The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-07-07
LIST OF VICTIMS
IS INCREASED
DEATHS IN THE WABASH WRECK
NUMBER THIRTEEN.
REVISED LIST OF THE DEAD.
A Thorough investigation Into the
Reason for the Open Switch Is
to Be Made, and Arrests
May Follow.
Special to Daily Herald.

Special to Daily Herald.
st. Louis, July 5.-A special to the
Post-Dispatch from Litchfeld, ILL.,,
says: Nineteen are dead and num-
Der are missing as a result of the
wreck on the Wabash railroad here
Sunday night, when train No. IL from
Chicago left the track at a misplaced
switch and crashed into a line of
freight cars standing on sidetrack.
Seven hundred persons were on the ill
fated train at the time it dashed into
the sidetrack. Two more bodies were
taken from beneath tne wreckage
Monday morning, and two of the in
jured died. The injured number 50
or 40.
The Dead.
The following is a revised list of
the dead:
Mrs Florence Smith, 215 Twenty
fifth place, Chicago
Mrs. Perkins, 500 Union avenue,
Chicago.
Charles Galaise, 1854 Michigan ave-
nue., Chicago.
Harry M. Dietrich, Chicago
Miss c. F. Luther, Milwaukee,
Isaac r. Mills, Decatur.
Ubald St. Pierre, Montreal, Canada.
Jacob Barber, Park River, N. d.
L. A. Eichstadt, 1854 South Albany
avenue, Chicago.
James Sanford, engineer, Decatur.
Rev. M. M. Mills, Bridgeton, la.
Charles ward, 215 Sixty-fifth place,
Chicago.
H. L. Graves, train dispatcher. De-
catur. -..- .~
w. F. Smith, fireman, Decatur.
Richie NoacK, boy about eight years,
Arlington Heights, Chicago.
Four unidentified men.
Making an Investigation.
Sta tSs Attorney L. ". Hill, OF Hills
: Beff BeeffsSRho is here with Coroner Gray,
lis making an investigation into the
, circumstances of the wreck and it is
not improbable that arrests may be or
dered. The open switch is a mystery
which the officials are trying to solve
According to the Wabash agent
Charles A. Corneau, the switch had not
been used during the entire day by
any of the trainmen. A short time
before the wreck a southbound fast
passenger train passed over the tracn
in safety. Edward T. Clapp, chief
clerk in the Office of the president of
the Wabash, stated that from all that
could be learned, the misplaced switch
at Litchfield was tampered with by
some outside person. They had no
definite information as to who the cul-
prit might. be. A thorough investiga-
ton would be had, Mr.. Clapp said, aft
er which President Ramsey would be
in a position to make a statement.
Crashes Into Open Switch.
When the train reached Honey Bend,
20 miles north of Litchfield, it was 30
minutes late. In an effort to make up
that time and with clear track it is re-
ported speed of forty-five miles an hour
was reached. Engineer Sandford whistled
for crossing just before striking the
switch, but did not notice the danger sig
nal of the semaphore, and the train sped
into the open switch. Too late the en-
gineer whistled for brakes. There was
an awful crash, the engine plowed into
"a train of empty box cars 80 yards from
the switch, knocking four to one side
Of the track, and turned a complete
circle, swapping the tender off 100 yards
down the track. The baggage car and
smoker and the next coach were thrown
across the track at right angles to the
engine The others crashed into them
end first. Fire, ignited by the locomo-
tive firebox, in three minutes had gone
through the train. Engineer George
Sanford and Fireman Samuel Smith
were caught under the engine. Their
bodies have not been recovered.
Rescue Work.
z Within few minutes after the wreck
Mayor w. ]. King, Chief of Police Good
win, and 100 citizens engaged in the res
cue work. The dead were taken from
the cars and laid on the grass. The
townspeople were prompt in offering We
hicles and procession of carriages to
the ST. Francis hospital, mile away.
lasted for over an hour. Several died
on the way. The hospital was not large
enough to accommodate the injured and
they were laid on the grass outside or
taken to the hotels. To add to the con-
fusion the electric lights at the hospital
went out and the surgeons were COM
PEELED to work by smoky lamps. Two
Roman Catholic priests gave consola-
ton to the dying.
Saw Three Burn to Death.
A. E. Darling, of No. 1856 Forest Park
boulevard, st. Louis, was one of the pas
sengers on board the observation car.
He said: 81 saw three persons burned to
death. One was man and the other
young girl. do not know their names,
Wreckage held them down until the heat
became unbearable and the men who
were trying to save them could not re-