Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-07
Train in Two Sections.

Inc circus travels in two trains of about
thirty-fve cars each. After last nights
exhibition at Charlotte the two trains left
for Lapeer over the Grand Trunk road the
second section leaving half hour after the
first. 1t was 3:45 o'clock this morning
when the first section pulled into the west
end of the Grand Trunk yards here. A red
light was hung on the rear car to stop the
second section Engineer Propst of Battle
Creek, who was running the engine of the
rear train, says he saw this light and ap-
piled the air brake. To his horror 1t re-
fused TO work. He reversed his engine but
the momentum of the heavy train behind
was too great, and with crash that
aroused all of the town near the yards the
two trains met Three cars of the station
ary first section were telescoped and the
engine and five cars of the moving train
were demolished.
The rear of the first section was a
caboose in which the trainmen were sIeep-
Ing and the next two were filed with
sleeping circus employees. The greatest
loss of life was in the caboose One of
the wrecked cars of the second section was
occupied by five elephants and several
CamelS. One of the elephants and two
camels were killed outright while the other
animals and their trainer escaped With
the exception of this, none of the menas-
erie was wrecked. The other demolished
cars contained canvas or wagons and there
was comparatively little excitement among
the wild animals. As soon as they re-
covered from the first shock the trainers
rushed among the cages Qutetng the few
beasts that We're excited. The elephants
in the wrecked car behaved with surprisinig
calmness. and were led out of the wreck
without trouble.
Horrifying Situation
Ihe escaping steam and screams and
cries of those pinned in the wreck made
horrifying situation 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 without waiting for tools
TO extrfcate them. wrecking crew is
kept in the yards here and it was on the
Scene in very few minutes bringing tools
and equipment in plenty.
All the physicians and trained nurses in
town were sent for and those in nearby
places We're rushed to the scene on hand
cars. The Hotel Richelieu was converted
into temporary hospital, and scores Of
volunteers. with stretchers, were in readi-
ness 10 carry the injured there as fast as
the reScuerS could eXtricate them
The dead, many of them so terribly man.
gled that identification seemed well-nish
impossible. We're carefully laid on the green
sward a short distance from the scene. BY
o'clock corps of twelve physicians We're
operating on the injured and dressing their
wounds in the temporary hospital. Four OF
the Injured died at the hospital before s:3C
O'Clock
w hen the wrecking train crews had fin
ished pulling to pieces the tangled and
broken ears. seventeen dead men were lying
on the grass awaiting removal to the
morsue- A majority of them were killed
while asleep. The circus performers were
on the rear OF the moving train and escapei
injury wallace Brothers say that their
loss Will be very heavy, but have gwen
no estimate of it yet. This Is the second