The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-06

Killed and But Few Hurt-Demented
Invalid Suicides After the Danger IL ali
Over.
Topeka, Kan, Oct. 4.-Locomotive NO.
s5s. attached 10 Santa Fe easubound pas
senger train No. 2 exploded while run
ming at full speed at 4:3S O'Clock TINS
morning near the village Of Peterson,
thirty-one miles west Of this city, IN
stantly killing Engineer G. Strunk,F1re-
man O II. HOLSTER and four tramps,
injurfng two other tramps and tr1gnten-
ing a passenger so badly that he COM
n1ftted suicide by shooting hmseH
through the head with a revolver.
Mrs. Edna d. Maxwell, residing at 1925
East Eighth street, Kansas City, Mo-,
cut her arm severely by breaking a
window pane with her fist in an attempt
10 escape from a Pullman sleeper. She
was the only passenger injured, al
Hho11stn the train was heavily loaded.
C. /. Sherman of Kansas City, a helper
In the express car was considerably
bruised by falling boxes.
The man who killed himself was
stranger. He was well dressed and
06Q plcIsty lilOACS. LIS N-N&ANN
fnon Los Angeles to Chicago. The
train men said he had been drinking
good deal on the trip He was great
ly excited after the accident and gave
his money and watch to a passenger.
II he had any papers he threw them
away He stood around where the
men were digging in the wreck for dead
bodies and cried and acted strangely,
but finally resumed his seat in the car
and became quiet. Suddenly he drew
a revolver, and placing the muZZle
against his left temple fired. He tun-
bled into the aisle dead, without utter
ing a word. The coroner OF Usage coun-
took charge of the body.
One Of the snjured tramps was a col.
ored boy named Crawford, whose folks
live ait Usage City. The other was a
white man. name Wilford Person, resid-
ing at Great Bend. Each had leg
broken and was otherwise hurt, but
both win recover. They were riding
on the blind baggage. The four tramps
killed were riding on the brace rod.
They were mangled beyond recognition.
HOW THE WRECK LOOKED.
The front part of the locomotive was
thrown into a coal chute and il tore a
hole in the ground ten feet deep. The
force Of the explosion lifted the ex-
press and baggage cars from the track
and damaged them considerably, and
the heavy steel rails were twisted as
II they had been made of tin The
explosion was heard for miles around,
and people came running from every d.
rection, many of them half dressed.
The greatest excitement prevailed
among the passengers. Conductor Sill,
,1ar.
his direction a score of strong men set
TO work 10 care for the injured and
search for the dead. Doctors from
Peterson and Usage City were in at
tendance in a short time. When the
accident was reported at headquarters
In Topeka. the wrecking crew was sent
out. accompanied by Superintendent
Mcclellan, Train Master Tice, Road |
Master Parker, Claim Agent F'oulks and |
DR.. Egglesuon.
WHO WAS THE SUICIDE?
Usage City, Kan. Oct. Thousands |
II people visft0ed the scene of hewreck |
and viewed the bodies of the four dead |
tramps which have been taken in |
charge by the coroner. The Santa |
Fe's physician is caring for the two |
Injured tramps. The one who lives a |
by the company as soon as he is able /
to travel
The suicide gave J. P Ramsayer, a |
dry goods merchant of Newton, Kan,
VINO was on his way to Chicago, the
sum of 1881, saying as he did so that
in case anything happened TO him, 10
return the same to s. $ Rogers, Los
Cal, from whom he had bor-
rowed money to make the trip to CHI
cago, to which place he was going.
The wreck was caused by the eXplo-
sion of the boiler of engine No. SIS, ]
which occurred while the train was
running about forty miles an hour. The
force Of the explosion caused the en-
CINE 10 leave the track, and the veloc-
ity and the explosion carried the en-
CINE about 80 feet in the air and turned |
IL completely over, which was shown
by the top dome being filled with !
gravel and mud. Pieces of the CRATE
and engine were found over 100 yards
from the wreck The engine was a
complete wreck and three cars were
entirely demolished and two others con-
damaged. One Of the most
peculiar phases OF the wreck is that
none of the bagga gemen or expressmen
were in any way injured, and few pas
received any bruises. One of
the mail clerks. H s. Foster, was in
the wreck which occurred west Of this
city four years ago, In which he was
injured. Five Pullman sleep
ers, which did not leave the track, were
brought in this city, where the passen-
gers ate breakfast. and about l o'clock
the track being completed around the
wreck. all trains were able 10 pass.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY
|
All druggists refund the money If it
fails to cure. 25c.
A MEDAL FROM CONGRESS.