The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-02-14
TEN KILLED IN A WRECK,
A Horrible Railway Disaster Oc-
ours in Michigan.
VICTIMS BODIES BURN,
Fast Freight and an Accom- I'M cd alton
Train in Collision at Ford
River.

Escanaba, Mich, Feb. 9.-Chicago &
North Western passenger train No. q,
known as the Felch Mountain accommo,
dation, which runs between this city and
Metropolitan. was wrecked in rear-end
colllslon at Ford river switch at $3.50 last
night. Ten persons were killed, three
four slightly injured.
The dead are:
w. l.. HILL, Escanaba; baggageman of
the accommodation train
WILLIAM DILLON, Escanaba, brakeman
on the accommodation train.
MISS MARY SEYMOUR, daughter of
Charles Seymour of Schaffer Mich.
CHARLES MORTON, Escanaba, lumber
cruiser.
GEORGE r. BLAKE, Escanaba timber
buyer
SAN GREEN, Negaunee, agent of the Up
per peninsular Brewing company.
UNKNOWN WOMAN; body charred be-
yOnd recognition.
JOHN HAMLIN of Canada
THEODORE DE FORGE, Hardwood,
UNKNOWN MAN, evidently jeweler.
The injured:
B. w. Brown. Escanaba, cedar merchant;
believed to be fatally injured.
Richard Roberts, Escanaba: conductor of
accommodations train; leg smashed.
James Green, Escanaba, engineer of
freight train No. 2S9 hurt in jumping.
Cole Nee, fireman Of freight train No. $50;
hurt in jumping.
Pittsburg 4 Lake Superior Iron Co., slight
iy injured about head and body.
Peter Legg of Gladstone. Delta county
school commissioner. slightly injured.
Mike Green, brakeman, injured about
arms.
Mrs. Seymour Shaffer fatally injured and
burned.
-Four passengers, who refused to give
fIl/aI.
three passengers are reported TO De
missing and their bodies are supposed to
be under the burning wreckage, but their
names could not be ascertalned.
Signal lights II ia in the Storm.
Fast freight train No. $50, north-bound
from Green Bay to Ishpeming, drawn by
Engineer James Green and Fireman
Cole Nee, was making about fifty miles
an hour when it passed Narenta for Ford
river switch, seven miles west Of this
city. The engine was forging ahead
through binding snowstorm, which
made it impossible to sec signal lights but
short distance ahead. When within 10G
yards of the switch at Ford river En-
gineer Green saw the rear lights of q
train directly ahead, and with warning
cry to his fireman jumped.
Wrecked Cars in Flames.
The next instant the heavy freight
struck the passenger coach of the accom-
mediation and teleScoped it and the bag
gage car ahead. The dozen Or more pas
sengers in the car had not a moments
warning before the crash came, and
moment later the cries of the injured
could be heard above the hiss of eScap-
ing steam and craclle of the flames,
which soon enveloped the wrecked cars
and made the work of rescue doubly
hard. AS fast as the injured were re-
RI
store a short distance away. while the
train crews fought desperately, assisted
by the uninjured passengers, to gain con-
troll of the fire, which threatened the de-
struction of the wreck before all the in
jured could be removed.
Relief Train from Escanaba. .
A call for assistance was sent to this
city, and at 1:15 relief train left fol
the scene of the disaster, with the local
officials of the road and eight physicians.
in charge Of DR.. G. e. Booth, the com
pany's surgeon. Immediately upon their
arrival the work Of rescue was rushed
with renewed energy, and at 10 O'Clock ii
was announced that all the injured had
been removed. But the bodies of the
three unknown dead and two trainmen
are still pinned fast in the burning bag
gage car, all efforts to reach them hav-
ing proved futile.
The news of the disaster was spread
among the surrounding towns, and scores
of people drove across country TO learn
if any of their friends were Oh board
the Inflated train.
A pathetic incident of the disaster was
the fact that the engine of the accommO-
dation train was in charge of James Hill.
a sen of w. l.. Hill, whose dead body is
still fast in the wreckage.
Injured Placed in a Hospital.
ho ;of cd
to this city and was met by a crowd OF
mourners Only the most seriously III
jured were brought on this trip, and
these were at once conveyed to the coun-
ty hospital in the waiting ambulance.
The body of Sam Green of Negaunee
was not identified until it was taken
from the relief train here. A fresh crew
of men and physicians was at once dis,
patched to return to the wreck on the
special train, and, with the assistance
of the wreck train, the work of clearing
up the wreckage and removing the re-
naming bodies will be continued.
Caused by Careiessness.
The wreck was undoubtedly due to
carelessness. The fast freight train was
running on time and had the right OF
way through to this city. The accom-
mediation train is due at $50, but was
about a half hour late when it passed
Nafenta ct, III spite OF THIS Tact, II
was standing on the main track at Ford
river when the accident occurred.
The Felch Mountain branch of the
Chicago & North Western leaves the
main track al Narenta and runs q dis
lance of forty miles to Metropolitan.
Train No. q is the only one using this
branch it leaving Escanaba in the morn
ing and returns at $50 p m. each day,
and, while having a regulation schedule,
is allowed to make its own time largely
1t was late last night and the supposition
is that the crew were of the opinion that
the fast freight had already passed FORD
River. as in no other way can the over
sight be accounted for.