The Iola register., 1901-12-06

siding. Finding that the train was
running rapidly, the conductor put on
the air brakes himself, but it was too
late. The two trains crashed together
and the cars on the west bound train
were crumpled up in u heap Of ruins
Engineer Strong stated in positive
terms to an Associated Press reporter
that his order directed him to pass
trains No. Is and 3, the latter closely
followed No. l3, from Detroit, at
Sand Creek
81 saw the headlight of No. l3 four
or five miles before the collision oc-
CURED but 1 supposed the train was
sidetracked at Sand Creek, waiting
for us to pass. The glare of the
powerful electric headlight made it
impossible to see the exact location of
the other train. My fireman and !
both jumpedsfrom theright hand gang.
way"
HURLED 800 FEET.
Strong and the fireman we're both
hurled300 feet, but although badly y shak-
en- up they were not seriously injured.
The immigrants and other passengers
on train -, were crushed between the
splintered cars. II any escapedswith-
out injury it will be considered u
miracle.
To add to the horror the wreckage
caught fire instantly and in short
time the bodies of the dead and those
OF the injured who were pinned down
were being burned
The scene which followed was heart
rending in the extreme. sThe spot
where the wreck occurred was in the
open country, with but one farm house
nearby and facilities for aiding the in
jured we're extremely inadequate. AS
soon as the news OF the disaster
reached Superintendent Burns here a
relief train was dispatched TO the scene
with u score or more Of physicians on
board. Farmers from nearby and
those who escaped from the wreck
alive made heroic efforts to rescue the
less fortunate
The condition OF the wreck was such
that in the darkness it was impossible
to render immediate aid.
AN AWFUL SCENE.
Detroit, Nov. 28.-When night fell
over the scene of last nights awful
calamity on the Wabash railroad near
Seneca, Mich, those who had been in
vestigating the disaster had found
nothing to alter the estimate of about
eighty lives lost as result OF the col
lison. Superintendent George NJ.
Burns, OF the division ON which the
wreck occurred, insists that the esti-
mates are too high. "I do not con-
slider" said he, that the total death
list will exceed twenty"
However, in support Of the larger
estimate, it is pointed out that there
are now fourteen passengers known to
be dead The bodies of eight OF these
have been recovered and it is CON
sidered that the fragments OF other
bodies now in the morgue at Adrain,
will account for many more than
the twelve dead necessary to make up
uperintendent Burns estimate of
twenty.
In addition to thecomparatively few
fragments recovered and sent to the
morgue, those who were early on the
scene say that many more pieces were
discovered which crumbled to powder
while they were being removed.
Superintendent Burns said to the
Associated Press tonight that lie was
unable to tell the exact number Of
Italian immigrants aboard train No.
l3, but thought that there were not
more than hlty Passengers on the
train and number OF those who were
early on the scene disputethis and say
the number was nearer eighty. Super
intendent Burns has received no re-
port as YET from Ticket Collector
Eannes, OF train Nc. T., who probably
knows, nearer than anyone else, the
number OF Italians IN tho ears,
Coroner Hamilton, OF Adrian, this
afternoon impaneled jury and win
begin an inquest into the disaster to-
morrow morning.
No steps have been taken as yet to-
ward the arrest Of Engineer Strong,
whom superintendent Burns says is
responsible FOR the collision and
holocaust