Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-28


LONDON. ONT. December 27.-The
most frightful railroad accident in the
annals of the past decade happened a
short distance from the little station Of
Wanstead. on the Sarnia branch OF the
Grand Trunk railway last night The
trains in collision were the Pacific Ex-
press and freight The express was run
ming nearly two hours rate, and was MAX
Ing fast time. The freight was endeavor-
ing to make siding to get clear Of
the express, but failed by q, minute or
two
There was a dreadful crash. the loco
motives reared up and fell over in q
ditch. the baggage car Of the express
telescoped the smoker. and in an instant
the shrieks and cries of the wounded and
the dying filled the air. The loss OF life
is twenty-five The injured will num-
Der considerably more, and many Of
these may die.
Many Of the dead we're terribly multi
ated Heads were cut off. legs wrenched
from bodies and the level stretch Of
snow became crimson with the blood of
the victims.
The Responsibility.
The responsibility for the accident has
not been definitely fixed. but it is believ-
ed to have been due to a telegraph oper-
ator's error. The operator at one of the
stations where the two trains stopped
gave an order to the freight to pass No
5, the Pacific express. at Wanstead. In
the system Of the Grand Trunk this ordsr
should have been duplicated. a copy beng
given to the conductor and engineer OF
the express. Instead Of this, the conduc-
tor of the express received clear
ance order. telling hl,a TO run through.
The freight, meantime, had stopped 2t
Wanstead to sidetrack and was tele-
scoped by the express.
The binding storm which was raging,
rendered objects invisible al the distance
Of few feet
Stop Message Just Too Late.
The operator at Wanstead is rot usually
on duty at night. but last evening he hap
pened to pe in the Office for short time
He was going out at the door when ne
heard the telegraph instrument click re-
peatedly the message, Stop NO. s.,
D.
ator dashed for the door, and as he
closed it behind him he heard the crash
of the collision up the track.
There was not a house at hand to which
the injured could be carried. Fortunately,
however. the two Pullman cars on the
train did not sustain any damage. Ihey
were warm and comfortable. and were
converted into temporary hospital. The
injured were placed in the berths, ana
everything possible done to ease their
sufferings. Following is the list of killed:
Dead.
ALEXANDER STEWART and Mrs.
STEWART. Petrolia. Ont
A, r. KITS. Sarnia Tunnel
]. GILLIES. Sarnia Tunnel
Mrs TROTTER, Petrolia.
II. B. LAWRENCE, Watford, Ont.
P. S. FREEMAN Oil Springs. Ont
NICHOLAS JEFFREY, London.
GLEN ROALEY, Port Huron. Mich.
CITY DE PENCE La Crosse, Washing
ton. 1,,->,
Or. PENNWARDREN and Mrs. PENN
WARDEN. Oil Springs. Mich.
7. II, BROCK Brucefe :.
o. B. BURWELL, Port Huron Mich.
WILSON NORTON Chicago.
Miss NELLIE GEDDES, Sarnia. Ont.
ALEXANDER B. CAMERON. Petrolia,
EDWARD BoYcE. died in London Hos
pital.
SMITH. trainman.
Miss LoTTIE LYl.cH. Port Huron:
died In London Hospital.
EDDIE BAUs, Prescott, Ont; died IN
London Hospital.
J. b. BARNES. Woodstock. Ont
n. p. LAWRENCE, lvatford. Ont.
ARCHIE DOUGLAS. Alvinstone. Ont
Mrs. RoDLEY. Port Huron Mich