Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-08
JUMPED THE TRACK.
Fifteen Killed and % Injured
in Railroad Wreck.
Broken Rail Cause of frightful Disas-
ter Near Maxon, Tex.
Most of Train Burned and Many OF
Bodies Cremated.

San Antonio, Texas, March IA
broken rail caused frightful wreck on
the Southern Pacific Railroad near
Maxon station, % miles west of Sander
son at o'clock, this morning. From
the Ia test accounts received here 10 peo-
pie were killed and IS were more or less
injured.
The train left San Antonio, at noon,
Thursday, two and half hours late,
and at the time of the accident was
running at a high rate of speed, in or
der to make up time. The road at the
point where the wreck occurred is in a
rough country, the curves being sharp
and the grades heavy. 1t was when
rounding a curve that the train left the
track, on account of a broken rail, 1T is
said. All the passengers were asleep
and the shock that followed was the
first irtimation they had of danger.
The train was going at such a rate of
speed that the tender and engine landed
70 feet from where they left the rails.
The cars behind were piled up against the
engine and caught fire, and were all con-
sumed except the sleepers.
A private car owned by Thomas Ryan
of New York, with his family aboard,
was attached to the rear of the train, but
it was pulled away before the fire reached
it and no one in it was injured.
All the injured in the coaches just be-
hind the express and baggage cars were
crema ted. The people in the sleepers
were saved with the assistance of the
uninjured passengers.
The wrecked train was the Galveston.
I nd mi tho
passenger. and consisted of an engine,
mail car. baggage car, one coach, orc
choir car. three tourist sleepers, one Pull
man sleeper and one private car The mail
car, the baggage car and coaches were
piled together against the engine and
were ablaze in a few seconds and were
soon consumed
AS soon as it was possible to get in
communication with the division head
quarters relief trains with surgeons and
physicians were started from El PasO,
Del Rio and Sanderson. They picked
up along the line all the surgeons that
could be found.
All the injured who We're in n condi-
ton to be moved were sent to FL Paso,
where they are receiving attention.
W. G.. Van Wick, general manager
of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San
Antonio Railroad, was at San Antonio
and left at once on a special for the
scene of the wreck
DR.. f.. III. Shelmerdine of Philadel-
phia, who with his wife was n passen-
ger on board the Waesland, attributes
the accident to the lfeboat to Danger
fields attempting to spring on board
and thereby breaking his own neck and
causing the death of Elsie Emmett.
DR.. Shelmerdne lost his valuable in
struments and jewelry. He says Cap
tain Apfield of the Waesland, had on
board his So years savings in specie;
but he would not attempt to leave the
bridge to fetch the money until all the
passengers were safely in the boats.
Then it was too late to go below and
the money was lost.
Mrs. Hanson, widow of Chicago,
was considerable loser by the sinking
of the Waesland.
The two sons of Dangerfield, who was
killed in one of the lifeboats, returned
to Kansas three weeks ago.
Houston, Texas, March I'm his report
to Vice President j. Kruttschnitt, Gen.
Manager Van Week makes the follow
ing statement: Conductor reports
speed was not fast at time of derail
ment and is of the opinion accident
was due to obstruction on track"