The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-04
EIGHTEEN DEAD.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


at his hotel 1--WE were in the chair
car at the rear of the train and it did
not leave the track. When the acct
dent occurred the front cars piled up
on the engine. took fire and burned.
There were dead and injured people
all around and it seemed to US that
there were forty killed, but probably
the number is not so great. We did
not learn the cause of the accident
nor the actual number of the dead
and injured, as we took the Illinois
Central train for ST. Louis soon after
the accident"
Mrs. Bachelor has a badly bruised
MP as result of the accident but
beyond that and a general shaking up
neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Bachelor are in
jured.
Description of the Wreck.
ST. Louis July 4.-No information re-
ce1ved today at the office of President
Joseph Ramsey, Jr., of the Wabash
OF dead and injured IN the wreck at
Lltchheld, ILL.,, as given out last night.
Inc number of dead will not exceed 20,
while the injured number anywhere
IRON 30 to 90. Two of the injured died
during the night and two more are ex-
pected to die today. 1t will be some
time before a complete list of casual
ties can be obtained
Among those on the wrecked train
who escaped injury was ]. NJ. Buggie
OF Chicago. Mr.. Buggie, who arrived
In st. Louis today gives a graphic de-
scflptlon OF the wreck which he de-
clareS was much more tragical than
given in first reports. Mr.. Buggie was
in a rear coach, which was only slight
ly damaged. AT the time of the wreck
ne was standing near the rear door. He
was hurled out of the coach by the
force of the collision and landed in a
ditch. Mr.. Buggie said:
Fourteen or fifteen killed does not
begin to give the number. In my opin-
T
personally assisted in caring for the
bodies of Is of those who were dead
or who died later and I was only one
in large number. Almost without ex-
cept1on, all the passengers who were
able and all the citizens of the Illinois
town went to work with a will and did
all within their power to rescue and
care for those who could not care for
themselves.
There were those who risked and
lost their lives trying to save others.
one poor fellow had been uninjured
and could easily have found place of
and children in distress, pinioned in
the cars. He ran to their assistance,
Drawing the dangers of the fire which
ragged within the coaches He had not
thought of the death which might
await him there. but he rushed on in
tent upon doing all within his power
to save those who up to that time had
not been so fortunate as he.
AS he approached the car it sud-
denly toppled over. 1t struck him on
the head, crushing his skull and hold
ing him pinioned to the ground, where
no man could rescue him from the
cruel flames which crept nearer and
nearer every moment. Nothing could
be done for him, and 1 turned away
IN borrow, unable to bear the sight |
1t was awful. There was nothing in |
connection with the wreck which was
not the most horrible sight 1 have ever
None too much praise can be given |
those who calamity pushed from the
scene of the burning train the car of pow
der which threatened theh lives of those
Who had escaped the first CATASTROPHE |
Those who were working to save the in |
lured and to remove the bodies of the |
dead paid no heed to the cries that the |
car of powder was liable to explode any |
moment. They had time. to think Of |
their own danger. There were a few |
however, who were not actively enga ged |
at work upon the wreck. In danger OF |
being blown to atoms anay moment a |
number of them loosened the brakes of |
this car and pushed it away, where there |
would be no danger of it catching fire |
Had 1t exploded there would have been |
few in the vicinity of the wreck who |
would have escaped
Edward T. Clapp, chief clerk in the Of |
hce of the president of the Wabash |
stated today that from all that could be |
learned. the switch was tempered with |
by some outside persons. A thorough in |
VeSt1gat1On will be made.