The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-14

Mrs. May Wilkin, bruised about
Sadie wilkin, years: left leg
Joseph Schock. bruised about body.
Henry Busche, head cut
Lizzie Pearson, II years; internal
injuries.
Mrs. Anna Pearson, left leg broken.
Mrs. c. Ecklund, internal injuries;
may die.
Mrs. Anna Daubriche. injured in
ternally, right leg broken.
broken.
Mrs. Mary Courtney, back injured
Frank Courtney, Is years, both feet
injured.
Carrie Mowett. IS years. left leg
broken.
Mrs. Mowett. head bruised.
Charles Smith. IL years. left leg cut.
James Volkstof, years, both feet
crushed.
Mrs. Frank zitnik. left leg badly
bruised
David Smith. 10 years. internal in
juries.
Adolph Hirsch, left arm crushed.
Barbara Foister, years, head cut
Isadore Forster. arm cut
Mrs Hulda Stewart. wife of Charles
Stewart, killed, head cut
Ward Steinmart, left arm broken.
How 1t Happened.
The train which was wrecked left
the Thirty-first street station of the
Chicago & Eastern Illinois Wednesday
morning for Momence. The picnic
was the annual outing of the members
of Doremus church, formerly a chapel
of Plymouth Congregational church
of this city.
After spending the day on the pic
mic grounds at Momence the train
started on the return trip, running in
as the second section of the regular
passenger train which is due in Chi
cago at s: 5.
When the picnic train reached Chi
caso Heights, miles beyond Glenwood,
where the accident occurred. it was
switched to the regular south bound
track and although it was coming
north it was given a clear track by the
operator at Chicago Heights until it
should reach Glenwood. four miles
away. The train after leaving Chi
cago Heights gradually increased its
speed, and when half the distance be-
tween the two stations had been COW
cred it was plunging along at the rate
of 40 miles an hour. Just half way
between Chicago Heights and Glen
wood there is a sharp curve, and as
the picnic train tore around this on
the southbound track, a freight train
was backing southbound to the north
bound track. 1t was partly on both
tracks and no train could have passed
1t in either direction. The bend is so
sharp that the engineer of the picnic
train had no chance to see the freight
before he was upon it 1t was too late
to do anything but apply the air
brakes, but before they could take eff
feet the passenger smashed into the
freight at full speed. The engine and
baggage car of the passenger train
went clear through the freight and
were piled in a heap of wreckage on
the further side of the switch on
which the freight was crossing from
one track to the other.
The first coach of the picnic train
plunged straight into the wreckage and
hvIri cd a
wood.
Nearly All Caught.
Nearly all of the passengers in the
first coach were caught beneath the
mass of 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 were
badly shaken up and bruised. but all of
the serious casualties occurred in the
first car. The uninjured passengers and |
the train men FASTENED to the relief of
those who were pinned down under the |
wreckage and were shrieking piteously |
for aid. The scene of the wreck was |
two miles from anywhere and much de- !
lay ensued before some of the injured |
who were held down by heavy timbers |
could be extricated. Nothing could be /
done for them until lifting machinery |
came from Chicago Heights.
Men were sent running along the
tracks to both Chicago Heights and /
Glenwood, asking for aid, and in a short /
time trains bearing physicians and sup
plies for wounded were on their way |
from both stations.
The first train to arrive was from
Heights and carried six physi-
clans.
A short time afterward a second |
train arrived from Glenwood bringing |
additional physicians and a number of
nurses. Darkness had fallen when the
second train arrived and the work of
rescue and relief went on by the light
Of a large bonfire built along the side
Of the track of wreckage taken from
the smashed cars. A regular relief |
train was made up at Glenwood as soon
after the physicians had been taken to
the wreck as was possible.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock when the
last of the wounded had been taken
ater than that time when the tenn
porary dressing had been applied to last
wound and the train carrying its woe
ful burden started for the city.
The freight train which caused the
wreck was in charge of Engineer Jas.
Hoxie. In explanation of the accident
he engineer and crew of the freight
rain say that their train, which was
parted at Chicago Heights,
rain was near Glenwood. The engineer
Knew that the excursion train was
coming but believed that it was on
he northbound track and was switch
ng his train from the northbOund to
he southbound track in the effort to
Keep out of its way when it came
lorth on the southbound track and
mashed into his train.
Remarkable Escapes.
Chicago. July 1.-THE RESPONSE