The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-09

water on hot cinders.
zone man, after getting through the
window, said:
'' I thought I was going through the
fumes of HE'LL
His description is not exaggerated.
After the clash and the crash, the
smoking car went off the rails and piled
itself up in the wreck. In fact it ran
over the wrecked coaches and engines,
ana as it rose and fell over the wreck
age IL was running upon the sensation
was appalling. None knew how soon
1t would fall on either side or perhaps
go TO pieces OF. be set on fire by the en-
slne hres that were under it. While
inns car went off its trucks and lodged
on top of the pile of wreck without
turning over, and nobody in it was seri-
ouSly hurt, the car in the rear of it not
only turned over, but several of those
IN 1t were injured more or less.
1t was some minutes before the peo-
pie realized the full extent of the acci-
dent. When it was realized the ex-
citement was intense, but the cooler
ones went to work like trojans and did
heroic work in rescuing the less for
tunate crew and passengers.
There happened to be a house near
by, occupied by farmer named Jack
son, and a water brigade was immedi-
ately formed to prevent a conhagration.
When the injured heard the talk about
fire, their screams became terrible, and
thrilling appeals were made for aid.
StretcherS were improviSed, and as
the dead and wounded were taken from
the debris, they were passed down from
the top of the ruins by a string of men
who worked nobly.
William Jennings Bryan was one of
the noblest men in the crowd of the res
cuers. He helped to go through the
wreck, Drawing the most terrible dan
ger. He helped to carry out every
dead and wounded man, and paid the
greatest attention to their care. His
cool head was very valuable in seeing
critical dangers and directing how to
manage them.
"One man who was badly wounded
called for Bryan and said:
L went to hear you today. I am
dying now, and want to shake your
hand and to say, God bless you. If you
possibly can, Mr.. Bryan, get me
drink of water
''Mr. Bryan went into the fast mail
car, the end of which was burning, and
secured him the desired drink of water.
Then he returned to the car and
brought out a cushion seat to make a
pillow for another dying man. He was
everywhere and assisting everybody,
and his head was cool during all the
terrible scenes.
AT the time of the collision Mr.. Bry-
an, accompanied by David Leahy, To-
peka correspondent of the Times, were
in the smoking coach of the west bound
train. They were discussing the days
events in seats opposite each other,
when they heard crash, then an ex-
ploSiOn, and in a moment the light went
out and the steam and gas from the
coal smoke filled the car
They held on to their seats and the
sensation that followed was terrible.
The car was pushed forward with tre-
mendouS force and it seemed to toss
in the debris like crippled ship at
sea Every moment they thought it
would turn over. The car finally stop
ped, and it began to catch fire from be-
low.
1.-The two jumped out of the same
window without their hats or baggage,
which were afterward burned, and es-
capped practically without a scratch. Mr..
of E.TnnOri9 Times followed
| them, and brave little woman whose
name is not known, followed him. Oth-
| er windows were broken and the occu-
pants all got out in Satety. Ihere
were at least 80 people in the smoking
| car, and, so far as heard from, none
| was hurt. The car literally balanced on
top of the wreckage, and it would have
taken but very little to overturn it.
1.-TWO men who jumped out of one of
the windows, fell through the debris
| below, but it was learned afterward
good headway.
ssThe car in the rear of the smoker
had about ten feet of its front END
crushed like an egg shell, and it turn
ed over on its side. Several passengers
were injured. Had it not been for the
| fact that the west bound train had two
| have been more appalling. The sec
| ond engine protected, to some extent,
| the coaches that followed it. The eX-
pIosion of the engines was terrific.
| pieces of iron were thrown olS-
| lance of $50 feet to either side OF the
| track and boiler iron, rolled up ana
twisted, was thrown equally as lar. NO
| two pieces of the three engines are
"A. B. Adams, who was injured, was
on his way to Mexico from New Jer-
sey with registered bonds amophtrng an tl1. Es. 10
| $500 OOU and a great deal of other val
uabIes They were all burned IN the
fire that followed. The fire consumed
nearly all the wreck and three COACHES
| s.rrhe smoker of the west bound train
| caueht fire and it soon extended TO the
| neVf coach and consumed that, too; not
| however. before the remalnlinge Goa coacHes 1t5s
| were pushed tar enough osAOh 0i-- '
| fire to escape. -. ,1
| train from the west, or at least tne Pot
| ton of it that had not been wrecked,
| co,,eht fire and as the dead and some
| Wounded were in the next car 10 II,
| Great excitement prevailed some cool
| Saod called away the men VINO were
| 1,chino hack the west bound train, ana
| ffhev responded promptly. The deao
| on5 wounded in the fast mail train
| were all taken care Oh anu eHe
| g;1oenr ger eGaen lanes Ma Branham and
| Fireman John Shirley were IN cnaISe
| of the head engine of the Can1orhlA eA-
| T,ress and the second engine was IA
| Ptorf,a of Engineer Nate HOlllSter ana
| E1ireTnan Ed Gunsaully. Engineer
| VVilIian Frisby and Fireman Ben wal
| ters were on the engine pulling the 1asI
| noaiI Rranham, Hollister, Shirley ana
walters were thrown into the air by the In
| explosion of the engines ana We're IN
| 1870 I-illed Engineer Branham was
i borTibIv mangIed. Fireman Ed Gun
! sauiiy dropped into the pit dug by his
| engine and perished in the names. E.- IN
| gineer William Frisby jumped from his
| engine before the trains came together
| and escaped death, although badly in
! jured. -.
ham saw the opposite trains in time to
| apply the air and whistle for additional
| brakes. This Engineer Frisby Vouches
| for He said today:
| Il turned the curve near the bridge
| over the Neosho river onto straight