Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-07-21
CHURCH EXCURSION TRAIN
IN A FRICHTFUL WRECK
Score Of People, Mostly Children, Killed
While Returning From Picnic
Flying String Of Loaded Passenger
Coaches Crashes Into Freight
LATEST BULLETIN.

LATEST BULLETIN.
Chicago, July 14.-The list of in
iured in the GIenwood wreck totals
ee and the killed II.
Chicago, July 14.-Twenty people
were killed and about 25 were injured
last night in a collision on the Chicago
& Eastern Illinois railroad at Glen
wood, 23 miles south or this city.
The collision occurred between a pic
mic train from this city, which was re-
turning from Momence, ILL.,, 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 GA the left. A misplaced switch
threw the picnic train to the left track
and before the engineer could apply
the brakes it ran, at 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 in as second section of the reg
ular passenger train due in Chicago
at S:25.
Given Clear Track.
When the picnic train reached Chica-
go Heights, four miles beyond Gen
wood, where the accident took place,
it was switched to the regular south
bound track, and although it was
coming north it 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 it's speed
and when half the distance between
these two stations had been covered it
was plunging 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 freight train was back
ing from the south bound to the north
bound track
Both Tracks Blocked.
1t 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 it. 1t 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
of 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
of 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 it 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 Down under the
wreckage who were shrieking piteous-
ly 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 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
second train arrived from Glenwood
bringing additional physicians and
number of nurses.
Bontres 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
bonfires built of the wreckage taken
from the smashed cars.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock when the
last of the wounded had been taken
from the wreckage and half ar hour
later the train started for the city. II
was stopped at 61st street ana the dead
taken to various undertaking estab-
lishments in tie suburb Of Englewood.
while the injured were hurried To the