Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-04
ONLY SEVEN DEAD.
Later Reports Reduces Fatalities, but
Does Not Reduce Horror.

Detroit, Mich, May ga day of mer-
rymaking and celebration by 1900 Pol
ish eXcursionists, from Toledo was
brought to a close by a frightful ca
tasrophy at the corner of Garfield
street and Dequindre street at $50
O'Clock. this evening, in which at leost
seven Of the cxcursionists We're killed.
The excursionists left the train at the
corner of Garfield and Dequindre
streets, this morning, and were met by
a number of local Poles and Polish So
cicties. who escorted the visitors to ST.
.Joeeplats church. An entertainment
was held later in Harmonic hall.
About O'Clock. the visitors began to
gather again at the corner of Garfield
and Deuuindre streets to take their
train on the Lake Shore back to Toledo.
Both the Lake Shore and Grand Trunk
tracks run out from the Brush street
station on Dequindre street. -Four 20
licomen stood at the corner Of Garfield
street and endeavored to keep the tx-
cursionists from crowding through the
gates onto the tracks. Despite their
efforts hundreds 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 scattered along the
tracks for two blocks waiting to board
the Lake Shore excursion train ana Sc
cure seats. 1t was only few blocks
down the track. creeping carefully
along.
suddenly from out of the darkness came
tie Grand Trunk Chicago and New 1orF
express. known as the Pan merican fly
er. 1t plowcd through the mass of people
throwing them to both sides of the trac"
bruised ana MANNED and grinding mum
Der of them under the wheels.
patrolman Fred 7. Schultz, John lynda
a prominent local Pole. and numbers OF
Others who were at the CROSSING. h as,i,
nor was the bell rung: NO statemen
could be secured on this subject at the
local Grand rrunk, office; tonight: :,
The FLYER was checked and stopped q.
quickly rs possible and backed to tht
scene of the catastrophe. For two blocks
the track WAS eovere9 WIN man rare III
ed outright and the others died after being
taken to the hospital. ,
Every ambulance in the city was caile'
to the scene ana the injured were yer!
soon under the care of surgeons IN TIL
hospitals. -. A.,
,.We made every effort to keep the PEG
ple off the tracks but II was Impossible
There were 1900 eNcursionists going baci
TO Toledo and twice that number of loca
Poles who had been entertaining then
were down at the crossing to see them on
Those behind pushed and showed the tore
most ones and they crawled under tn
gates which We're down properly, u
Jumped over them despite our best efforts
There was no warming whatever OF the ap
preaching Grand Trunk train. No whist
was blown and the bell was not ringing.
Il should think that 1900 was a SINAI
number for the people who were on Il.
tracks for two blocks trying to BE- amon
the first aboard the Lake Shore train an
thereby secure seats for the homewar
Trip The Grand Trunk train came out u
the darkness upon the track like a meteo
and was through the crowd almost befor
| realized what had happened.
= terrible cry went up from those WI
had witnessed the accident and reScuer
swarmed down the track. The cries an
means of the injured guided us in, tn
darkness and We picked them up frot
both sides of the track for two block:
Some of the sights were too sckening
describe