The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-12-29
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Grand Rapids, Mich, Dec. 26.-
Seventeen persons are dead and thirty
one injured. several of them fatally,
as the result of the collision early
this evening of two passenger trains
on the Pere Marquette railroad, one
half mile west of East Paris, and six
miles east of this city. The collision,
which was head-on. was caused, ac-
cording 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 westbound train,
No. should have stopped and re-
ceived orders to pass the eastbound
train at Fox. The officials deny a
report that Il misunderstanding Of or
gineers was responsible for the col
lision.
According to the statement of the
officials, the trains were originally to
have met and passed at Oakdale
Park. but to help the eastbound train
AiiS .uiSpdlSHSI lSSuSu Ilt" OIQtES,
fixing Fox as the meeting place. The
eastbound train received it's orders
to this effect and the Westbound
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, pre-
h1U oh ha inh
wind that was blowing.
The following is a list of the dead:
Engineer Charles A. Stoddard. De-
troit.
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 boy unidentified.
Fireman Ed. Burns, missing, and
supposed to be under the wreck.
Both of the trains were running at
full speed and the engines were re-
duced to tangled bits of wreckage.
The first cars were also demolished
and the entire 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 bound for Detroit and
was little late. The westbound train
was due from Detroit at SIS. 1t
was also late. The latter is supposed
to be in Grand Rapids before the
other leaves this city, but on account
of being late was sent out before the
other arrived
Engineer Frank Waterman, iwho
survives the catastrophe says he and
his fireman, f. B. Moon, were caught
like rats in a trap. He says he never
saw the eastbound train. The 0ash
and the means of the injured were
heard by nearby farmers who rushed
to the scene to lend assistance. No
persons occupying cars other than
the baggage and smoking cars, with
a very few exceptions were seriously
injured.
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 Eain
bound for Detroit. and who escaped
with slight injuries. ran to the near
est telegraph office anG telegraph
for q wrecking train and surgeons.
Guided by groans and cries from the
wrecked cars, the rescuerS by the
light of lanterns delved into the
! wreckage and with fence rails. and
tirbers for levers. priced out the
sufferers.
\ special train bearing surgeons
and officials was made up here imme-
diately after the news was received
and arrived at the wreck at
o'clock. Those of the injured who
| had been eXtricated, were Immediate
ly taken into the train and given
emergency surgical aid and the Of
| ficials joined in the Tescue work.
| When all the injured had been taken
| out of the wreck, the hospital train
| was rushed back to Grand Rapids.
| where ambulances were in waiting to
carry them TO hospitals. where all
| the arrangements had been made for
| their reception. The uninjured pas
| sengers were also brought back here.
The eastbound train was crowded
| with passengers when It left Grand
| Rapids. It carried scores of Christ
| mas visitors returning TO their homes
| along the Pere Marquette line, after
| spending the holiday here. The train
| was much heavier than usual on ac-
| count Of this extra rush. 1t is re-
| ported that the incoming train wa.
also heavily loaded. 1t, too, bore a