The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-05-09
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Grand Trunk Train Piunges Into
Crowd Of Excursicnists az Detroit
Eight Killed, Many Hurt

Detroit, May "A day of mer-
rymaking and celebration by $500
Polish excursionists from Toledo was
brought 90 close by frightful catas-
trophe at the corner of Canfield and De-
quinder streets at $3.50 o'clock Sunday
evening, in which at least eight of the
excursionists were killed. The eScur-
sion was given by the Polish Lancers
of Toledo over the Lake Shore railroad.
The excursionisss left the train at the
corner Of Garfield and Dequ, nder
streets in the morning and Were met
by a number of local Poles and Polish
societies, who escorted the visitors to
ST. Josephat's church. An entertain
ment was held later at Harmonic hall.
About eight o'clock the visitors began
to gather again at the corner Of Can
field and Dequinder streets 10 take
their train back to Toledo. Both the
Lake Shore and Grand Trunk tracks
run out from the Brush street station
on Dequinder street. Four policemen
stood at the corner of Garfield and en-
deavored 20 keep the excursionists
from crowding through the gates onto
the tracks. Despite their efforts hum
dreds crawled under or over the gates
and walked down the dark tracks TO
await the arrival of their train, which
could be seen coming slowly up from
the station.
Probably 1000 persons were seat
tered along the tracks for two blocks
waiting 20 board the Lake Shore excur-
sion train and secure seats. 1t was
only few blocks down the track
creeping carefully along. Suddenly
from out of the darkness came the
Grand Trunk, Chicago and New York
express, known as the Pan-American
flyer. IL plowed through the mass OF
people. throwing them TO both sides
Of the track bruised and MANNED, and
grinding n number of them under the
wheels.
Patrolman Fred Schultz. John Synda.
a prominent local Pole, and numbers OF
others who were al the crossing assert
that the flyers whistle was not blown
nor was the bell rung.
When Thomas II. Hart, the engineer
who was in charge of the Grand Trunk
train which ran into the crowd was
seen al his home, he gave the follow
ing version Of the affair "The place
where the accident occurred is not a
regular stopping point for incoming
passenger trains and unless the engi-
neer receives notice before reaching
the crossing or has the signal turned
against him he runs through without
stopping. We were running down on
time tonight and when we neared
Garfield avenue noticed the headlight
OF the Lake Shore train standing at
Garfield avenue, but as this is N com
mon occurrence | paid no attention 10
il. The light from the other engine
was shining i'm my eyes and il was inn
possible for me to see the crowd on the
track until | passed the other engine.
"When I first noticed the crowd the
people were scattered all over the track
and after blowing the whistle applied
the brakes, but could not stop my
train in time TO prevent running into
them. We were running about ~ miles
an hour. the usual speed at that place,
and il was impossible for me to bring
my train TO a stop in the short distance
between my train and the crowd. II
was fortunate that / escaped with my
life, as there were many in the crowd
who became excited and threatened
10 take my life. They threw bricks
and stones through the cab windows
and ] was finally forced TO send for the
police TO protect me-"