Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-30
OEATH>L|ST IS
VERY LENGTHY
Loss of Life in the Baltimore & Ohio
Wreck Reaches Sixty-Eight.
SAD SCENES AT THE M0RGUES
Heartless Thieves Rob the Dead Pas.
sengers-Tale of Courage and
HerOism of Dining Car
Steward.

Connellsville, Pa, Dec 25.-lhe sum-
ming up of Wednesday nights wreck
OF the DuQuesne Limited on the Balti-
more & Ohio eight miles west of here
shows a total dead list of 68 and nine
injured. ConnellsvA4e is packed with |
curious people, attracted here by the
wreck. The three morgues have found
1t necessary to put guards on all doors
to keep morbid spectators from Jump
ing into the small rooms and walking
over the forms of the dead. The
streets are packed in front Of each Of
the undertaking establishments; hun
dreds of people are grouped eagerly
waiting for glimpse of the dead
bodies. Friends and relatives of the
victims are coming in on every train
and scenes at the morgues are most
distressing. All but few of the 6S
bodies have been identified and those
who are still unknown will be laid
away in Hill Grove cemetery at the
dawn of Christmas morning. Those
who are still to be identified are mostly
foreigners and it is doubtful il their
identity will ever be known.
Considerable money was found on
the persons of the unidentified and
tightly sewed in belt on one foreign
err was found more than $500, which
was placed in the First National bank.
Sums ranging from 500 to $500 were
found and this, like the balance has
been put in the bank until, perhaps,
sometime relative may be located.
Robbers at Work.
Many Of the victims of the wreck
have been robbed. There we're several
who are known to have had large
amount of money and jewelry on their
persons. Not single cent was found
in the pockets OF these and it was
plainly visible that rings had been
taken from the fingers. Robbers were
on the scene early and before many of
the rescuers arrived they had secured
considerable booty, much Of which con-
sisted OF baggage and handbags that had
been tossed about the cars in the
wreck. Connellsville people were heavy
purchasers in Pittsburg yesterday and
many OF the shoppers carried valuable
jewelry and presents of all descrip-
tons in hand bags.
Heroisn of a Steward,
A story of courage and heroism sell
dom equaled Is told of Benjamin
Nichols, steward on the dining car
His name is being sung with praises
by railroaders and the surviving pas
sengers. When the terrible slide of
the engine dragged the train whirling
sideways along the road Nichols was
in the dining car. He was battered
from one side to another of the car
Jolting, humping and swinging, the
car finally stopped. 1t was on the end
OF the train, and it is for this reason
that Nichols and others on that car
were not injured. Before the car had
made its last lurch Nichols had leaped
and was running toward the smoker,
which was reduced to mass OF
twisted iron and splinters. The crash
had torn the escape valve from the
top of the engine and the steam was
shooting in the car upon the strug-
Cling mass of smoking humanity. The
escaping steam was the first thing that
attracted the plucky steward. Taking
of his coat, he ripped anu ~ore the
garment until it was in shreds. With
this he plugged up the pipe and shut
of the steam. Temporary relief had
been given the sufferers, but Nichols
was not DONE
Long before the passengers in the
Pullman coaches had stspped to the
ground Nichols had taken the first
step in the work of rescue. Climbing
through broken window he leaped
into the dark car. The hot. suffocat-
ing steam filled the car. The screams
Of the injured made It confusing what
to do. Picking up the first human
form at hand, Nichols carried it out
in the open. Placing the injured VIC
tim on the frozen ground, Nichols once
more entered the car. by this time
other rsscuers had arrived. One after
another were handed out until five
were rescued.
At this point the steward was COM
PEELED to leap to the ground, being ex-
hausted and overcome by the heat and
steam. Other employees entered the
car and continued the work of rescue.
They were soon rejoined by Nichols.
who once more had recovered. For
hours the work continued, it being
difficult even with the aid of the
wreck crew. Many of the victims
were wedged between heavy timbers,
and it was four o'clock before all the
injured had been removed. Following
the wreck thieves were detected rob-
bling the dead and injured. Two white
men and two colored men are now
in the Dawson police station charged
with this crime.
Fear Damage by High Water.
Davenport, a., Dec. 25.-Gorging
Ice in the Mississippi river below this
city caused a rise of the river here
which reduced the head of the water
power at the United States arsenal at
Rock Island so low as to throw 1000
workmen out of work until the gorge
breaks or until arrangements can be
made to run the arsenal shops by steam
power. Much apprehension ON account
Of the high water is felt in this city.
Alfred Deakin, prime minister OF the
Australian commonwealth, is an insati-
able devourer of novels. and never en-
tiers the legislative chamber without one
or~two. He ssettles down comfortably