Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-16


Kan.
Emporia, Kan, Sept. s-One of the
worst wrecks, in the history of the
Santa Fe railroad occurred three miles
east of Emporia, at 7.30 O'Clock to
night. Twelve or 15 persons were killed
and as many more were severely hurt.
Hon. william j. Bryan was ON one of
the trains, but he escaped injury.
The fast mail going east and the
Mexico and California express, west
bound, we're in collision. The Mexico
and California express was pulled by
two locomotives, and when they struck
the one drawing the fast mail the
boilers of all three exploded and tore
hole in the ground 90 deep that the
smoking car of the westbound train
went in on top OF the three locomotives
and two mail cars.
The wreck occurred on small cul.
vert that crossed dry stream. the
culvert was not more than 10 feet wide,
and the foremost engine of the west
bound train had SPAWNED it when the
collision occurred. The embankment
approaches TO the culvert were about 10
feet high. This added to the danger.
The wreck was caused by the mis-
carriage Of orders from tho train dis.
patcher. The conductor of the east
bound train was ordered at Empcria TO
meet and pass the California flyer at
Lang, seven miles east. An order sent
to Lang, to. the conductor of the west
bound train, to wait there, was not de-
livered. and he supposed he was to pass
at Emporia. Each train was hurrying
--one to Emporia, the other to Lang
and met at full speed on the main line,
The passengers in the smoking car
escaped through the windows. The
front end of the car was enreloped in a
volume of sitting smoke and steam
rushing up from the wreck below, and
the rear door was jammed tight in the
wreck of the car Behind.
The wreck caught fire, and the smok-
ing car was quickly burned to ashos. In
climbing out of this car several men
fell through to tho wreck below. and
it is impossible to tell nuw whether
they escaped or were burned to death.
The westboGnd train. carried seven oil
eight coaches and its passengers in
cluded many eXGursionists who had
been to hear Mr.. Bryan speak at the
country fair at Burlingame.
Mr.. Bryan was one of the most ener
Bctlp IlGh blib IIuNd VI ttsIutIb. liz
helped to carry out the dead anl
wounded and gave the greatest attention
to their care. One poor fellow who wal
badly MANNED called to him and said
II went to hear you to-day; an
dying now and want TO shake you
hand and say Cod Oless you. If yol
possibly can, Mr. Bryan. get me drinl
OF water.
Mr.. Bryan went into car, one enc
of which was burning. and soon emerged
with drink of water, which he gavl
to the suffering passenger. He hrough
out cushions for others of the injured
and was everywhere present to ministe
to the wants Of the suffering.
William j. Bryan was interviewed b,
reporter as to his experience in th
collision. II have Travelled Thousand
upon thousands of miles on railroads
and | never was in a wreck before,
said Mr.. Bryan, :" | did not feel tn
shock very severely, but FROM the wa
things looked / could not see why "
were not killed. The scene here pre-
sontsd is the most terrible / have eve
seen. 1t has made an impression n
me that cannot leave me during m
lifetime. /"
Mr.. Bryan, accompanied by Davi
Leahy, Topeka newspaper man, wa
in the smoking coach OF the westhoun
train. They were discussing the day
events at Burlingame, where the Net
raskan had been the attraction
thousands Of people, when they hear
a crash, then an explosion. In
moment the lights vent out and steal
and gas filled the car. Before the
could move the car was pushed forTar
with tremendous force, and it SCENE
to Tors 10 the dahris like cripple
ship at sea. Every moment they e,
pected it TO turn over. The car final
stopped and began to catch fire fro
below. The two men jumped out
the same window, without their he
or baggage, which we're afterwar,
burned, and escaped practically wit
out scratch. Mr.. Bryan reacht
EmpoFia about midnight, and remaint
at the hotel until this morning, wilt
be resumed his Journey.
There were not more than dozt
passengers on the fast mail, all in Of
coach, and, while none of them "
seriously injured, their shaking up "
terrible. Every seat in the coacn "
torn from the floor and many flo
panks came up with the seats.
John Sweeney was thrown over thr,
seats and through window, b
escaped with only scratches and hruist
The other cars Of the fast mail We
wrecked.
William Frisbe, engineer of the ia
mail, whose residence was in Touek
was conscious until he died. lie sal
did not see the other train unti
came upon it. | turned on the air a
jumped. | presume cannot recovt
but | will die as bravely al | can.
want you men to leave me and be
victims that are more unfortunate tn
| ann
A, B. Adams, who is among the
iured, is on his way from New Jersey
Mexico with registered bonds amour
ing to $500, 900 ana great deal of OIL
valuables. They were all burned
the fire that followed tho collision.
To Stop at Marcus Hook.
The steamboats, of tho Wiimingt
Steamboat Co., will stop at Mar,
Hook daily during tue progress OF I
Iloln Sal 4,