The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-08
CRASH OF TWO CIRCUS TRAINS.
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trainers rushed among the cages, quieting
chants I'm the wrecked car behaved with
surprising calmness and were led out Of
the wreck without trouble.
The escaping steam and screams and cries
of those pinned in the wreck made a hor-
rifying spectacle in the gray of the early
morning, when the trainmen In the yards
and the aroused townspeople first reached
the scene. Many feared at first that some
of the menagerie had escaped, as some of
the animals could be heard crying. The
fire whistle was Immediately sounded and
the whole town was aroused. The rescuers
could see unfortunates through the tangled
wreckage and went furiouSly to work with
out waiting for tools to extricate them.
A wrecking crew is kept in the yards here
and ii was on the scene in a very few min
utes, bringing tools and equipment In
plenty. All the physicians and trained
nurses in town were sent for, and those In
nearby places were rushed TO the scene on
hand cars.
LAID ON THE GRASS.
The Hotel Richelieu was converted into
a temporary hospital, and scores of volun-
teers with stretchers were in readiness to
carry the injured there as fast as the res
cuers could extricate them. The dead.
many of them SO terribly mangled that
Identification seemed impossible, were care
fully laid on the green sward, a short dis
lance from the scene. BY 6 o'clock a corps
of twelve physicians was operating on the
injured and dressing their wounds in the
temporary hospital. Six of the injured died
at the hospital this morning.
When the wreckfng train crews had I'M
ished pulling to pieces the tangled broken
cars seventeen dead men were lying on the
grass awaiting removal to the morgue. A
majority of them were killed while asleep.
The circus performers were in the rear of
the moving train and escaped injury.
The Wallace brothers say their loss
will be very heavy, but have given no es-
innate Of 1t as yet. This is the second
wreck that the Wallace shows have SUI
fered within a month. The showmen
pitched their tents near the scene of the
wreck to-day.
Engineer Brobst. Fireman Golfer and
engine of the second section, all agree that
II the brakes had worked as they ought
when the engineer tried To use them
there would have been no collision. Fire
man Golfer and Brakeman Benedict when
they saw that a collision could not be
averted, jumped. Engineer Bropst re-
the brakes to work until his train was
within less than a hundred feet of train
No. Then he, too. jumped when death
up, as were the fireman and brakeman.
None of the crews OF either train was hurt.
AS the crash occurred train No. 2 was run
ming probably fifteen miles an hour.
ENGINEER PROBST BLAMED.
In discussing the question or response
bility for the horror the railroad officials
unhesitatingly lay 1T to Engineer Probst,
whose home is i'm Battle Creek. The off,
Gals declare that he could have stopped
the train in time to avoid serious conse-
auences. General Manages F. III. McGui-
gan said this afternoon: "Probst knew he
was coming into a yard where trains us
ually stand and take on coal and water.
TIL rules say plainly that engineers shall
approach such yards with the trains under
control. A brakeman, sent back by the
first train, warned him of the danger three
quarters of a mile before he got to the
standing section. For nearly half a mile
before he got to the first train the track is
straight and clear, and he should have been
able 10 see the red light on the back Of
the train ahead in time TO stop his train.
Of course he, like any one else, will try to
avoid such a responsibility"
Another official discussing the accident,
said he believed Engineer Probst had ex-
hausted his air in checking his train sew
eral times between Lansing and Durand