New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-14

RETURNING FROM PICNIC.
Excursion Train Near Chicago Runs
Into q Freight.

Chicago, July 13-Twenty persons were killed
anG about twenty-five injured tonight in a col
lision on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Rail
road a. Glenwood. Ill. twenty three miles sout,
/ OF this city. The collision occurred between a
| picnic train which returning here from
/ Momence Ill, and freight train. into the rear
| end OF which the excursion train dashed az high
| speed.
The picnic was the annual outing of the mem
bers Of Doremus Church. After spending the
day on the grounds at Momence the trainIoaI
started the return trip. running in as the sec
ond section OF the regular passenger, which is
due IN Chicago at S:25 p. m. When the picnic
train reached Chicago Heights. four miles be-
yond Glenwood. where the accident took place
IT was switched to the regular southbOund
track. and though it was coming north a clear
track was given to 1t by the operator at Chicago
Heights until 1t should reach Glenwood
The train, after leaving Chicago Heights
gradually increased its speed. and when half
the distance between the two stations had beer
covered it was plugging along at forty miles ar
hour Just halfway between Chicago Heights
and Glenwood there is a sharp curve As the
picnic train tore around this on the southbourd
track a freight train was backing from the
southbound to the northbound track. 1t was
partly on both tracks. and train could nave
passed It In either direction.
The bend is so sharp that the engineer Of the
picnic train did not the freight until he was
about on it. 1t too late to do anything ex-
cept set the brakes. and before they could take
effect the passenger train smashed into the
freight at full speed. The engine and the bag
gage ear of the passenger train went through
the freight. and piled up in a heap of
wreckage the further side of the switch tra..I
The first coach of the picnic train plunged into
the wreckage and buried itself in a mass Of
kindling wood.
Nearly all OF the passengers in the first coach
were caught beneath the debris, and it was here
that the loss of life occurred The people In the
rear coaches were hurled from their seats and
many of them bruised. but all the serious
casualties occurred in the first car. The unin-
jured passengers and trainmen at once hastened
the relief of those who were pinned under the
wreckage
where, and much delay ensued before some of
the injured, who were held down by heavy tim
bers. could be extricated. Nothing could be done
for them until lifting machinery came from Chi
cago Heights. The first train to arrive was from
Chicago Heights, and Il carried six physicians
A short time afterward a second train arrived
from Genwood. bringing additional physicians
and number of nurses
Darkness had fallen and rescue work went. on
by the light of bOnfires. A regular relief train
made UP at Glenwood. and il brought the
dead and wounded to Chicago.
In explanation of the wreck HoXie. the engi-
neer. and the crew of the freight train saw thar
their train parted at Chicago Heights and the
break was not noticed until the train was near
Glenwood. causing delay. The engineer knew
that the excursion train coming but be-
lieved that Ii was on the northbound track and
was switching his train from the northbound 10
the southbound track in effort TO keep out
the southbound track and smashed into the
freight train.