The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-12
Exercises i'm Memoriam of Those
killed in Wreck of Oct. 81 Bring a
Great ~Outpouring of Sympathy.
SIGNS OF WOE ON ALL SIDES
A GLOOMY DAY ADDS TO THE PER-
vADING SPIRIT OF GRIEF.
Messages Of Coincidence from Many
Schools, Delivered in Person or by
Letter-Dr. stones Address.

of the weather was in close communion
with the feelings of those who crowded
Fowler Hall to-day to attend the exercises
given by Purdue University in memoriam
of the students who were killed in the In
dianapolis disaster. Crepe hung from the
windows and doors of houses in the vicinity
Of the campus and knots of crepe were in
tertwined in the coat lapels of hundreds of
students. Inside Fowler Hall was an i'm
pressive scene Flowers and palms adorned
the platform and crepe was much in evil
dence.
DR.. Stones address was the feature of the
morning service. After he had concluded
short addresses were made by many others.
Charles Major, the author, who is a trustee
of Purdue. spoke in behalf of the board of
trustees. and Judge II. H. Vinton spoke for
the alumni. Professor Sampson brought a
message from Indiana University, Profess
sor Sackett spoke for Earlham College and
Dean Forbes spoke for the faculty and stu
dents of the University of Illinois. Profess
sor Daniel +. Murphy spoke for Notre
Dance University and his words brought
tears to the eyes of students and friends
of the university. H. Fl. Magee spoke for
the students of Kentucky University and
Harry Eller for Wabash. F. T. Lewis was
De PauY's representative. and j. F.: Boyle,
the Indiana University baseball pitcher and
OIdlOl, SpOht III DeLdlL Ol TIE luuldlld STU
dents. A letter from Governor Durbin was
read and sympathies were presented from
universities all over the United States.
PRESIDENT STONES ADDRESS.
When President Stone arose to address
the great assemblage there were tears in.
his eyes, and the audience was the most
solemn ever gathered at Purdue. Presi-
dent Stone spoke as follows:
"A g~rievous affiiction has come upon us.
We are cast down with the weight of a
sore. Pleasant recOllectiOnS OF the past are
blurred with a deep shadow. Hope for the
future seems almost vain We turn this
way and that way for some outlet or escape
from dread realities which cannot be
avoided. We are come together this morn
ing a great assemblage of people with only
heavy hearts, seeking some comfort. hop
ing to hear some word which shall raise us
from the depths. How strangely altered
does the world seem during these few
days. The accustomed tasks, the familiar
scenes. our intercourse with our fellows
all Is somehow different than it was be-
fore. We find ourselves wondering If this
life for us from now on. Will it ever be as
before? We strive to adjust ourselves to
these new sensations and feelings and
lions OF things have been loosened and
We know not how or where to put out new
anchors. The first and predominant feel
ing in these days of affection has been a
and respect We felt for those who have
been so ruthlessly torn from us. This has
been done in countless ways as opportu-
nifty has come. The bereavement Of others
has touched our hearts and through minis
tering to them relief for our own sorrow
this morning to show by more formal act
and word the depth of our sorrow and the
tenderness of our sympathy for others.
DEATH CAME WITH DUTY.
"On the morning of Oct. 81. under the
most unusual circumstances, sixteen young
men intimately connected with the life and
activities of this institution suffered death
in a sudden and terrible form. Two Of
this number were not enrolled members Of
the university. Mr.. Newton r. Howard,
a respected and beloved business man, was
a supporter of athletics at Purdue and one
endeared to all students by his devotion to
their interests. Patrick McClair, a pro-
fessional trainer of athletics, was an es-
sential part of the athletic organization.
He met death in the line of his duty as an
attendant upon the players. These men
We reckon among our own number as equal
sharers in every tribute We can pay to the
memory of the dead; and to their be-
reaved families we extend equally. as to
all. our profound sympathy. The fourteen
who were students at this university were
our particular pride; the favorite sons of
their alma mater; known and beloved by
all; the representatives of the entire stu
dent body in an absorbing athletic con-
test.-It is not enough TO allude to these
acy was not confined to this phase of their
university life. AS students they were of
foremost scholarship in their respective
classes. and each one took pride in the
fact that he was not only able to represent
the university on the athletic field, but
could stand high in his classes as we'll.
The fifty men who occupied the fatal car
as members of the football squad were i'm
every sense the flower of our student body,
above all reproach in character, in scholar
ship and in athletic prowess How proud
We were of them, how doubly keen our
grief over their loss. What comfort now
to know that the record of these noble
young men was so fine and lofty. And
then, in the instant of supreme trial. they
bore themselves as was fit. Courage. resig-
nation and consideration for others was
uppermost in their minds in those fearful
last moments. They lived and died as
young men should, full of courage and
gentleness, with clear brain. clean bodies
and white souls, and the memory of their
lives shall endure as the worthiest exam
pies to generations of students wherever
their untimely end is known.
Much has been said as to the evils of
athletics in educational Institutions. and
probably with some warrant, but I regard
this time a fitting one to state that il the
result of athletic training is to produce
such men as these, then such training de-
serves a proper and important place among
the character-forming agencies in any in
stitution OF learning, and II becomes a duty
of those in authority to eradicate the evils
if they exist and encourage the good in
connection Herewith.
NO CAUSE TO REBEL.
LAS, we have dwelt upon the extent and
far-reaching consequences of this disaster;
as we have realized the ending of the plans
of these stricken ones, the widespread
afdiction to their families: as we have
thought of the possibilities of these strong
young ~lives-how much they might have
accomplished for the good OF their fellow
men-we have pondered on the ways OF
in the minds of every one: Why did this
have to be? Why does our all-wise and
a~ll-powerful God permit such catastrophes
It is hard to be content with such un-
answered queries on our lips; hard to ac.
cept the situation. We shall not know the
answer in this life. We shall never be able
10 understand the way of Jehovah, bul
His will, nor feel that because of our lack
of understanding His ways are without
purpose or direction.
1.-The fatal collision was the result o.
mans foolish or ignorant disregard OF tn,
simplest natural law which he had under
taken to direct God did not design tn,
accident. We cannot conceive that He evel
to-day not because God has specially de
creed this catastrophe, but because one o
our own number, a fellow human being
has been false to d great trust which w,
have reposed in him.
ut is said that some of those concerned
in the railroad disaster did not know O
the special train. 1t was their duty [,
know, and their ignorance is the cause o
this day of mourning. Somewhere tn
,tca IT did MT EpoW or IT forgof . hoeoVno