The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-07
Mail Train Jams Into Carload
of Indians.
Three Red Men Killed and 90
Injured.
Others Fled in Panic Across the
Prairie.
TO SEE GREAT FATHER.
Victims Were Sioux on Their
Way to Washington.
Survivors Sang Death Song
Over Dead Comrades.
Son Of Sitting Bull Was Among
the Injured.
TO SEE GREAT FATHER.
IrFiYOrs Sang Death Song
Over Dead Comrades.


Indians in a special car en- route to
Washington to see President Roose-
Velt, were smashed into by a mail train
two miles west OF here today during a
fog Three of the Indians were in
stantly killed, three were fatally in
jured and twenty others were more or
less seriously hurt The Indians who
were not pinned in the wreck fed in
panic across the prairie.
The trains which collided were the
Oregon Express and the fast mail on
the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
way. The express train was run into
by the mail train. Both trains were
east bound.
Physicians were promptly hurried to
the scene As soon as possible the In
jured were taken to haywood and
Chicago. All the victims Of the wreck
were Indians.
The coach containing the Indians
was a light day car 1t was complete
~ wrecked. The rear end of the coach
ahead was also damaged.
After the collision the passengers in
the other coaches OF the two trains
hurried to the rescue and after hard
struggle pulled them from beneath the
Wreckage- Chief WhitehOrse. in charge
of the Indians on the train, was fatally
injured. The bodies of the Indians
who had been killed outright, were
laid on the prairie beside the track,
Chief WhitehOrse being carried .Vf.h
them. He said he knew that death
was near and requested that he be
placed near his dead companions The
chief was propped up and. sat stoically
while his companions worked over his
injuries. He smoked a pipe quietly and
showed no signs of the pain he muEt
have been suffering. One by one the
other injured Indians We're slowly Ia
ken from the splintered car and placed
upon the ground near their dying chief
and dead comrades The physicians
hurried from one to another of the in-
jured, administering to the wants Of
all, while arrangements were being
made to take them to the nearest hos
pital.
Persons who were on the train said
that the collision unquestiOnably was
the result of the dense fog, which to-
day stretched from Lake Michigan
many miles westward In addition to
the fog clouds of escaping steam en-
veloped the wreck and added to the
difficulty of rescue. A moment after
the crash. there was not a sound from
the nl-fated coach. Then one by one
those surviving the crash regained in
part their senses and began shouting
for aid. A terrifying series of wild
yells from the Indians were heard by
the passengers, jumping from each
side of the cars ahead All the men
passengers and many Of the women
on board the two trains FASTENED to
the aid of the injured Indians The
fact that one side of the rear car fell
of with the impact undoubtedly saved
the lives Of many Indians who were
thrown out onto the prairie. The In
dams were from the reservation near
Rushville, Neb., and tl3e4r journey east
was primarily for show purposes at
It was a pitiable sight to see the In
dams lying on the ground clad IN their
native costumes with their red
blankets dyed deeper by the blood OF
their friends. The men were Of splen-
did physique and the exhibition Of
calm nerve on the part of White Horse
was a good example Of that OF the
other members of the Indian party.
THE DEAD.
KILL HEAD. skull crushed.
PHILLIP IRON TAIL, Jr., body
THOMAS COMELAsT. body crushed.
THE INJURED
Big Chief White Horse. body crush
ed and legs broken; will die.
Luther Standing Bear, crushed about
body and head; will die.
Anniee GoOseface, crushed about
Mrs. Thomas Comelast. wife Of one
Of killed, cut about head and shoul-
Tomuie ComeIast. s years old, son
of the dead man. head bumped and be
lieved to have been made temporarily
insane from fright
Sammy Lone Bear, head cut ana
body bruised
Abraham GOodinow, cut about head
Blind Eagle. cut about head by fly
ing glass.
Little Elk. head cut ana brulsed-
Charge the Enemy, head cut ana
body bruised
Head Chief High Bear at the head
of the delegation Of Sioux, severely
crushed about the body.
William Sitting Bull, son Of CHIEF
Sitting Bull, 27 years Of age seriously
After the bodies Of the dead had
beeu removed from the wrecllage and
placed. in row on the prairie beyond
the tracks an incident probably un-
paralleled took place. Tne uninJured
a--,o,e- the indians gathered about and
| led by Chief Iron Tail solemnly chant