The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-13
SANTA FE SETTLING.
Has Already Paid Some Of the
Wreck LOsses-TO Pay
Others.

Thousands of dollars will probably be
paid out by the Santa Fe railway COM
pany within the next month in settle
ment for the lives of those killed in
the disastrous wreck of last week.
OF the eleven killed in wreck six were
enSinenen, and the remainder, with
one exception, We're in postal and bag
gage service. The exception was Dan
iel Mckernan, the 17-year-old boy of
this city, who was riding on the blind
baggage" of train No. 1. For his death
the company feels it is not responsible.
The passengers in the wreck, none of
whose injuries were serious, have al
ready been settled with, as have pas
sengers who lost baggage in the dis
aster The amount paid out by the
company in settlement with the passen-
gers for injuries and baggage amounts
TO something over $1,000 The largest
amount paid anyone was S245 for loss of
baggage and the smallest amount was
So for the loss of a coat. The ma jority
of the settlements were under $100. Mrs.
Emma Booker, who so heroically cared
for the wounded on the night of the
wreck. was given $150 for her services
and for the loss of her clothing, besides
being furnished free transportation to
her destination.
No action has as yet been taken by
the claim department of the road in
settling with the relatives of those
Killed in the wreck, and such action
will be postponed until after the cause
of the wreck is investigated If the
responsibility of the wreck is deter
mined it will probably have some ef-
feet on the settlements. although a
prominent Santa Fe official said today
in Speaktny of this matter:
While if it is shown that the men
on No. 1 went by the signal at Lang
and killed themselves, the company will
undoubtedly consider that the men were
old in the service and had always been
careful in the past, and will be willing
to settle with the relatives Possibly
the responsibility may never be finally
determined. Agent Larson SAYS that
the signal was turned red and Conduc-
tor Ferguson says that it was turned
white, and there the matter stands Both
are employees and both have the same
right TO be believed unless additional
evidence is produced to break the bal
ance on one side or another Of course
Engineer FriSbie and Fireman Walters
were in no way to- blame for the acci-
dent and satisfactory settlement will be
made with their relatives if possible
because railroad company never
wants to go into court if it can be avoid
ed
In the courts, if it is shown that the
company is responsible for the accident
$4,000 can be recovered by the relatives
for each life lost in a railroad wreck.
If it is never fully determined where
the responsibility rests, the relatives of
the two engineers and two firemen of
train No. l will probably receive from
the company anywhere from So, 900 to
S5, 900. The relatives of Engineer FriS-
bic and Fireman Walters will un-
doubtedly be dealt with handsomely, as
will the relatives of the dead baggage
men and postal clerks.
The investigation of the wreck will
be held this week in this city, as soon
as Division Superintendent Mcclellan
vestigation is in progress this afternoon
at Emporia.