The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-28
twenty-five People Killed in
a Collision.
MANY INJURED MAY DIE
An Express and a Freight Engine Running at
High Speed Meet on the Sarnia
Branch Of the Grand Trunk
Railway.
Railway.
(By the Associated Pressl

London, Ont, Dec. 27.-The most fright
full railroad accident in the annals of the
| past decade happened short distance
from the little town of Wanstead on the
Sarnia branch Of the Grand Trunk Rail-
| way, last night. The trains in collision
were the Pacific Express and a freight.
The express was running nearly two
hours late and was making fast time. The
freight was endeavoring to make a siding
10 get clear of the express, but failed
by minute or two.
There was dreadful crash, the loco
motives reared up and fell over in a
ditch, the baggage car OF the express tele-
scoped 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 number
| considerably more, and many of these
may die.
Many of the dead were terribly muti:a-
ted Heads were cut off, legs wrenched
from the bodies and the level stretch of
snow became crimson with the blood of
the victims.
The responsibility for the accident has
not been definitely fixed, but it is be-
lieved to have been due to a telegraph
operators error
The operator at one of the stations
where the two trains stopped gave an
order to the freight to pass number five,
the Pacific Express at Wanstead
In the system of the Grand Trunk, this
order should have been duplicated, a copy
being given TO the conductor of the ex-
of fLa e
| the express received clearance order.
telling him to run right through The
freight train in the meantime had stop
ped at Wanstead to side track and was
| telescoped by the express. The binding
storm which was raging rendered objects
invisible at the distance of few feet
| The operator at Wanstead is not usually
On duty at night, but last evening he
happened to be in the office for a short
time. was going out at the door when
| he heard the telegraph instrument click
repeatedly the message "stop number
five,' stop number five"
| Selling a lantern the operator dashed
| for the door and as he closed it behind
him, he heard the crash of the collision
Up the track.
There was not house at hand to
which the injured could be carried For
tunately however, the two Pullman cars
on the train did not sustain any dam
age. They were warm and comfortable
and were converted into a temporary hos
pital. The Injuries were placed in the
| berths and everything possible done to
ease their sufferings.
| Following is the list of killed:
ALEX STEWART, Petrolia, Ont.
MRS. STEWART, Petrolia, Ont.
| A. RICKETTS,, Sarnia Tunnell.
| j. c. GILLS. Sarnia unnell
| MRS. TROTTER, Petrolia, Ont.
| H. B. LAWRENCE, Watford Ont
| p S. FREEMAN, Oil Springs.
| NICHOLAS JEFFREY, London.
| GLEN ROALEY, Port Huron, Mich.
| GUY D. PENCIER, Lacrosse, Wash.
DIR. PENNWARDEN, Oil Springs, Mich.
| MRS. PENNWARDEN, Oil Springs. Mich
| ]. H. BROCK, Brucefield
| o. B. BURWELL, Port Huron, Mich.
| WILSON MORTON, Chicago.
MISS NELLIE GEDDES, Sarna, Ont.
ALEX B. CAMERON, PetroIia, Ont.
| EDWARD BOYCE, died in London Hos
pital.
| --- SMITH, trainman.
| MISS LOTTIE LYNCH, Port Huran, died
| in London Hospital.
EDDIE BAUS, Prescott, Ont, died in
| London Hospital.
j. B. BARNES, Woodstock, Ont.
| II. p LAWRENCE, Watford, Ont.
ARCHIE DOUGLAS, Alvinston, Ont.
MRS. RODLEY, Port Huron, Mich.
Following is a list of passengers injured
| in the accident:
Alex NJ. Stewart, business address 500
Jackson avenue. Chicago, face slightly
bruised; has gone home.
| Mrs. ]. j. Cuthbertson, Port Huron,
Mich, face. head and hands bruised, possi'
bly, injured internally.
Jas. ]. Ramplin, Toronto, bruised and
shock.
Mrs. Samuel Cummings. Port Huron,
Mich, slight cuts, not serious.
Mrs. Hattie Northey, Peterboro, Ont,
slightly injured
Jas. R. Northey, Peterboro, Ont, bad
ly bruised, not serious.
Mrs. Cool, Chicago, shock possibly in
ternally injured.
Frank E. Baker, London, dslocated
shoulder and other injuries.
w. NJ. Morse. wife aud child Sarnia;
Mr.. Morse fractured arm, chest injured,
not serious; Mrs. Morse, shock, not Sc
| rious; child, slightly injured
Thomas Cool. London, business ad-
dress, Chicago, hip injured.
Geo. Stacey, Wanstead, Ont, slightly
injured: went to his home in Waterford.
DR.. Basil Harvey, Chicago. lacerated
wound in head, some bruises. not Sc
rious.
Mrs. J. NJ Stewart and two children,
Chksh, Wis; Mrs Stewart fractured back
nrs1 wi hrO