Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-07-18

urea ~ the GtGlNsA~A "AN~N NSNot0
6s and the killed q.
Chicago. July 14.-Twenty people
were killed and about 25 were injured
last night In a collision on the Chicago
a. Eastern Illinois railroad at Glen
wood. % miles south or this city.
The collision occurred between a pic
mic train from this city, which was re-
turning from MOmence, H., and a
freight, into the rear end of which the
excursion train dashed at high speed.
The picnic train was on the right hand
track coming north and the freight
was ON the left. A misplaced switch
threw the picnic train To the left track
and before the engineer could apply
the brakes ID ran, at a rate Of 40 miles
an hour. into the rear OF the freight.
The engine. baggage car and first
coach OF the picnic train were demOl-
ished and all the killed and injured
were on the engine and in the two
cars.
Church Excursion Train.
The train which was wrecked left
Chicago yesterday morning for Mo-
mence. The picnic was the annual out
ing OF the members OF the Doremus
church. After spending the day on
the picnic grounds at Momence, the
train started on the return trip, run
ming i'm as a second section of the reg
ular passenger train due in Chicago
at S:25.
Given a Clear Track.
When the picnic train reached Chica-
go Heights. four miles beyond Glen
wood. where the accident took place,
ID was switched TO the regular south
bound track. and although it was
coming north il was given a clear
track by the operator at Chicago
Heights until it should reach Glen
wood. The train after leaving Chicago
Heights gradually increased its speed
and when half the distance between
these two stations had been covered IL
was pIunging along at the rate of 40
miles an hour. Just half way between
Chicago Heights and GlenwOOd there
is a sharp curve and as the picnic
train tore around this on the south
bound track a freight train was back
ing from the south bound TO the north
bound track.
Both Tracks Blocked.
IL was partly on both tracks and no
train could have passed it 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 il. Il was too late TO do any
thing but set air brakes, but before
they could take effect the passenger
train smashed into the freight at full
speed. The engine and baggage cars
oil the passenger train went clear
through the freight and were piled
up in a heap OF wreckage on the fur
Their side OF the switch. on which the
freight was crossing. The first coach
Ol the picnic train plunged straight
into the wreckage and buried itself in
a mass Of kindling wood under the
demolished baggage car. Nearly all
the passengers in the first coach were
caught beneath the mass OF debris
and Il was here that the loss of life
occurred.
Victims Plead Piteously.
The people in the rear coaches were
hurled from their seats and many were
badly shaken up and bruised, but all
the serious casualties occurred in the
first car The uninjured passengers
and trainmen at once fastened TO the
relief OF those pinned iCwn under the
wreckage who were shrieking piteOus-
Is 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 track TO both
Chicago Heights and GlenwOOd, ask
ing for aid. and in a short time trains
bearing physicians and supplies for
the wounded were on the way. The
first train TO arrive on the scene came
from Chicago Heights and carried six
physicians. A short time afterward a
second train arrived from GlenwoOd
bringing additional physicians and
number OF nurses.
Bonfires Of Wreckage.
Darkness had fallen when the sec
ond train arrived and the work. of res
cue and relief went on by the light Of
bOndres built OF the yreckage taken
from the smashed cars.
II was nearly 10 O'Clock when the
last of the wounded had been taken
from the wreckage and half an hour
later the train started for the city; II
was stopped at 6ist street and the dead
taken To- various undertaking estab-
lishmeuts i'm the suburb Of ZnglewoOd,
while the injured were hurried TO the
Englewo0d hospital. whei e the first OF
'tbvTh werrFgceived at abDpt 1LoclQGlT
Freight Train Parted. .
The freight train which caused the