The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-28
WAS DUE TO MISTAKE IN ORDERS
One of the Engineers Jumped and Escaped to Tell
the Story of the Crash
Saw the Other Headlight But Relied on Orders AS
He Understood Them

Detroit. Mich, Nov. 2s.-Two passen-
ger trains on the Wabash railroad, one
going west, the other east. met in a
frightful collision while going at almost
full speed, one mile east of Seneca,
Mich. a village eleven miles west of
Adrian, shortly after Z o'clock last
night. Both trains were wrecked in
the dreadful impact entailing a tremen-
dous loss of life, estimated at from so
to 100. The list of injured will probably
reach 125.
The westbound train was known as
No. 10, and was a regular, which be-
sides its regular coaches. had several
coaches filed with Italian immigrants
going west from New York The east
bound train was known as No 4, the
Continental limited. 1t was a vestibuled
train consisting of a baggage car, COM
bination coach and sleeper.
The cause of the wreck was a mis-
reading of orders by Engineer Strong,
of the Continental limited The order,
it is claimed. read pass at Seneca"
but Strong understood it to read Sand
Creek The conductor of the train did
not know that the engineer had mis-
understood the order and supposed that
his train was going on a siding Finding
that the train was running rapidly, the
conductor put on the air brakes him
self. but it was too late. The two
trains crashed together and the cars
on the westbound train were crumpled
up in a heap of ruins.
Engineer Strong stated in positive
terms to an Associated Press reporter
fhof n 51 a -
trains No 13 and 8. the latter closely
followed No. 13. from Detroit. at Sand
Creek Said Strong:
I saw the headlight of No. 13 four
or hve 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 l both jumped from
the right hand gangway''
HURLED 800 FEET
Strong and the fireman were both
hurled 800 feet, but although badly
shaken up they were not seriously in
sengerS on train 13, We're crushed be-
tween the splintered cars. If anv es-
capped without injury it will be consid-
cred q miracle.
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
renolng IN the extreme. The spot where
the wreck occurred was in the omen
country but with one farm house near
by and facilities for aiding the injured
We're extremely inadequate AS soon as
the news or the disaster reached Sunar-
1ntendent Burns here, a relief train Tras
dispatched to the scene with a score or
more OF physicians on board. Farmers
from nearby and those who escaner
forts to rescue the less fortunate.
The condition of the wreck was sucb
that in the darkness it was impossib1a
to render immediate aid '-e
Immediately after the collision civ of
the cars OF the westbound train crowd
ed with immigrants burst into f1ames
The unfortunates fought madly in their
attempt to crawl out OF doors and win
dowss thus hindering one another SO