The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-29

we struck. The glass from the vesti-
bule broke from the shock and struck
my face and arm. The train was going
at the rate of over 20 miles an hour as
the train was late and was making up
time The accident could have been
avoided had the torpedo been placed
farther away from the freight train,
which had been left standing on the
siding with three cars on main track.
I had II stitches taken in my wrist
and five in my forehead, but am in
good shape otherwise and thankful
that 1 was not hurt worse"
H H. Ashlock of Clyde, Kansas: "'I
was not hurt, but it was miracle for
we were going at the rate of 20 miles
an hour and we struck that freight
train hard I was in the smoker and
grabbed hold of seats and braced my
self when the crash came. If that tor
pedo had been placed on the track far
ther away the accident would have
been avoided"
Geo. Van CIeves, mail clerk: ''I saw
the danger just after the torpedo went
off 1 saw the engineer and fireman
jump after they had put on the brakes
and then I jumped through the door. I
lit on my left foot and was thrown to
the ground and hit my shoulder and
head and broke my collar bone. There
is no doubt that the accident could
have been averted had the train crew
of the freight attended to business.
They should have known that the pas
senger was going fast and that the
than One-haIf mile, as the track was
slippery.
'tThe train was running at the rate Of
20 miles an hour for the engineer told
me so Just after the accident occurred.
He said that he had counted the time
and it was between 6S and 20 miles an
hour that the train was going. 1 look
ed for the cars to telescope and it was
a. miracle that more were not hurt. The
accident was due to the criminal care
lessness on the part of the train crew
of the freight train in not placing the
signal far enough ahead to stop the
the freight. 1 understand also that the
engineer of passenger train had no or
ders for passing the freight at this
Webb McNan was in the Keats
wreck. Il was in the rear Pullman in
an upper BERTH said Mr.. McNall, ''and
was awake. The first I knew the car
was humping along on the ties. I did
not feel any shock. I got out as quick
ly as possible and found all the pas
senger cars were right side up. The
two last freight cars were badly
wrecked and one was on fire. It seems
that the freight backed onto the siding
and that six cars Tapped over the sid
ing onto the main track The brake
man went back and put down a torpedo
and a h4g but the track was wet and
when the engineer and fireman heard
the signal and saw the train they re-
versed the engine and turned on the
SAND and Jumped. The train was be-
hind hand and was making about 20
miles an hour. Ed Roach of Clyde was
in the first car and he broke the win
dow glass out with his fist. His hand
was so badly cut that he was given
chloroform when the physicians sewedit
up. A man by the name of Goodman
from Kansas City was standing in one
of the Vestibules and was badly cut by
glass.
THE officials had half dozen physi-
clans on hand soon after the wreck
and the injured We're cared for in the
station. The passengers were brought
to Topeka as quickly as possible"
J. I. Thaclray, mail clerk-I was in
the car working with Van Cleves and
when 1 saw him jump and he ha1lOwed
and jumped and lit on my head and
very sore about the neck and chest but
aside from that I feel no bad effects.
There is no doubt that there was a big
blunder some where. The engineer of
the passenger train did not have any
orders to pass freight train and the
freight train did not put the signal far
enough ahead to stop the passenger in
time. If the engineer had known of the
freight waiting on the siding he would
have had the train under control and
would have Stacked up long before
reaching the siding instead of going
along at the rate of 20 miles an hour.
The passenger train should have been
notified of the freight train waiting on
the siding.