The Portland daily press., 1900-08-16
Sven People Killed in Collision Near
Grand Rapids.
Operator Said No When
He Meant Yes.
Discovered His Mistake Just
Half Minute Too Late.

Grand Rapids Mich, August 15.-The
most terrible wreck in the history of the
Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad oc
CURED about q. M, at Pierson, twenty
nine miles north of Grand Rapids.
The north bound Northland express,
which left this city at 4.O5 a. M. collided
head on with passenger train No. 2, due
here at six a. m. Seven lives were lost
and many passengers were injured, one
fatally. Both engines We're ruined and tie
baggage cars were demolished.
When the trains met day was just
dawning and the fog was so thick that
the engineers could not see more than
one hundred yards ahead. The trains
were to have passed at Sand Lake, two
miles south OF PiersOn at 4.52.
No. 2 was evidently late, and was try
In 6 to make the siding at PiersOn. The
Northland express had the right of way
and was scurryIng along at nearly full
speed The express train was mads up
largely OF Pullman cars.
1T was the finest train on the road. 1t
carried the Grand Rapids coach, a day
CO ach, several sleepers from Cincinnati
and the south, and Buffet breakfast cars.
The dead Letts, Charles NJ, Grand
Rapids conductor north bound train No.
engineer No. B. Fish, William H, Grand
Rapids, engineer No. 2. Woodhouse, Ed
ward D., Grand Rapids, fireman of NO.5.
Doyle, Louis g., Grand Rapids, fireman
Of No. 2. Pierson, c., passenger of
FRANKLIN, Ind, Levan Ralph. son of
Baggageman LeYen, Of Grand Rapids,
who was in the car with his father
Fatally injured, Blossom, Mark, Grand
Rapids, news agent, base Of skull frac-
tured.
The injured, Dennis, H. A., Grand
Rapids, passenger, cut on head, legs
iammed, left shoulder hurt. Graves, W.
M, Grand Rapids, colored, waiter on No.
8, compound fracture of right arm and
badly cut. Ford, 9. NJ, Grand Rapids,
cOlOred, porter No. 5, injured about legs
and chest. Powers, David c., Grand
Rapids, baggageman of No 2, scalp
wound, throat cut, confusion on limbs,
both eyes closed. Poroff, Frank, Traverse
City, trainmen, head badly cut. Barnes,
William, Grand Rapids, dining car con-
ductor, left of chest hurt, head cut.
Taylor, Harvey, Grand Rapids, cOlored,
walter, both hands lacerated, arms cut.
Hart, 5. A. W, passenger, badly hurt
about face and chest. According to the
railway officials the collision was the
fault of Operator Wells at Mill Greek,
four miles north of here. The trains
usually meet at Sand Lake, two miles
south of PiersOn, An order was issued
tnat they meet at Woodstock. four miles
north Of PiersOn. Later, Operator Wells
was asked if the express had passed his
station. He ans Wered mo. - He was
then told to cOuntermand former orders
and give orders to No. 8 to meet No. 2 at
Sand Lake. Similar orders were given to
No. train. No. 5 never got the order,
having already passed Mill Greek. They
collided while both were going at full
speed.
When Operator Wells discovered his er-
dor he tried to stop the express at Pier
son, but was half minute too late. The
injured were brought to this city and
taken to vari Gus hospitals The dead
were also brought here. The railroad de-
tectives caught several thieves at work at
the scene of the disaster.