Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-03-23
[EAST TRAIN IN 4 DITCH.
Disastrous Wreck on Rock Island
at VOlIand, Kan.


AWEhhl nun hNioh iV' ~ hNAoob-
Two switch caused a DISASTROUS wreck
at Volland, a small station forty miles
west OF Topeka on the Rock Island
early yesterday morning. The train
wrecked was the Texas fast express,
which left Kansas City at o'clock
Thursday night,
One man was killed and twenty-slx
were injured. The dead man WAS
William Freeman OF Kansas City, the
baggageman, who was burned TO death
In the baggage car Several OF the
injured are In n serious condition,
They are:
w, G. Means, mail olerk, Kansas
City, shoulder and back injured
Robert A. Swartz, mail clerlC Kan
sas oityi head and left leg and both
arms cut
George Gilgress, mall clerk, Kansas
Cityi hurt In neck,
James Mcspadden, news agent, Kan
sas oityi head and face badly cut, nose
smashed In and hurt about body,
M. j. Clemlng, Columbia, MOI side
hurt and leg bruised,
X r. Keen, Columbia, MOI cut on
head.
Charles II, Penn, Ashland MOI cut
on hand.
Miss Madge FarrOr, Sterling, Kau,;
back wrenched.
w. II. Philips, Watonga, oklai
strained hip, cut In arm.
John searle, Undertake, okla. leg
and arm hurt.
4. A. Sturgeon, Weatherford, OKLA;
back strained.
Mrs, o. O. Allen, Caldwell, Kan, LIP
cut and ankle sprained,
George W, Lewis, I'll Reno, okla;
ankle sprained.
II. L, Hall, Topeka, Kan; legs
bruised.
Fred W. COsner, Hutchinson, Kan,
right side hurt.
II. Coin, Mapleton, Ran,i leg
bruised.
Mrs ]. II, Boiland, Cooper, okla,
breast hurt and leg bruised
O. r. Clark, Topeka, Kan.i hip
sprained.
b, d, Bryant, Cloud Chip, OKLA; cut
on chin,
A. Warnelke, Fort Still, okla; wrist
sprained.
John Philip, Protection, Kan.i hip
and back sprained,
N, Deanel, news agent, ST, Joseph,
knee, arm and neck slightly.
Calvin Green, Velpen, Ind; breast
and ribs
#. II, Marshingall, Caldwell, Kan;
scalp, shoulder and leg.
Ed Switzer, Carney, OKLA; head and
stomach.
Mrs, Sarah Smith, Bethany, Mo-;
FRUSTRATED from shock.
The train left Topeka at 1i,05 with
forty-nine passengers on board, 1t
passed through Alma on time, and had
reached speed Of thirty miles an
hour by the time 1t came to Volland.
AS the wheels of the engine tank
struck the west stitch at the station
they suddenly flew tho track, the tank
breaking loose from the engine and
dragging the combination baggage
and mail car and the smoker down a
slight embaukment. The coach and
chair car tipped half way over, the
Pullman sleeper alone keeping the
rails.
Almost instantly fire broke out in
the baggage car, which had toppled
over on It's side, Men in the smoker
broke through the windows and pass
engers in the car rushed for the doors
Nnd jumped down the embankment
By the time the cars were emptied,
however, the baggage car was in
flames and before anyone noticed that
the messenger had not escaped it was
too late to give him aid Evidently he
had been pinned down by the falling
trunks and was burned to death be.
meath the heavy baggage A few
charred bones were the only remains
found in the wreckage of the baggage
car
The fire spread quickly from the
baggage car to the cars behind 1t, and
in short time all were in flames.
The Pullman was saved by being
pushed back a few feet from the burn
Ing chair car. Before the relief train
sent out from this city arrived at the
scene OF the accident the four cars
were n mass Of blackened wreckage.