The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-24
ALL QUIET AT TIE SCENE OF
THE COLLISION YESTEE-
DAY.
TIVE UNE5aAGE CLEARED AWAY.
IT,. Nay Officials Managed the .AEair
P rlr and Regret Iorc Than Any
one Else he Sad Turn oF
Affairs.

Is ,"l I today nj this point. where yes
lcrlay there was gathered some 2500C
people TO witness one of the most thrill
ing scenes ever enacted in Texas. The
track has been repaired and trains are
running on schedule time. The Flyer
was delayed about twenty-five minutes
last night, but the wrcckinG crew did
such efficient work that everything is in
apple pie order this morning. In conncc-
ton with this great entertainment too
much praise can not be said in praise of
the Katy management for the way in
which they looked after the crowd on the
grounds. They had provided something
like 10000 gallons of ice water for the
crowd free, and the grounds were care
fully p0liced SO that all were assured of
protection. In such crowd il was but
natural that there should be conSidera-
bic MASKING and iamming in trying to
get trains back TO town. But this was
the only defect in the whole days pleas
urc, and this did not deter so very much
when the novelty Of the occasion is taken
into consideration. The train crews did
not seem to be able to give the people
much information rs to where they were
20 20 10 take their proper rains, but that
Nas natural when it is understood that
everybody was worried about the sad
turn affairs had taken in bringing about
some wounded people on such Il gala Oc
casion. The officials of the Katy spared
in,
ing 10 do everything for their patrons,
and they are not to be held responsible
for an unforeseen accident.
The crowd became impressed with the
idea that they should gather around the
track almost within twenty feet of the
place where the two trains were to col
Tide, and it was with difficulty that they
were made TO get behind the dead lines
Even this distance proved to be not far
enough i'll some cases, but if the crowd
had remained where they wanted to the
mortality would have been something ter
rifle. The railroad officials exercised every
;are i'll seeing to it that their patrons
were not necessarily placed in danger.
but they had no idea that the explosion
was coming, or that il would be so ter
rlhc. They regret more than any one
else the sad turn of affairs, but il is
something that can't be helped and no
one is to blame. The photographers Dean.
had his stand inside the danger line and
within 100 feet of the wreck. and while
there We're plenty Of other people on the
stand with him, he was the only one that
received any serious injuries. The man
that was knocked out of the tree the
"details OF which Were given in yesterdays
Special, was just n few feet outside of
the east side dead line and in direct line
with the wreck. The collision was one
of the most frightful on record. but it
was superbly grand and carried out the
program promised. From the time Nthe
irsins met until the explosion took place
was scarcely half second and instantly
che air was filled with flying debris. some
of it weighing several hundred pounds.
and even thousand in some cases 1t
was little short of mpaculous that more
people We're not injured than were. If all
the people had gone on the west side of
the track beyond the dead line, as was
intended they should, there would in all
probability not have been anybody but |
Dean hurt. They gathered little too |
10 see the engines meet. and the result |
was disastrous. To the west side of the |
track the hill rolled up from the track |
like an ampitheatcr and gave magnifi- |
cent view of the collision. 1t placed
every one at a safe distance, too. though |
several pieces of flying iron did 90 far |
beyond this crowd even. The explosion |
Gar exceeded all expectations. In fact no. |
body was looking for it, and when it |
came il came with terrific force. The |
eHJ,h fairly trcmhled with the concus- |
Ond. The air was full of flying debris, |
and il is safe to predict that nj least |
5000 of the people present never saw the |
collision ut all. In their desire to see |
IT they had gathered close and did not |
realize the danger until the two trains |
had almost come together. Then they re- |
aiized their hazardous position and took |
10 their heels. This fact occasioned many |
10 have their backs to the scene when |
the engines ran together. and they did not |
See it, though they We're instantly APP |
prised of what had happened by the cx-
plosion. The collision was one of the |
grandest exhibitions given in this state |
for many years 1t had its sad ending. |
but that was not the fault of the pro- |
motors of the scheme, and while all re- |
sret it exceedingly. it does not prohibit |
the awarding of deserving econiums to |
the Katy management for carrying out |
their program rs TO the event they adj |
vertised.
There were some amusing situations |
developed here yesterday, however. along |
with the varied scenes One of the spec |
tatorS went down in the arms of full |
blown jag early in the day. and picking |
himself out Il soft position on the ground |
about twenty-five yards from the spot |
where the collision occurred. deposited |
himself to Smmber and he did. The sun
beat down on him all the afternoon. but |
he slumbercd ON. He was still asleep |
when the engines smashed together. The |
noise awoke him instantly, and he quick |
iy assumed sitting position. As his eyes |
opened the air was filled with flying de |
hris that fell around him like hail but |
with that luck that only favorS the |
chosen, he escaped without a scratch. He
quickly realized the situation. however.
and rising, he wandered rather rapidly |
away and was still walking when last
seen. He was little late in starting, but
he lost no time after he did start. and
he did not tarry to tell anybody good
bye.
Another amusing incident was attend
ant upon the flight of rather Il fat Dutch
man who happened. as he thought. to
oe too near the scene of conflict He
stood his ground noble until the engines ,
were some twenty feet apart. but his
courage failed him then. He lowered his
standard and took flight. He was we'll
when the explosion took place.
He could not stop To look around, hut he
knew something had happened. and with
an energy born of desperation he took
Il reef in his sails and fairly flew. He
had M fbirtv yarIc hoforn n bnrhnl