The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
FIFTEEN STUDENTS DEAD

the coal cars and locomotive. others were
buried beneath the shattered timbers and
roof. few were pitched clear of the wreck
age and the rest went into the gravel pit,
fifteen feet below the track.
The second coach. occupied by the college
force Of the collision. The body OF the car
was torn from the trucks, hurled TO the top
OF the wreckage on the track. where It
poised for a second, then plunged down the
ernbankment on IT'S side. The floor of this
car was practically demolished, the win
dows were shattered and the seats and
fastenings and piled In heaps. The most
serious casualties occurred in this and the
first coach.
The third car was also lifted from its
trucks. raised high IN the air and shot
forward, where It remand poised, right
side up on the mass OF wreckage formed
cars. No one was killed in this car. al
though many were seriously hurt. While
the interior was reduced to confusion, the
sides OF the car splintered and the floor
wrecked by iron bars and timbers forced
upward through IT. IL did not present the
appalling appearance OF the first two
coaches.
The remaining eleven coaches Of the spe-
ciaI were. many OF them. derailed, but were
comparatively uninJured. The passengers
were badly shaken up. some of them even
seriously hurt. and all suffered from the
fright and shock OF the moment.
AN APPALLING SCENE.
No more appalling wreck scene was ever
witnessed In this State A giant locomotive,
crushed out OF all semblance OF shape. one
big passenger coach reduced to pieces no
larger than a barrel stave with the excep-
ton Of the roof and one side, another coach
shattered and crushed, and third one
half demolished; with dozen human be-
mangled beneath the piles OF wood and
iron; scores bleeding and moaning, pinned
down by the weight OF heavy timbers.
caught between seats or crawling.
stunned and dazed. from the wreckage,
and scores more able to help themselves
but frantic with the horror Of the mo-
m<nt made UP the terrible picture that
presented itself to the gaze of those who
saw the trains come together.
The rush to relieve was instant Labor
ers working In the neighborhood ran with
all speed to the work Of mercy. Residents.
catching up hastily such articles as they
believed would serve to alleviate the agony
of the injured. ran from every house
near by. Others FASTENED to telephones
and sent a general call for assistance. The
City Dispensary and Hospital. all the hos
pitfalls In the city and every physician that
could be reached by telephone were sum-
moned. Several fire companies were noti-
fed and responded On the instant and,
although the fire did not add its horror
to the scene. they extinguished an incip-
tent blaze under the wreckase and were of
service IN removing the dead and caring
for the injured
Under Superintendent Kruger and Cap
tain Hyland. the entire detective force a
squad Of twenty patrolmen and num-
Der OF men not In uniform. were at the
wreck within fifteen minutes. They as
sisted In the work OF relief, kept back the
crowd and patrolled the vicinity. guarding
the wreckase and the property of the pas
sengers.
The wreck whistle was blown at exact
Iy 1905 O'Clock. and under Yardmaster
John @. Hicks and the veteran wrecker,
II. d. Harris. a wrecking train and a
force OF thirty was dispatched at once to
the scene. Although the scene was one
of terrible chaos. enough to horrify and
daunt even men accustomed to dealing
with such catastrophes. the work was be-
gun with military system and discipline
ATTACKING THE wRECKAGE.
The wreckage of the locomotive and
smoker was first attacked. With crowbars
and bare hands the railroad employees, the
police. riremen and volunteers from the un-
injured passengers and people in the neigh
borhood. went to work. The first thought
was for the injured On every side. through
every interstice in the debris, legs, arms
and bodies could be seen. The groans and
cries of frightfully injured men spurred the
workers to superhuman effort The APP
peais of many who feared that friends and
relatives were dead or dying in the wreck
age furnished additional incentive. al
though none was needed.
BY the time the relief party had begun
TO remove the injured medical assistance
had arrived and the labor of temporarily
caring for the suffering was begun. Those
who were most seriously hurt were placed
in ambulances, patrol wagons, hose wagons
or anv vehicle that co,,l5 h.. oo..-.,