The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-03
Engines Hauling Big Four and Penn
sylvania Trains in Collision at
Delaware Street.
NOT A PASSENGER WAS HURT
PROBABLY CAUSED BY MISINTER-
PRETATION OF A SIGNAL.
Both Trains Were Due at the Union
Station About Midnight-TOwer
Watchman Saw Ii.

AS the result of a misinterpreted block
signal, in all probability. Pennsylvania
train No. 8, from Louisville to Chicago,
and Big Four train No. 81, from Cincinnati
to Chicago, smashed into each other in
head-end collision at Delaware street last
night at HISS O'Clock. AS is usually the
case when accidents occur. the trainmen
preserved a grim silence as TO the cause
of the collision, but from the statements
of Engineer Wetzel of the Pennsylvania
train, and Engineer Smith, of the Big Four,
it is probable that one of the two erred in
reading the signal for an open track
Although the big heavy trains crashed
into each other with titanic force, no one
was hurt Passengers were badly shaken
up and scared for few minutes. and glass
ratified and fell like hail out of the windows
of the two trains, but no one even
scratched bruised. The locomotives were
partially wrecked, that of the Pennsylvania
train suffering the most. The front end
of the big Pennsylvania engine looked as
if a gigantic hammer had been applied to
it. 1t was caved in; the cowcatcher bro
ken TO little bits; the boiler-end cut off;
the headlight annihlated; the smokestack
wrecked and the more minute parts re-
duced to scrap-iron and kindling wood.
The rear of the engine was little damaged.
The Big Four locomotive suffered less, al
though the front end of it is knocked
about.
Pennsylvania train No. due in In
dianapolis at 1900. AS was customary, il
ran on its own track to where the track
of the Union railway joins it at Delaware
street. AT that point it was to have backed
into the Union station on the Union rail-
way track. The Big Four train was due
in at 11i5 and was marked on time. 1t was
to have run straight in on the Union rail-
way track.
TRAINS CAME TOGETHER.
The latter train must have been late,
for the Pennsylvania train was due at the
intersection of the tracks seseral minutes
before the Big Four train. AS both trains
neared the intersection at Delaware street
the Pennsylvania train was turning the
curve at fast clip; the Big Four train
had slowed up and was running very slowly.
Neither waited for the other and the
smash resulted. The position of the switch
after the collision showed that the Penn
sylvania train had been given the track;
the rails on which the Big Four stood not
being connected with the track into the
Union Station, and had the Big Four En-
gineer attempted 10 go on, and had not
the collision occurred, he would have
ditched his train.
Both engineers claim, however, that the
block signal showed each of them the
white light. That meant, Of course, that
the track was clear ahead; and each claims
that he went ahead on that reading of
the signal. There is no question about
it," said Engineer Wetzel. Of the Pennsyl-
vania, "the tower man gave me the track"
Engineer Smith. of the Big Four. said:
THE signal was white, and that meant
for me to go ahead.
Albert Bloom was the tower man. After
the collision he refused to make a state
ment of any kind. saying that the matter
would be threshed out by the officials Of
the roads. Stationmaster Lewis, who came
to the scene at once, said that IL was bad
judgment TO attempt 10 fasten the blame
on anyone without careful investiga ton.
He said, however. that the Big -Four train
was evidently a little late.
Neither Engineer Wetzel nor Fireman
]. O. CuIp. of the Pennsylvania train, En-
gineer Smith nor Fireman Tim Finley Of
the Big Four train was hurt. That some
one was not badly injured is a matter OF
surprise TO railroad men who looked at
the injured locomotives last night. The
loss TO the railroad companies will amount
70 ah0