The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-09
C. & N. w. FATAL WRECK
Nine Killed, Three Missing and
Many Injured in Michigan
Passenger Collision.

Escanaba, Mich, Feb. 9-Chicago &
Northwestern passenger train No. q,
known as the Fetch mountain accom-
modation, which runs between this city
and Metropolitan, was wrecked in a
rear-end collision at Ford river switch
at $50 last night. Nine persons were
killed, three are reported missing. five
seriously and four slightly injured.
The dead are;
W. L. Hill, Escanaba, baggageman of
the accommodation train.
William Dillon, Escanaba, brakeman
On the accommodation train.
Miss Seymour, Section 6, Delata cOun-
ty, Mich.
Charles Martin, Escanaba, civil en-
gineer.
George R. Black, Escanaba, civil engi-
neer.
Sam Green, Negaugnee. agent of the
Upper Peninsular Brewing company
Two unknown men.
Unknown woman; body charred be-
gond recognition.
The injured.
B. W. Brown, Escanaba, Cedar mer-
chant; believed to be fatally injured.
Mrs. Seymour, section 6, burned and
internally injured
Theo de Ford. Hardwood, Mich, fatal
" injured.
Richard Roberts, Escanaba, con-
duetor of accommodation train; leg
mashed.
Peter Legg, Escanaba, slightly in
5ured.
James Green, Escanaba, engineer of
freight train No. 2S9, hurt in jumping.
Cole Nee, fireman of freight train No,
RS9, hurt in jumping.
-Four passengers, who refused to give
their names, were only slightly bruised.
Three passengers are reported to be
missing and their bodies are supposed
to be under the burning wreckage, but
their names could not be ascertained.
Fast freight train No go h
bound from Green Bay to Ishpeming,
drawn by Engineer James Green and
Fireman Cole Nee, was making about
nifty miles an hour when it passed
Narenta for Ford River switch, seven
miles west of this city. The engine was
forging ahead through a binding snow
storm, which made it impossible to see
the signal lights but a short distance
ahead. When within 100 yards of the
switch at Ford River Engineer Green
saw the rear lights of a train directly
ahead and with a warning cry
TO his fireman jumped.
The next instant the heavy freight
struck the passenger coach of the ac-
commodation and telescoped it and the
baggage car ahead. The dozen or more
passengers in the car had not a mo-
ment's warning before the crash came
and moment later the cries of the in
5ured could be heard above the hiss of
escaping steam and Crackle of the
names which soon enVelODed the wreck
ed cars and made the work of rescue
doubly hard. AS fast as the injured
were removed they were taken to a
store short distance away, while the
train crews fought desperately, as
sisted by the uninjured passengers to
gain control of the fire. which threaten
ed the destruction of the wreck before
all the injured could be removed.
A call for assistance was sent to this
city and at 7:15 relief train left for
the scene of the disaster, with the local
officials OF the road and eight physi-
clans in charge of DR.. c. F. Booth. the
company's surgeon. Immediately upon
their arrival the work of rescue was
rushed with renewed energy and at 10
O'Clock it 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 baggage car. all efforts to
reach them having proved tutile.
At II O'Clock the relief train returned
TO this city and was met by crowd
pf mourners. Only the most seriously