New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07
SEVENTEEN DIE IN WRECK
Continued from first page.

which came the groans OF the wounded and
dying The engineers and fremen of the two
trains had saved themselves by jumping
General Superintendent Gruber Of the Rock
Island makes this statement:
The engineer of the passenger train had orders
10 wait at Willard for the special stock train.
ne passed on, mistaking a freight train or the
slang at that station for the stock train. This
caused the wreck Nobody else is blame, so
lar as our information goes.
Ihe passenger conductor says that the acct
cent was caused by the freight crew running
on schedule, The express had the right of way,
ne declares, and the freight train should have
waited for il TO pass at Maple Hill. six miles
west of the scene of the collision.
The hero of the wreck was Dr. Bell. of New
aoTk City young physician. himself crippled
ana walking on CrutChes. DR.. Bell, though
sightly hurt was the first TO leave the
Pullman sleeper. Struggling forward on his
Grutches. he assumed charge Of the rescue work
FIRST he ordered the chair and sleeper
cleared Then, after directing the removal OF
the injured to these cars he allayed the pain of
the injured as much as possible without
medicine or instruments, bandaged broken legs
ana arms with strips. at his direction by
o e from sheets and pillow slips, and saved
ne IRE or the fireman by tying an artery with
the aid OF a penknife and a piece of string.
Ihough nearly exhausted. DR.. Bell only gave
way when the physicians arrived from Topeka
S Milh medicine and Instruments. Then he re-
FUSED TO disclose his name. and it only
learned from his fellow passengers.
H G. Parsons reporter OF The Topeka
state Journal" who was on the wrecked train.
escaped with slight injuries, while two persons
IN the seat in front of him killed. He tells
the following story of the wreck:
1t was in the third car OF the passenger train.
the first passenger coach having been preceded
by smoker and baggage car that the greatest
loss OF life occurred. The smoker. in which
We're only two three men, overturned
and pushed through the behind it. which
was crowded with passengers. some standing
In the aisle. Most of those in the forward end
were killed Instantly Thirty in the rear end
succeeded in escaping
No one in the front half escaped. They were
crushed down between the seats by the smoker
When rescue finally possible. only three
living persons were taken out by the rescuers
who were compelled to chop holes in the side
and through the floor and top of the coach to
reach them.
dozen or more Topeka physicians arrived at
the scene on the relief train from Topeka as soon
as brakeman could run to Willard and inform
headquarters. The physicians went to work re-
hevlng the injured and made no attempt for the
time being to remove the crushed and dishgured
bodies from the debris. After daylight the work
or removing the bodies began. The engine of
the wrecking train coupled on the two cars A
sleeper and chair car. which we're uniniured and
started back TO Topeka with the victims At
Topeka all the injured were hurried to hospitals
In the freight train the four cars Immediately
Dead and dying cattle Uttered the right of vay
while many which had escaped from the ca rs
uninjured ran about. adding TO the confusion.
Most Of the passengers in the sleepers were
bound through 70 FL Paso They were started
west on the journey from here after several
hours delay
A formal inquest was held at the wreck TODAY
by Coroner Dooley. OF Wabaunsee County The
investigation will be continued tomorrow.