The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-31
TRAM wREcKED IN INDIANA
Unknown BTisereants Fasten Switch Open
Near Thornton.

Near Thornton.
Indianapolis. Ind. July 30-Passenger
train No. "a on the Chicago division Of
the Big Four, due here at $3.50 this
morning. was wrecked at Thorntown at
2:25 o'clock. A pin placed on switch
caused the train to leave the track. The
engine, baggage and express cars were
overturned Engineer Winslow and the
fireman were killed. According to in
formation given out at the Big Four Of
fees in this city, no passengers were in
jured. The engine is a complete wreck.
Jesse A. Crickmore, the dead fireman,
lived in this city. He leaves wife and
two children.
The opinion is entertained at the
headquarters of the Big Four that the
wreckers had hoped to destroy coal
train about due General Manager
Scaff has offered reward of $500 for
the arrest and conviction Of any of the
culprits.
Cincinnati, July 3o.-The Times-star
special from Thorntown, Ind, says:
The Chicago express on the Cleveland
Cincinnati, Chicago and ST. Louis rail-
way. due at Cincinnati at a. m, was
wrecked about 2:30 o'clock. Four were
killed outright and several slightly in
jured. There was a deliberate plot to
wreck the train, as coupling pin had
been driven into the switch so as to
hold 1t open and throw the fast train
from Chicago to Cincinnati off the
track as ii passed this point. The en-
CINE and tender, the mail, express and
baggage cars were thrown from the
track and wrecked. The coaches and
Wagner sleeping cars remained on the
track and none of the passengers were
seriously hurt, although they had a
lively shaking up. 1t IS reported that
nore in the cars that were thrown from
the track were seriously hurt. Seth
Winslow Of Greensburg Ind, the en-
gineer, and c. B. Crickmore, of Indian
aDolis. the fireman, and two unidentified
trar1ps were killed outright While
there were many reports about the num-
her injured there were none seriously
nurt although many were so badly
frightened at first as to give credence
to the reports about many beng IN
jured
The officials Of the Big Four railroad
state that no passengers were hurt, and
that the fatalities were limited to the
engineer and fireman and TWO tramps.
The train was unusually dong. The
train was passing Thornsown at a high
rate Of speed when the engine struck
the switch that had been opened and
fastened open. The two tramps who
were killed were stealing ride on the
front end OF the mail car and their re-
mains cannot be identified. A relief
train was sent from Indianapolis early
this morning and as soon as the track
was cleared new train was made up.
The train was unusually crowded with
passengers. The officials of the road
have instigated thorough investiga-
ton as 10 the perpetrators Of the wreck.
Ts.ere have recently been some labor
troubles in and about Thorntown but
none of them have been in any man
ner connected with the road. No at
tempt was made to rob the express or
other cars after the wreck and no un-
Outstanding OF the plot can be ascer-
tanned All available detectives were
set at work today on the case.
1t transpired later that Henry Pike
and Charles Cavenir. both of Cleveland.
were seriously injured and both Of them
will probably die. The escape of the
seven mall clerks was miraculous. None
of them suffered more than slight
bruises. Express Messenger John Ed
monds OF Bellvulle, KY, was thrown
violently against the express cars head
end but was not injured. Those in the
sleepers were not even awakened. Pike
and Csvenier were found lying under
the front platform Of the mail car.