The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-29
TWENTIETH VICTIM OF
GRAND RAPIDS WRECK
Dismembered and Almost De
stroyed Remains Found-Errors
in Sunday Nights List.
VANDALS ROBBED DEAD

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Dec. 2S.-Gath-
cred in a rubber blanket in the local morgue
are the charred and dismembered remains
of the twentieth victim of Saturday nights
head-on collision on the Pere Marquette
Railroad near East Paris. Sc terribly dis
figured is this last victim, which was found
at the scene Of the wreck late to-day, that
in all probability it's identity will never be
positively effected.
The coroners were inclined to the belief
that this body is that of woman, but the
railroad authorities say II must have been
a tramp riding On the blind baggage" car,
as no woman passenger could, in their
opinion, have been thrown where this body
was found 1t was the unmistakable odor
of burned flesh that led the wrecking crew
to a realization OF the fact that another
body lay under the wrecked engines, where
Engineer Stoddard and Fireman Burns, of
the east-bOund train, were found. When
they had uncovered the remains of this ad-
ditionai victim they found only fragments
of human form. There Were no arms or
legs, only fragments of the skull and large
bones, some teeth, and most of the internal
organs intact, but literally roasted
Careful revision to-day of the list of dead
in Saturday nights wreck on the Pere
Marquette Railroad at East Paris shows
a total of twenty victims, including the
body found to-day, instead of twenty-five,
asreported last night. To-day sinvestigauon
and revision shows that Allen Wells, of Big
Rapids, Peter w. Wierengo, of Grand
Rapids, and a man named Peterson or
Thompson. of Sioux City, Ia, who were in
Guided in the list of dead, were not killed.
A mistake was also made in the name of
F. M. Gillett. OF Portland, one of the vic
Tins. 1t should be William G. Smith, of
Portland. The mistake arose from Smith s
middle name being Gillett. The death list
Of twenty is declared to be correct by the
Pere Marquette officials who have charge
of caring for the bodies.
There were no further deaths to-day
among the injured in the hospitals, and all
were reported TO be doing as we'll as could
be expected. though three of them, 1t is
thought, will die, Gerrit hoffman is In the
most serious condition, 11d his death is
momentarily expected 7. Mischaick is de-
veloping meningitis, and there are only the
slightest hopes of his recovery. John Post
viii reach the crisis within twenty-four
hours, with the chances against him. With
these exceptions all the injured are ex-
M ]. Carpenter, vice president and gen.
eral manager of the Pere Marquette, ar
rived in this city to-day from Chicago. He
stated that he was In an advisory capacity,
the investigation as to the cause OF the
accident resting with General Superintend-
ent Smith. Personally he expressed his
faith in the agent at McCord, and on an
other point said LAS to the sending of
the second order, this is matter Of daily
occurrence in any railway office. Probably
If that second order had not been sent this
accident would not have happened, and
then, again, it might. In any event the
dispatcher acted according to his best judg-
ment."
Despite the extreme precautions and
watchfulness of the Pere Marquette Rail
road officials and county officers IL is now
believed that many acts of vandalism were
committed at the wreck near East Paris
Saturday night and that ghouls despoiled
bodies of the dead.
Coroner Hilliker stated to-day that moth
ing of any value whatever was found by
him when he searched the dead and that he
is satisfied ghouls robbed the remains
all
being carried into baggage cars to be
brought 10 this city. Sums of money rang
ing from so up to $50 missing from
bodies of victims who are known to have
been carrying money.
Sheriff Chapman is authority for the state
ment that a gang of men was fought off
the relief train when ii left Grand Rapids,
but the sheriff believes these men managed
to get back on the train unnoticed.