The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-13
AT Least TWenty-Eight
People Killed.
Fearful Wreck and Loss of
Life at Logan, la.
Bad Smashup Near Chicago--Five Of
Picnic Party Dead.

Omaha. July 13.-Omaha is a city of
mourning. The Sabbath morning
brought with IL a full realization of the
greatest catastrophe that ever wreaked
death and desolation In the hearts and
fresides of the city's people. Twenty
eight people were killed and so injured,
many fatally, In a wreck Saturday. at
Logan, la. Twenty-four OF the dead
are Identified, and the others are so
badly mutilated that Identification i5
hardly possible.
1t was not until after the morning
papers were out that the first authentic
information became generally known.
The depot was the center toward which
all turned, and then the morning
train brought in their sad burden OF
dead and dying. the depot approaches
were thickly massed with people. who
talked in whispers, and shuddered az
they thought OF the bereaved ones, to
whom they could only offer silent SYM
pathy.
The list Of injured contains the names
Of rs or more people who are seriously
hurt, dangerously so. to a greater or less
degree. In addition, there were at least
co. If not a greater number, who re-
ceived injuries OF minor nature. These
consisted of bruises and cuts or slight
dishgurements, which will practically
amount 10 nothing.
A considerable number, also, were
shaken up severely. This was especially
the case among the passengers who oc-
cupled the cars Immediately behind the
one which was demolished. The Incl
dental fright, combined with the shock,
threw both men and women into hys-
terics, but owing TO the work that de-
volved upon the physicians in caring for
the desperately hurt, such individuals
were left without medical attention and
got over their attacks as best they could.
Their condition, however. left its effect
upon great numbers Of the passengers.
and when they alighted from trains
they were all trembling, and many of
them. although their limbs were sound
and their general physical condition was
unimpaired, required the assistance OF
friends To lead them away to their
homes. II took much time to prepare
the injured for their journey TO this city.
1t was necessary to transport them a
considerable distance after the wounds
were dressed,
1t was many hours after the departure
OF the first section of the return train,
which carried the unhurt, before the Sec
ond section was started. The latter car
ried all the wounded. whose hurts were
serious 1t had also on board such
friends of the injured as would not be
torn away from. or forced to leave the
sides of their suffering loved ones.
The section consisted OF two coaches,
a baggage car and a Pullman. They
were crowded TO an uncomfortable
degree, in order TO hold the great num-
ber that boarded. The baggage car
was used for those who required cots
and stretchers for the journey. The other
car was for those who were able to sit
up, or were less injured. The scenes
which were presented within the twp
cars cannot be forgotten by those who
witnessed it, The interior OF the bag
gage car presented the most pathetic
sight. Here were ranged, end TO end,
the cots which bore the most seriously
injured. They filled the car to its full
est capacity. The roll OF the dead belong
ing in Omaha numbers Is.
The responsibility for the accident
rests on Engineer Montgomery of the Ill
fated excursion train. His orders were
to wait at Logan for the fast mail and
fast freight He started his train out
Immediately after the mail passed, for
getting about the freight. The head-end
collision occurred 20 minutes later on a
curve. The heavy freight passed par
TALLY over the passenger. All the peo-
pie killed were in the front coaches Of the
excursion. All the dead and injured
were brought to Omaha.