The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-18
Odd Accident Delays a Santa
Fe Passenger.
Handcar Too Near the Track
Breaks a Gas Cylinder.
GAS TO LEAK.
Conductor Gets a Lantern Too
Near With Bad Results.
Passengers Rush From the
Train in Scanty Attire.

The Santa Fe Colorado train No. 5,
which passed through Topeka yester-
day, pulled into the depot in this city
several minutes behind the scheduled
time of arrival The delay was caused
by a peculiar accident which occurred
early in the morning at a small station
in Missouri, and which in exact nature
was probably original in railroad his
tory.
At one of the small stations a short
distance from the line dividing Iowa
and Missouri a gang of section men had
been at work the day before, and on
leaving in the evening had left their
hand car dangerously near the main
track. So close was the handcar to the
track that when train No. went
through the station at the rate of 40
miles an hour one corner of the hand
car struck the end of the gas cylinder
underneath the chair car with sufficient
force to crack the metal and allow
gradual escape of the gas.
The passengers in the chair car felt
the shock of the collision and almost
simultaneously the gas lights lowered
the flames sputtered for a moment, and
then went out leaving the car in utter
darkness. Many of the passengers
were asleep at the time, but the screams
of one of the ladies who was awake
when the lights went out soon aroused
them and in a few minute excitement
prevailed in the car.
The conductor of the train was in the
car in the rear of the chair car, and
saw the lights go out, and guessing that
some of the equipment had broken at
once Signalled the engineer to stop.
When the train was brought to a stand
still he jumped down from the car and
accompanied by the brakemen and
many of the passengers started to find
the cause of the trouble.
The scent of escaping gas was in the
air, and the conductor made straight
for the cylinder underneath and to one
side of the car Without considering
the consequence of such a move he
cylinder and stopped to examine the
metal receptacle. Instantly there was
a deafening noise and the conductor
staggered back and fell in the ditch at
the side of the track.
To the passengers assembled on the
ground the cause of the explosion was
plain, but among those remaining in
the cars, many just awakened by the
noise, it created the greatest excite
ment. People rushed out of the cars
and Jumped to the ground, some half
dressed and others in their night robes,
thoroughly frightened and believing
that the train had met with some terri
BILE accident.
The conductor was stunned but not
injured by the explosion, and was able
to pick himself up in time to explain to
the frightened passengers just what
had happened. Then the people in abb
breViated attire hurriedly returned to
their berths in the sleepers, all feeling
rather foolish but still congratulating
themselves that they were not partici-
pants in disastrous wreck.
After a delay of several minutes the
train resumed it's way west, the people
in the chair car travelling in darkness
the remainder of the night. At Kansas
City the car was taken out of the train
and replaced by another.