tragedy. But one eenti-
mens was everywhere voiced IL was
burning indignation at the action of the
Railroad company in refusing satisfaction
70 the thousands OF men and women who
han wafted through the night 10 hear
some news of their loved ones. Only those
who had seen the pathetic scenes that
marked the night could fully realize the
brutality that dicta ted such a policy The
spectacle or rafnting women ard strong
men In tears. while the railroad officials
only hardened their hearts and gr4rnly
ssdlea that tney were not giving out In
icfHlation, inspired a degree OF lndigrla-
ton that viii not die out for years 10
come.
The list OF the injured Is a, lengthy one
lt contains at least fifty or more
names OF persons who were seriously hurt.
dangerously so TO greater or less de-
gree. In addition there were at least 100
II not greater number. who received in
1nries or q minor nature. These consisted
OF bruises and cuts or slight disfIgiire-
ments which win practically amount TO
nothing. A considerable number were
also shaken UP but not injured. This was
specially the case among passengers who
occupied the cars Immediately behind the
one which was demolished The inciden-
TAI fright. combined with TIE shock threw
both men and women into Mysteries. but
owing TO the work devolved upon the ply
sictans In caring for the desperately hurt
such individuals remained without med
fcal attendance and were allowed to get
over their attacks as best they could. The
condition. however. left It's effect upon
great numbers OF the passengers and when
they alighted from the trains they were
all In trembie and many OF them. al
though their limbs were sound and their
general physical condition WAS unimpair-
ed. required the assistance OF friends 70
lead them away TO their homes. II was a
pitiable sight TO see so many strong men
rs weak as any woman.
II took much time to prepare the injured
for their Journey 10 this city II was nee
essary 10 transport them 10 a considerable
distance after the wounds were dressed.
Owing to the number IL took still more
time for the physicians, even though they
worked as hard and as fast as they could.
10 adjust the handages and 10 tenderly
dress the ghastiy wounds that caused men
and women and children 20 scream In their
agony
Thus 10 was that hours elapsed after the
departure OF the first section OF the re-
turn train, which carried the unhurt be-
fore the second section was started. The
latter carried all the wounded whose hurts
were OF any magnitude. It had also on
board such friends Of the injured as would
not Be torn away from or forced 20 leave
the sides OF their suffering loved ones. The
section consisted Of two coaches. a bag
gage car and Pullman They were almost
crowded 20 an uncomfortable degree in
order 20 hold the great number that board
ed e The baggage car was reserved for
those who required cots-au6 stretchers for
the Journey. The other was for those
who were able 10 SIT up or were less In
tured
The scenes which were prexecFted within
the two cars were such as 10 never be
forzotten by those who witnessed them.
y.s.-s Ss4ars-2 xsfrh ha
strongest heart grow weak and sick.
They we're scenes that caused the tears
"a swell up even though every one OF the
pareiciIants were strangers. They were
scenes of TIRE 6treSt wee and laTnenta tons
The interior Of the baggage car presented
the most pathetic StSht. Here were
ranged end 20 end cots which bore the
most seriously injured They flisd the
car 20 SIS fullest capacity. Room vas
hardy allowed for the FslyS3ctans 20 pass
from one bed - anotfyer IN their Efforts
IA alleviate tAe rains C< t9e sufferers as
much as sassr powers would allow. Creams
and screams fs'et ere car from one end
OF enc Trip 10 tse other.
Besides each CT AMI bending over the
ss,sss-asyt knelt or iay the attendants.
y.areuts or brother cr sister. husband or
g.ffe Tears ~sreaxnea Down their faces as
hey terzslssi % me wants cf the suffering.
fann{ns Nth bar or fan, ffanw the gsass
70 the ssp 90 gertlg soothing by word or
hard Hearts Were silently breaking as
they waschet the q1fses cT moaning form
ws,lch IN many cases was struggling w4sh
doagh.
The sSshs IN the other car was a ystia-
bsa one n this car, sfresSaeS on the
seas sNsazhest in Essrs3sEes. were those
wae.se lasarses were 0sf of sr8ch q char
es~sar as % force away thought. nor were
fAe astegtiorS they rscetved sufacssns 20
n-pwent ahssr AtIeEszusS from dwelling
ssssa ere disaster Almost without sx-
eeptker they haas heen passengers IN the
Gar q death ard had toSt some ere r. the
crash The thoughts Of the dead caused
Sszae 70 weep silently. others 90 stare stos-
ssfy .yr xzaustty. aS they had been
uAr,sssk 6urne by the bows, others 20
xh-ssk a3esHs n thssr anguish.
Tee -s,n % RE deaS belonging in OzraSa
numbers es<ae~sa TsxneS. ne compsess
ssss nesng as follows
JeSn NcDer-scys. Ssxs~c-sA ard Mich
assS streets. nsAcainsSt AZ the unbon Pa
csse sAcys~
TsAn klusNv.
Tsg,l.sg< sys4lre. SCR - Jonh C7&ire sx-
a.~ssssrs boiler tnxy~-ecr
Foaa = IsrtS. esvT,oysG by ~ CruaSz
News csonsuszy. as asxze0y o. thv Rsck
I=g2rt train
gsha rArSon- a<sst NsSS.ls Is vears. w3s
ssar,0ges ss a carrier fer ths Worsss-
fiv-ala-
F,res Nssgss- san ~ Anssrrw Nielsen.
alto = IA ~ gosspas = szosgssAL
seAn 3 kGke<. aseeno<r X the Seventh