The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
ACRASH OF TWO ENGINES
ENGINEER WIN. MARTIN KILLED BY
A COLLISION AT EAST MARKET ST.
Fast Pennsylvania Train Dashes Into
"a MOnOn Switch Engine-Misunder-
standing as to Right of Way.

h fast train on the Chicago division of
the Pennsylvania line, duo here at $3.50
o'clock a. m, crashed into a Monon switch
engine at Market street a few minutes be-
fore 4 o'clock yesterday morning. The en-
gineer and fireman of the passenger train
jumped in time to save themselves, escap-
ing with a few bruises. Fireman Jay, of
the switch engine, sprang from the cab in
time, but Engineer William Martin caught
his foot in the cab as he was about to
make the leap. When the crash came his
body was damned against the hot boiler
and he was badly burned and scalded about
the breast. He died a short time after be
ing taken from the wreck. The accident
was a head-end collision and seems to have
been the result Of a misunderstanding as to
the right of way.
The Pennsylvania train was a few min
utes late. and the Monon switch engine,
with a cut of cars, was allowed to go out
on to the Pennsylvania track. The switch
ing crew had backed down from the Massa-
chusetts-avenue station into the Liberty
street yards and one car had been taken off
from the cut" of twenty. The engine had
started forward again when the Pennsyl-
vania train dashed around the curve. En-
gineer Martin gave several blasts of the
whistle to warn the approaching train and
had almost succeeded in stopping his en-
CINE when the crash came. The locomo-
tiVeS came together with terrific force and
the Monon engine was thrown from the
track. Engineer Bennett, of the passenger
train, shut off his steam when he sighted
the Monon engine in front of him and
tried to stop, but was too close. He and
his fireman jumped when they found there
was no chance of avoiding the accident.
Fireman Jay, of the switch engine, called
to Engineer Martin to save himself. at the
same moment springing from the cab.
Martin tried TO jump, but whatever 1t was
that caught his foot held MIN last. Inc
occupants of the passenger train were
greatly startled and many left the cars in
a great hurry. No one was injured. The
Daggagemaster and postal clerks all es-
capped injury, although the baggage car was
considerably torn up.
AS the engines came together the crash
could be heard for several blocks. En-
glneer Martin was so pressed against the
hot boiler of his engine that his flesh was
scalded by the escaping steam and hot
hear and the men worked heroicaliy to
release him. Some one had turned in a
fire alarm when the accident occurred and
Chief Barrett and several of his men were
on hand to aid in releasing the unfortunate
engineer. Part of the time Martins face
was against the boiler. A board was finally
Wedged in between his face and the hot
iron and this gave him slight relief. But
after awhile the board grew hot and was
ABOUT 10 DuTn. IL naQ 10 De taken away.
Martins fireman passed cold water up to
him and tried to hold his face away from
the hot iron. Finally a woman of the
neighborhood came with a woollen COM
fort and this was placed against the boiler.
Martins head rested on this comfort until
he was taken out. He was taken to st.
Vincent's Hospital where he died about $50
o'clock. He lived on Cornell avenue with
his wife and three children. He was twen-
ty-nine years of age.
The crew of the Pennsylvania train, as
soon as the wreck had been cleared away,
took charge of another engine and the
train proceeded on its way TO Louisville.
By noon yesterday little else than a few
splinters and "a quantity of coal scattered
about the track indicated that there had
been an accident. The property loss to both
companies will aggregate about $4,000.
Statements differ as to the speed that was
the accident happened. Some say the train
was running twenty-five miles an hour. 1t
is stated that the fiagman saw the danger
Of the switching crew and announced 10
them that the Pennsylvania train was late
and that they must get out of the way. He
says the brakeman gave the engineer the
signal and the switch train started. The
hagman tried to signal them to stop, but
sharp blasts on the Monon whistle, the cars
came to a stop and he heard the crash.
The Monon officials claim the engineer of
the passenger train did not have his engine
under control in the yard limits or he could
nave stopped in time to have prevented the
accident.
Coroner Brayton will take the testimony
of those who know anything about the ac-
cident. Thus far the inquisition has failed
to locate the responsibility. DIR. Brayton
said last night that 1t appeared as II the
Monon crew must have used more time in
switching than was intended when the
start was made from Massachusetts-av-
enue station. The crew of the passenger
train all live at Louisville.