The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-11
More Than 100 Injured, Many of
Them Fatally.
Passenger Train Crashes Into Wreck
ed Freight.
TWO CAR LOADS OF DYNAMITE
Are Exploded as a Result of the
Collision.
Both Trains Caught Fire and Many
Were Burned.
Were Thrown From Berths
Into the Fields.

the firemen arrived it was impossible
for them to go closer than 900 yards
to the fire, though the explosions had
ceased. Then the intense heat inter-
fered with the work of rescue. Men
of the boldest nerve were forced to
retire with singed hair, blistered faces
and burning clothing when they at
tempted to respond to the piteous
cries for help. Those who escaped by
leaping and crawling through vim
dows, in scant attire, were carried to
the Offices and workshops of several
industrial plants which were quickly
transformed into temporary hospitals
and later into morgues. In the vicin-
ity Of the wreck many families living
in the small houses about the place
We're tossed from their beds, and
thinking that some catastrophe had
befallen them. rushed out clad only
in their night clothes.
Several small houses near the Loch-
iel furnace were badly shattered. Fly
ing glass and articles which were
knocked from the walls struck the in
mates as they lay in their beds and a
number of minor injuries were re-
ported. The shock and effects Of the
explosion were heard and felt for
many miles and panes of glass or
large windows were broken for miles
around.
Lost JeweIry Worth $4,000.
Henry Silverman, New York jew
elry salesman, had a satchel in his
berth which contained $4,000 worth
of jewelry. In order to escape being
burned to death he was compelled to
leave the satchel in the coach which
was destroyed by fire.
Among those who received slight
injuries was Miss Brown, daughter Of
Congressman Brown. of Pittsburg, and
her companion, Miss Woodwork Oh
Philadelphia. They escaped through
a car window.
The Rev. T, H. Acheson of Denvers
CoIo.,. escaped unhurt.
Track Blown Away.
The scene of the wreck when day
light broke was a gruesome one. Splin-
tered and smOuldering cars and twisted
iron were piled high on the four tracks
and an enormous amount of wreclSaga
was lying on the marsh land between
the railroad embankment and the river
One thousand labOrers were soon put to
work and before noon two tracks were
open.
The passenger tracks for several huns
dred feet were blown away by the ex-
plosion. It will be some time before
they can be repaired. Passenger trains
are being sent over the new low grade
freight line, along the west side of the
Susquehanna river. About eight miles
of freight trains are stalled east Of the
scene of the accident. About a dozen
boatInen are dragging the river for
bodies. Several thousand persons visit
ed the scene but they were kept at a
safe distance by a large force of police
The COmpany's Report.
Philadelphia, May 11.=Informatiou
received from Harrisburg at the
Pennsylvania railway general offices
in this city by Charles N. Shaeffers
superintendent of passenger transpor-
tation, is that II persons were killed
and from SO to So injured in this
mornings wreck. Eleven bodies were
recovered from under the sleeping car
but they were so badly charred ana
nangled as to be unrecognizab The
train contained 1872 passengers and a
train crew of Is.
Among the missing is W H Lewia
of Philadelphia, a Pullman CONDUCTOR
who is believed to have been killed.