The Tomahawk., 1904-04-14
FAST TRAINS COLLIDE IN DENSE
FOG NEAR CHICAGO WITH
FATAL RESULTS.
SEVERAL OF RED MEN
SERIOUSLY INJURED
Victims Belong to Wild West Show
and Were on Way to Washington
to See President Before Sailing for
England.

Chicago, April 3. -InTee lnuldus
were killed and % injured in a
rear-end collision on the North
western railroad near Melrose Park
shortly after 1880 o'clock Thursday
morning. Three of the injured In
dians are probably fatally hurt. The
wreck is thought to have been caused
by the thick fog which obstructed the
view of the engineer of thetrain which
caused the collision.
Train No. 6, fast express from
Omaha, was 20 minutes late when 1t
reached Melrose Park. 1t was stopped
by block signal set oy train ahead.
The train consisted of nine cars and
Sioux Indians of Buffalo Bills Wild
West show, coming from the west on
trip to Washington to see President
Roosevelt before sailing for England.
Without warning train No. 10, fast
express, consisting of four mail and ex-
press cars, also behind time, col1ided
with the rear car of the passenger train,
telescoping it, the engine of the express
plowing through almost the whole car
Immediately there was scene OF the
widest confusion Cries of the mangled
and dying could be heard above the
crash.
Indians Crazed by Fear.
The Indians seemed to be crazed with
fear More than score who managed
to escape from the telescoped car
jumped to the ground and ran across
the prairies.
Passengers of the two trains and res
idents of Melrose Park started the work
of rescue at once The fire department
was called to put out the flames which
had started. 1t was necessary to chop
the passenger coach almost to kindling
wood before the dead and injured could
be extricated.
AS fast as the injured were removed
from the car they were attended by doc
tors who had been hastily summoned
from Chicago. Several were taken to
the Phoenix hospital at haywood.
Those with only minor injuries were
brought to the Monroe street hospital,
in Chicago.
Victims of the Accident.
Those killed were: Kill Head; in rear
coach; head crushed. Philip Irontail;
crushed between timbers; died before
aid could reach him. Thomas Comelast,
found dead beneath pile of seats.
According to the members of the train
crew, the engineer of the fast mail was
at fault.
Wreck Result of Fog.
Persons who were on the train said
that the collision unquestionably was
the result of the dense fog which
stretched from Lake Michigan Thursday
many miles westward. In addition to
the fog, clouds of escaping steam en-
yeloped the wreck and added to the
difficulty of rescue.
A moment after the crash there was
not a sound from the ill-fated coach.
Then one by one those surviving the
crash regained in part their senses and
began shouting for aid. terrifying
series of wild yells from the Indians
were heard by the passengers, jump
ing from each side of the cars ahead.
All the men passengers and many OF
the women on board the two trains
hastened to the aid of the injured In
dians. The fact that one side of the
rear car fell off with the impact un-
doubtedly saved the lives of many In
dians, who were thrown out on the
prairie.
The Indians were from the reservation
near Rushville, Neb., and their journey
east was primarily for show purposes
at New York