Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-09
Fnghtful Collision Between Two E1-
press Trains in Kansas.
Ten KILLED AND FIFTEEN INJURED
w. }. Bryan Was Passenger, but
Escaped Without Injury.
TELLS HIS EXP ERIENC

| aster that has occurred on that system i'm
| many years Ten people were killed out
right, or soon died Of their injuries and
hfteeu others were more or less seriously
| injured One or two of the wounded may
succamb. That the wreck did not result
| more seriously seems miraculous. A mis-
carriage of orders caused the wreck
| William J. Bryan. who was a passenger
| on one Of the trains escaped uninjured.
and aided materially in rescuing the un-
| fortunates and alternating their sufrerings
Following Is the list of killed and in
| Gals:
Kiiled-Jos. Branhan, engineer; Nate Hol-
4ster' engineer: Benz. Walters. fireman:
Jas. Hurley. fireman: Edward Yonselvi.
nreman; unknown boy. stealing ride
Missfng-Jos Saurs, baggageman
1njured-Wm. Frisbie, engineer; w. J.
Jones. postal clerk; W. C. McGIced, postal
eierk; Z. !: Holiday, postal clerk; 8. o.
| MCGEE, postal clerk; R. A. Doran, postal
cIerk - Patrick. brakeman: c. A.
van Clever brakeman; T. j. Button. pas-
senger. Cottonwood Falls; F. b. Wallack,
passenger. Atchison.
Fastest Trains ON the Road.
The wrecked trains were tine fastest in
the servfce-the fast mail, east-bound. and
the California and Mexico express, west
bound. Each was running at the rate of
forty miles an hour or over
The wreck occurred at 7:3O last evening.
| three miles east Of Emporia. on a small
cuivert that crossed a dry stream The
cuiVert was not more than ten feet wide
ana the foremost engine of the west-bound
train had spanned it when the collision &C.
CURED The embankment approaches TO
TINS cuivert were about ten feet high. This
added to the danger.
The wreck was caused nv the miscar
rage OF orders from the train dispatcher
The conductor of the east bound train was
ordered at Emporia to meet and pass The
California flyer at Lang, seven miles east
An order sent to Lang to the conductor of
the west-bound to wait there was not de-
livered, and he supposed he was to pass
at Empor1a. Each train was hurrying-onc
to Emporia, the other to Lang-and met at
full speed on the main line.
The California train was almost an hour
late, and. owing to Mr.. Bryan's lecture
engagement at Burlingsme. was crowded
home.
The west-bound train carried eight pas
serger coaches. and all were crowded
Met ON "a Curve.
The conductor and brakeman were get
ting their lanterns ready for Emporia only
three miles away. There was no warming
signal. The west-bound train was going
around slight curve and met the fast
mall probably within 200 feet. There was a
shock as if the trains had bumped I'D
against stone wall. Then there was an
explosion crashing sound, an uncertain
movement OF the coaches and all the lights
went out
Those who were in the first coach in the
west-bound train were left in total dark
of their position, for the coao hes were filled
with steam and smoke. The west-bound
train was drawn by two locomotives and
when they struck the fast mail all three Of
the engines exploded and tore hole in the
track SO deep that the smoking car of the
West-bound train went on top of the wreck
OF the three engines and two mail cars
and balanced there without turning over
Those In this car who escaped through the
windows came very near turning the car
over. in which event the fatality would
have been much greater, as this car soon
caught fire from the exploded engines un-
time.
Bryan Tells His Experience.
VIM. j. Bryan. in recounting his exper-
fences in the wreck, said:
have Travelled thousands upon thou
sands of miles on railroads, and L never
was in wreck before did not feel the
shock very severely where 1 was, but from
the way things looked cannot for the life
OF me see why We were not all killed. The
scene presented was most terrible. 1t has
made an impression on me that cannot
Mr.. Bryan requested the CORRESPONDENT
not to mention him as taking any unusual
part in the matter.
rs it true you were the first man to
reach the ground from your car and go to
the rescue OF these who were injured?" he
was asked.
PLEASE don't say anything about that"
Mr. Bryan replied with deprecating ges-
ture.
From passengers present it was learned
that Mr.. Bryan was the first person to
rush forward to the assistance of the Vie
TINS: that he assisted to Carry the first
body recovered. and that SO long as there
was any necessity he was foremost In the
work of aiding the injured.
Mt Bryan. accompanied by David
Leahy. a Topeka new spaper man. was
train. They were discussing the DAVIS
events at Burlfngame. where the Ne
braskan had been the attraction of thou
sands of people. when the crash came.
The two men jumped out of the sama
window without their hats or baggage
which were afterward burned and escap-
BRYAN reached Emporia about midnight
and remained at the hotel till this morn
Ing: when he resumed his journey.
Many acts of bravery and nerve were
both of his legs broken and shattered I'm
half dozen places. When his rescuers
laid him on the grass beside the track
ne turned to one of the group and asked
II he WOULD Pull through.
When assured that he would live II he
was brave he said: Am not brave? Look
at my legs dangling and then ask me to
be brave. I suppose they will have to be
amputated, but I will bear the operation
and live through It.. I do not propose to die
for lack of nerve and courage. Ny God,
what has become of my comrades?'
Enginccr's Brave Words.
William Frisbe. engineer of the fast mail,
whose residence is in Topeka, was con-
scious until he died. He said: II did not
see the other train until I came upon it.
1 turned on the air and jumped. 1 presume
I cannot recover, but will die as bravely
as can. want you men to leave me
and help victims that are more unfortu-
nate than am"
A. B. Adams, who is among the injured,
Is on his way tC Mexico from New Jersey
with registered bonds amounting to $500
900 and a great deal Of other valuables
They were all burned in the fire that fol-
lowed.
Pensions Recently Granted.
Pensions have been granted as follows:
District of Columbia-Charles g. Gorgas.
James N. Kelly. United States Soldiers
Home: John E. CARPENTER Chas Fretrfclr