The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-07-22
Il PlICNlCI TRAIN ! |
Demolished


4
Chicago, July IA inetsen per-
sons were killed. 70 seriously injured,
and SO others scratched and
bruised at 6:55 o'clock Wednesday Ct
Glenwood, ILL.,, when an excursion train
Of II coaches on the, Chicago q Eastern
Illinois railroad, bearing 654 members
of Doremus Congregational chapel
crashed into q loaded coal train. K si.5
NJ The excursion train left the picnic
grounds at, Momence, ILL.,, at six o'clock.
The entire day had been spent at games
and outdoor pleasures, and the tired
crowd Of men, women and children WAS
being hurried to their homes in the VI
cinity Of the church at Thirty first and
Butler streets. II I g.; 8: ~ ~ ,%tgf,'
=. The engine, baggage car, and one pas pas
senger coach were crushed II the coils
ion. All Of the dead and most Of the in
jured were in the first coach, g. e.
All of the dead and injured we're placed;
on board special trains and brought to
Chicago, arriving at Eng station
at midnight. The In jured were removed
to Englewood Union hospital, while the
dead were taken to Thirty Third street
on the relief train, and from there
removed to Perrigo's morgue, where sey-
eral thousand anxious relatives crowded
to look for. their loved ones. The scenes
attending the ratification Of the bodles I
and the receiving Of the injured from the
trains has seldom been equaled in Chi
cago. r., g. -. ,,.S!
The Cause. Z. s%.h$t.
Orders misunderstood, or negligence Of
the train crews, is believed to have been
the cause. The excursion train, north
bound, had been transferred to- the south
bound track, which was supposed to be
clear. The engine OF the excursion spe-
cial plowed It's way through the coal cars
and them came to a stop with q. terrific
jar. The impact forced the baggage car
back into the first coach, telescoping It
and crushing the life out Of those who
were in the forward end of thecar. I'LL
Rescue Work Begins. @
The engine of the excursion train did
not leave the track, and the engineer and
fireman were uninjured. The engineer
shut OF steam, and in q moment the
train crew was at work to assist the In
jured. Eleven coaches made up the spe-
cial, and all Of these were shattered, the !
breaking glass inhicting injuries to the
occupants Of the cars. The screams pf
women and children added to tho con-;
fusion. 154., ,.s5 gs,:y. 4; s lSS55
I Train men and older passengers, who
were uninjnred, quickly extricated the
injured, carried the bodies OF the dead 70
the side OF the track, and messages were
sent to Chicago Heights. and Glenwood
asking for relief. Two trains were soon
on the scene, both Of them carrying sur
geons and wrecking crews. Bonfires were
lighted and the work of caring for those 4
most seriously hurt was begun
For ten minutes the confusion was at !
the highest pitch Children were shrek
ing, distracted mothers were searching
for their. babes, and the horror Of the
scene was intensified as under the glare 1
Of the fire light the train crew moved the
bodies of the dead from the debris.
Care for Wounded. ssz.$,
On tho arrival of the first relief train
from Chicago Heights the coaches were
stripped of their cushions, field hospitals
were hastily improvised and every pos
sible attention given to the wounded. Il 4
Within two hours after the firsticrash
two trains had been made up, one to I
carry the injured, the other to transport
the dead, and started for Chicago. The
uninjured excursionists were later \
brought in by third special sent from I