The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-22
Famous Twentieth CenturyLim-
tied Strikes Open Switch
While Speeding at the Rate Of
Miles an Hour.
TWENTY-ONE ARE DEAD
Cars Piled in a Heap and the
Boiler Exploded.
Many Of the Passengers Burned
by Flames and Steam.
SWITCH LOCKED OPEN.
Officials Believe Disaster Is Due
to Malice.
viii Make No Difference in the
Trains Schedule.
SWITCH LOCKED OPEN.
Officials Believe Disaster Is Due
to Malice.

Cleveland, June 22.-Twenty-one per
sons are dead as a result of the wreck
of the Twentieth Century Limited on
the Lake Shore road at Mentor last
night
Following is a list of the dead and in
jured:
The Dead:
c. Il. WELLMAN. general manager
of the WeIInan- -Seaver- Morgan Engi-
neering company Of this city.
THOMAS r. MORGAN, of the same
company, burned to death.
A. p HEAD, London. England prom
inent English steel man.
JOHN r.. BENNETT, patent attor-
ney, New York City, burned to death.
II. c. MECKLIN. manager of the
Wheeling Corrugating company, New
York
A. j.. RODGERS, Plat Iron COM
pany. New York City, died at hospital
H. H. WRIGHT, travelling man. Chi
cago. died at hospital
WILLIAM B. MICKEY. address IN
known.
F. J. BRANDT. Toledo. died at hos
Pital.
S. c. BECKWITH, New York City
advertising agent, died at hospital
J. H. GIBSON, Chicago, travelling
man.
q. B. WALTERS, Hamburg, N. Y,
baggage master.
ALLEN TYLER, engineer, Collin
wood. crushed under engine.
J. A. BRADLEY. Akron. o., died at
hospital
HENRY TRIM. New York City,
barber on Buffet car.
SEVEN IDENTIFIED DEAD, one
of whom is supposed to be Arthur L.
johnson of Comey & Johnson of
Cleveland
L. NJ EIRICK, manager OF Keith's
theater at Cleveland.
D. J. ARBAUCH, Milwaukee.
E. z. NAUGLE.
The Injured.
Aaron Gorham. Norwaik, Ohio fire
man; may recover.
Rudolf Ricardau, Brooklyn, N. z; will
probably die.
j. H. Langdon, Chicago, reported in
critical condition.
F. D. Countiss, president Of S. 3.
Chaplin & Co. Chicago, slightly bruised,
not serious.
The Switch Was Open.
According to a statement made at the
headquarters of the Lake Shore road
here today, the number of dead as a
result of the wreck of the Twentieth
Century Limited is q. 1t is believed
there win be no further deaths. The
body OF A. L. Johnson Of the firm of
Comey & Johnson millinery manufac-
turers of this city, was identified today.
The remains were badly burned.
Among those who died at hospitals in
"a fr11 vI1
Wellman, general manager of the Well
n-ScaVeT- Morgan company of CIeve-
land; Allen Tyler, engineer of the
wrecked trairF J. A Bradley a prom
Head, representative of the Otis Steel
company Of London and F. J. Bryant
a trainman Of Toledo. L. M Eirick,
manage of Keith's theater here, who
was passenger on the wrecked train,
is missing and it is feared that he may
be among the unidentified dead.
D c. Moon. assistant general superin-
tendent of the Lake Shore road after
investigating the cause of the wrack
made this statement today.
II have made a careful and thorough
examination. The switch was open.
am satisfied that some one having a
key opened the switch with malicious
intent The train did not jump the
track"
Early Story of Wreck.
Cleveland, June 22.=While travel
ing at the rate of 40 miles an hour
the famous Twentieth Century Limit
ed, the fastest long distance train in
the world, ran through an open switch
at the little town OF Mentor. east of
Cleveland, at 500 o'clock last night.
causing one of the most horrible
wrecks in the history of the Lake
Shore railroad. The engine was hurl-
ed into the ditch. A part of the train
WAS crushed on top of it and the
wreck was partly burned. The hor-
rors of the wreck were doubled in
the horrors Of the fire.
More than a score of people were
killed and injured and the famous
train was demolished.
The train was crowded, practically
an its accommodations being taken
when it left the city Tt was behind
time and the greatest of speed was
being made to make up the lost time.
Cause of the Wreck.
Assistant Superintendent d. c. Moon,
of the Lake Shore, on the scene of the
wreck gave out the following statement
early today.
so far as it can be learne dthe switch
was opened and locked open by some
party unknown; prOba bly, a crank. and
evidently for malicious purposes. Train
No. TO- a fast eastbound train. passed
through the same switch fOrty-five
minutes ahead of No. 25 and it was all
right at that time. 1t is positive that
no other train or engine either freight