The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-03
RAILROAD NEWS.
Report on the Usage City Rail-
road Wreck.
Blame Attached Wholly to
Missouri Pacific.
NO STOP AT CROSSING.
Claimed That Missouri Pacific
Is Liable.
NO STOP AT CROSSING.
Damages For Wreck VIII Be
Many Thousand Dollars.

The report of the joint investigation
of the Santa Fe-Missouri Pacific wreck
at Usage City, which occurred on Nov
IA, has been completed. and is now be-
fore Superintendent Resseguie and
Division superintendent Parker for
consideration.
The report shows that the Santa Fe
train stopped and whistled at the cross
ing, as required by law, and that the
Missouri Pacific train did not stop or
whistle The blame is attached wholly
to the Missouri Pacific, according to the
officials. The Santa Fe will demand
that the Missouri Pacific take all the
responsibility for the wreck and settle
the damages.
The damages will be heavy. Two men
both of whom were on the Santa Fe
engine-were killed. Railroad men are
accustomed to estimate lives at about
$4,000 apiece, and the Santa F'e believes
that in fixing the responsibility for the
accident on the Santa Fe, 1t has clear
ed itself from liability for these lives.
The joint investigation was in pro-
gress at Usage City for several days.
Stenographic reports of the testimony
taken have been transcribed, and are
now ready for the consideration of the
officials.
1t is said to be customary in the Mis-
souri, Pacific management for such
questions to be settled wholly by the
highest officials. The division superin-
much voice in the question. There
fore the Santa Fe expects to encounter
considerable delay before getting a final
settlement of the claims.
The accident at Usage City was
most unusual and sad affair. The San
ia Fee train crashed into the third car
of a Missouri Pacific freight. The San
ia Ee engine was thrown over on it's
side, and badly wrecked. Several Mis-
souri, Pacific cars were smashed to
pieces
Fred Slusser, the fireman of the San
ia Fe engine, was brought to Topeka
after the accident, and died here in the
Santa F'e hospital. Roy Reams, the
other man killed, was an Usage City
engine wiper. Slusser also lived in
Usage City. a short distance from
where the wreck occurred. S1usSer was
The following story of the wreck is
taken from the report printed in the
State Journal of November Is:
There are conflicting reports con-
corning the accident. but it seems that
just as the Missouri Pacific was max
ing the crossing. after both engineers
had stopped and whistled according to
requirements, the Santa Fe struck the
third car of the Pacific train. This
threw the Santa Fe engine over on its
side, and the unfortunate fireman was
ground. The crash damage the engine
80 badly that steam and water escaped
in great quantities. Slusser. pinned be-
tween the boiler and the ground, was
bathed for 80 minutes in a steady
stream of boiling water, and he was
horribly scalded from the waist down.
His brother Jesse, who was a brakeman
on the same train, stood by and held
him up. He begged pitifully to be re-
leased, but this was impossible until
the heavy locomotive had been lifted.
The accident happened within two
blocks of where Slusser lived.
''Slusser was an old Santa F'e fireman
His run was on the Alma branch, but
he had formerly worked the cutoff.
Ia n oT1c inc win f11a n
house here for awhile. He had many
friends in Topeka"