The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-17
Railroads Property Damaged to Ex-
tent of 10000, but No Per-
son Seriously Hurt.
BRAKEMAN THROWN 100 FEET
SITTING ON CAR AND DID NOT SEE
THE DOUBLE HEADER COMING.
Passengers Taken I'm from Pine Street
Where Accident Occurred, on
an Improvised Train.

A rear-end collision on the Panhandle
Railroad at Pine street last night damaged
railroad property to the extent of $4,000, but
no person was seriously hurt. The escape
of passengers and train crews was marvel
ous The fast passenger train from Colum-
bus, O., due in Indianapolis at 1870 o'clock
telescoped one end of string of thirty-fve
freight cars. The passenger train was dou-
ble-headed, both engines being of big build.
The exact cause of the wreck could not
be learned on account of the reticence of
the railroad employees. The crash of the
two trains, followed by an explosion
awakened everybody within a mile of the
wreck. The explosion could be heard down.
town. There were not over three persons
outside of the train crews who saw the two
trains collide. Not until the crashing of the
cars had ceased did anyone venture close
enough to ascertain the damage.
The first thoughts of the bystanders were
turned to the passengers in the day coaches
and sleepers. These cars were Immediately
searched, but no injured persons were
found. There were three day coaches and
two sleepers, but the occupants of these
had only a slight shaking up. The clerks in
the express car were thrown to the ends of
the car, but suffered no injury. The en-
gineers and firemen on the two passenger
engines dropped in front of their fire boxes
when they saw the of the freight train
looming before them. The rear freight cars
almost covered the front engine after the
collision.
One of the yardmen, in speaking of the
cause of the accident, said it was due
partly to the negligence of the passenger
engineers. The freight train had just drawn
down on to the main track on its way
to the freight house. 1t had left the ice
house in the Panhandle yards. The cars
were mainly refrigerator cars to be loaded
with beef. The freight pulled on to the
main track at Cruise street. The freight
engine was at Noble street, two squares
away. AS it started another freight came
around the curve. The switchman at Noble
street allowed the east-bound train to pro-
ceed and held the west-bound.
BRAKEMAN'S SCALP CUT.
Samuel Rummel was conductor on the
| freight train. He had placed Edward Hoff-
man, the rear brakeman. On top of the last
car. Hoffman was sitting on the last car
with his lantern in his hand. Whether or
not he saw the approaching train could not
be learned. When the crash came he was
knocked about one hundred feet. His Ian
tern was found about the middle of the
passenger train. He received a cut in the
scalp. He. was taken by his friends to his
home 2O2 Randolph street.
The two engines attached to the passen-
ger train were badly damaged The one
| leading was broken in the middle The rear
| trucks and drivers were knocked loose
! The one in the rear was forced into the
| tender of the other The empty express cal
| behind the engine was knocked from its
! trucks and hung by few fragments OF
| timbers that flew from the freight train.
| The great speed of the passenger train a.
| the time of the wreck could be understood
| when il was seen that the three last cars
] of the freight train were knocked from the
! main track and crushed INTO kindling wood
| The trucks OF the rear car lay against tn,
| front of the passenger train The second
car on the freight train, more than Dlocl
| and a half away. was thrown in the ali
! and demolished. One OF the queer things
! about the wreck was that nearly ever
! other freight car was either torn from III
trucks or battered and sDlintered. None O
/ the passenger cars was damaged
| T. E. Evans was conductor OF the pas
| senger train. F. w. Finney was enginee
of engine No 81. +. c. Duncan was fire
| man. Engine No. 14l7 was leading and il
| engineer was John LOwden. Shortly afte
| the wreck another train was sent on
| sidetrack and conveyed the passengers 4
| the Union Station