The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-27
SEVENTEEN KILLED
DISASTROUS WRECK ON THE PERE
MARQUETTE.
THIRTY-0NE WERE INJURED.
WIND BLEW OUT THE RED SIGNAL
LIGHT.


of the Impact-Engineers Had no
Chance to SLOW Down-WOrk of
Rescue and Relief Was Pushed
Rapidly.
Grand Rapids, Mich. Dec. 25.-
Seventeen persons are dead and
thirty-one injured, several of
them fatally, as the result of
the collision early this even
ing of two passenger trains on the
Pere Marquette Railroad, half a mile
west of East Paris, and six miles east
of this city.
The collision, which was head-on,
was caused, according to a statement
issued by the officials of the road at
the general offices in Detroit, by the
high wind blowing out the red signal
lamp at McCOrds, where the west
bound train No. should have stopped
and received orders to pass the east
bound train at Fox.
The officials deny a report that
misunderstanding of orders on the part
of one of the engineers was responsible
for the collision. According to the
statement of the officials, the trains
were originally to have met and passed
at Oakdale Park, but to help the east
bound train the dispatcher issued new
orders, fixing Fox as the meeting
place. The eastbound train received
its orders to this effect, and the west
bound should have received this order
at McCords. Instead it rushed by this
station, and the operator there, after
reporting this fact, found, on going out
to the platform, that his red signal
lamp, which had been burning two
minutes before, was out, presumably
extinguished by the high wind that
was blowing.
List of the Killed.
The Killed
Engineer Charles a. Stoddard. De-
troit.
William Heinrich. Grand Rapids.
Charles A. Devine, Grand Rapids.
William Smith, farmer, near Saranac,
Mich.
Allen H. Wells, Big Rapids, Mich.
Peter w. Weirengo. Grand Rapids.
Seven unidentified bodies of men.
Two women, and a boy, unidentified.
Fireman Ed Burns, missing and sup
posed to be under the wreck.
The injured were all Michigan peo-
pie.
The two trains were running at full
speed, and the engines were reduced to
tangled bits of wreckage. The first
al he
their trains left the track except the last
coach on each, so great was the force
of the collision.
The eastbound train was due to
leave here at $40 o'clock, bound for De-
troit, and was a little late. The west
bound train was due from Detroit at
5:15. 1t was also late. The latter is
supposed to be in Grand Rapids be-
fore the other leaves this city, but on
account of being late, was sent out
before the other arrived.
Crowded with Passengers.
The eastbound train was crowded
with passengers when it left Grand
Rapids. 1t carried scores of Christmas
visitors returning to their homes along
the Pere Marquette line after spending
the holiday here. The train was much
heavier than usual on account of this
extra rush.
1t is reported that the incoming train
was also heavily loaded. 1t, too, bore
holiday crowd, as well as the regular
Saturday rush of passengers. AS usual,
the smokers were damaged more than
any of the other coaches. and in the
smokers every seat was occupied.
There is a curve at East Paris, and
q long grade extends from half mile
east of East Paris, to near the scene
OF the wreck. The westbound train had
just descended the grade, when the
collision occurred. The speed of the
train must have been high because OF
the velocity given by the descent OF
the grade. and of the fact that the
train was trying to make up time.
With a Terrific Crash.
The trains met with a terrific crash,
the baggage and smoking cars behind
each locomotive being instantly re-
duccd to a pile of kindling wood. The
engines We're completely wrecked, the
boiler of that which had pulled the
eastbound train being torn completely
from the running gear and standing
perpendicularly in a ditch at the side
of the track.
Engineer Frank Waterman, who sur
vived the catastrophe, says he and his
fireman, E. B. Moon, were caught like
rats in a trap. He says he never saw
the eastbound train.
The crash and the means of the in
Jured were heard by nearby farmers,
who rushed to the scene to lend assis-
lance
No persons occupying cars other than
the baggage and smoking cars, with
very few exceptions, was seriously
injured.
The Work of Rescue.
Within two minutes the uninjured
male passengers and those of the train
crews who were not hurt had begun
the work of rescue. Travelling Agent
Frank Hewitt Of the Pere Marquette,
who was on the train bound for De-
troit and who escaped with slight in
1uries, ran to the nearest telegraph Of
fee and telegraphed for a wrecking
train and surgeons.
Guided by groans and cries from the
wrecked cars the rescuers, by the light
OF lanterns, delved into the wreckage
ana with fence rails and timbers for
hv9rs, pried out the sufferers.
special train bearing surgeons and
officials was made up here Immediately
after the news was received and ar
rived az the wreck at 7;l5 o'clock.
Those OF the injured who had been
eNtricated were Immediately taken In
10 the train and given emergency sur
kleal aid, and the officials Joined In
the rescue work.
When all the injured had been taken
out OF the wreck. the hospital train
vas rushed back 20 Grand Rapids,
where ambulnnces were IN waiting 70
carry them 20 the hospitals, where all