Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-12-24
A FRISCO ACCIDENT.
The Oklahoma Express Wrecked
Near Fort Scott, Kan.
An OPEN SWITCH WAS The CAUSE.


Fort Scott, Kan, Dec. 22.-The
northbound Frisco Meteor, the Okla
homa express, was wrecked at 1855
o'clock yesterday morning five miles
south Of here by running into an open
switch. AS result eight people are
dead and about 20 are injured, three
probably fatally. The train was late
and was running at high speed. The
Meteor was to pass freight at God
frey. The engine of the freight was,
through lack of water, out of steam
and 1t was impossible to put the train
upon the siding A man was sent back
to flag the Meteor, so that 1t would
slow up and pass the freight, the pas
senger taking the siding. BY some ac-
cident the train was not signaled and
the wreck was the result. ]. A. Bart
ley, the fiagman, has not been seen
nor heard from since he was sent back
to warn the Meteor. Every car was
turned over except the two sleepers.
The smoking car was reduced to
htnullnS WOOu.
Engineer Deweese and Fireman
Bishard, both Of whom are dead, had
been in the employ Of the Frisco many
years and were two of the best men
in the service. The injured were
brought to this city as soon as relief
trains could be got into service and
the most seriously hurt are being cared
for at Mercy. hospital. The dead are
at the Goodlander morgue here.
The damage to the train, except the
sleepers, is almost total, the engine be-
ing entirely demolished. When the
wreck occurred the baggage and ex-
press car leaped entirely over the en-
CINE and landed in cornfeld, 40 feet
from the right-of-way, leaving the
trucks almost secure on the track.
Three men in this car escaped death
and when the car stopped
they were all on top Of the trucks and
pieces of baggage.
The three mail clerks escaped death
by grabbing the iron bars over their
heads, and when the roof Of the car
fell upon the ground upside down the
clerks were on the roof, which was the
only part Of the coach which was not
splintered.
Those killed, except the engineer and
fireman, were all in the smoking car
at the time Of the accident, and when
relief came FIVE Of the dead were on
the engine. When the engine was
lifted off of the body Of Engineer De-
weese his hand was found upon the
air lever, but death came to him be-
lore he had time to apply the air. Fire
started two or three times in the cars,
but each time 1t was extinguished be-
lore 1t had gained much Roadway.
Had the flames fairly started, the loss
If life would have been appalling, as
The only means Of egress from the two
chair cars was by the windows, and
he work Of rescue was, therefore, very
,low.
The killed are: George Hoyt, Of Sa-
pulpa, I. T.: conductor; Charles De-
weese, engineer, Of Fort Scott; Theo-
lore Bishard, fireman, Of Fort Scott;
James H. Twyman (colored), Of Flem-
ng, Kan; Asa Moreland, of Lenexa,
Kan; Lon Corbin, Of Bessie, Ok; Joe
Jorbin. brother of Lon, of Bessie, Ok;
lanes Kirkpatrick, Of Mosley, Clay
county, Mo. The probably fatally in
ured: Sheridan Kanable, Of Cooper
own, Ok, face, hands and limbs
,urned and cut; John Blubaker, news
gent, Of Kansas City, burned all over;
}. F. Garraway, Of Jonesboro, Ark,
Jack sprained. face and body burned
III over.