The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-29
Two Trains Leap Togeth-
er and Pile in Wreck.
SEVENTEEN ARE DEAD
Besides These Thirty-one are Injured,
Some of Whom are Expected TO
Die. Every Car but Two is
Flung From the
Track.
(By the Associated Press.)

Grand Rapids, Dec. 26.-Seventeen per-
sons are dead and thrty-one injured,
several of them fatally, as the result OF
the collision early this morning of two
passenger trains on the Pere Marquette
Railroad one half mile west of East Paris
and six miles east Of this city. The col
lison, 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 McCord's where
the westbound train, No. 8, should have
stopped and received orders to pass the
eastbound train at Fox.
The officials deny report that a mis-
understanding OF orders on the part Of
one OF the engineers was responsible for
the collision. According to this state
ment the trains were originally to have
met and passed at OakGale Park, but to
help the eastbound train the dispatcher
issued new orders fixing Fox as the meet
ing 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 re-
porting this fact, found on going out 10
the platform that his red signal lamp.
which had been burning two minutes be-
fore, was out, presumably extinguished
by the high wind that was blowing
The dead:
ENGINEER CHARLES A sTODDARD.
Detroit.
WILLIAM HEINRICH, Grand Rapids.
CHARLES a. DEVINE, Grand Rapids
WILLIAM SMITH, farmer, near Sara
nae, Mich.
ALLEN H. WELLS, Big Rapids, Mich.
PETER w WIERENGO, Grand Rapids
SEVEN UNIDENTIFIED BODIES OF
MEN.
TWO WOMEN AND a BOY
FLED.
Fireman Ed. Burns, missing, and sup
posed to be under the wreck.
The trains met with terrific crash,
the baggage and smoking cars behind
locomotive being instantly reduced to
pile of kindling wood. The engines weI-
completely wrecked. the boiler OF that
which had pulled the eastbound train be-
ing torn completely from the
gear and standing perpeadicularly in
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 injured were heard by
nearby farmers who rushed to the scene
to lend assistance. To person occupying
cars, other than the baggage and smok-
ing cars, with a very few exceptions. was
seriously injured.
Within two minutes the uninjured male
passengers and those of the train crews
wko were not hurt had begun the work
OF rescue. Travelling Agent Frank Hew-
lit, of the Pere Merquette, who was on
the train bound lor Detroit and
who escaped with sliga'
ran to the nearest telegraph 81
fee and tclegraphed for a wreck.ng train
aud surgeons. Guided by groans ard
cries from the wrecked cars, the r"scuers
By the light of Lanterns de.ved into The
vreckage and with fence rails and tim
bcrs for. levers pried out the sufferer,
A special train bearing surgeons and fiji
Gals was made UP here Immediately al
tcr the news was received and arrived
az the wreck at 7:15 clock. Those of the
Injured who had been eXtricated. we1e
immediately taken and given emergency
surgical aid ard the officials Joined in
the rescue work.
When all the injured had been taken
out of the wreck. the hospital train was
rushed back to Grand Rapids where am
balances were in waiting to carry them
II hospitals. where all arrangements had
been made for their reception. The IN
injured passengers were also brought
back here.