The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-01
Forty-One Deaths Reported.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Aug. 31.-A Pioneer
Press special from Kalispell, Mont, says
THE wreck at Nyack last night has re-
suited in forty-one deaths, and in all prob
ability more will follow Five dead were
brought to Kalispell, with thirteen wounded
and seriously hurt, one of whom has since
died. OF the forty-three men in the day
coach on the rear of the train only thir-
teen were saved, and only five dead were
got out of the burning ruins, the remainder
being cremated it being impossible TO find
even their bones, nothing but ashes re-
naming when the fire burned out The
scenes at the catastrophe were heartrend-
ing in the extreme, there being many poor
creatures pinned in among the Nhsckage,
while the passengers and trainmen. were
doing all in their power to rescue them.
THE wreckage took fire Immediately
after the collision, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that the few saved were
taken from the ruins. Several men were
loudly calling for help, begging that if
they could not be got out they be killed
rather than suffer death by the rapidly ap-
preaching flames. People were compelled,
by reason of the intense heat, to stand
aside and see the victims being burned
alive, powerless to lend aid or assistance.
Ten cars of shingles were upon the rear
of the freight train that caused the wreck,
and soon as it struck the standing pas
senger train the cars burst and the shingles
were thrown in all directions over the
wrecked passenger cars. In almost an in
stant the whole was mass of flames, and
the work of rescue was rendered dangerous.
Assistant General Superintendent Downs
was at supper when the cars struck, and
ii is the general opinion that he, together
with his young son, were killed instantly
and that they did not suffer.
THE railroad company at once dis
patched trains with medical aid.
1T appears that the cause OF the wreck
was that the freight train of twenty-eight
cars was at Essex and that the head en-
gine went forward leaving a helper en-
gine in the rear to hold the train. The
helper engine set the air brakes and left
the train standing on the track and went
to coal up. Conductor Matthews was in
the office getting orders and both brake
men were with the engines. 1T is believed
that the air leaked, and that the train be-
ing on steep grade slipped away with
out the train crews knowing il and dashed
down the mountain a tremendous rate
of speed, variously estimated at from sew
enty-five to 100 miles an hour. going down
the hill a distance of seventeen miles,
when it overlook the passenger train.
This train was moving in the same direc-
tion the runaway, otherwise the dsas-
ter would have been greater. The men on
the passenger train had not the slightest
warning of their danger. There is nothing
of the wreck left but smoldering ashes
and bent and twisted iron rods and chains
the iron parts of the cars.
Mrs. Downs was notified of her hus-
bands death at Boston, where she is Wis
iting friends. The names of the killed and
wounded are unobtainable. Those i'm the
hospital are so seriously injured ii is i'm
possible 20 gather their names. Conductor
Matthews who was i'm charge of the
over the accident and his trainmen are
likewise affected