Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-05-17
PASSENGERS
MEET DEATH
EXPRESS TRAIN CRASHES INTO
A BOX CAR LOADED WITH
DYNAMITE.


persons are known to be dead and
more than 100 were injured in the
railroad wreck and dynamite eXplo-
sion which occurred early today on
the Pennsylvania railroad in the south
ern part of this city. That not more
persons were killed is considered re-
markable by the Pennsylvania Off
Gals, as full box car of dynamite
exploded directly at the middle of the
heavy express train.
Official Version Of Wreck.
There are various stories of how
the wreck occurred. the official YER
sion is as follows:
about $40 o'clock the engine on
an eastbound freight train was flag
ged by the crew of shifting engine
ahead on the same track. The en-
gineer quickly put on his air brakes,
and the train, an unusually long one,
came to a sudden stop. The strain on
the air valves was severe one, anu
a connecting air hose in the middle
of the train blew out. This caused
the middle of the train to buckle
and the damaged cars fell over on the
passenger tracks.
Just as this happened the Cleve'
land express came laundering up and
'side-swipel the wreck. The express
was stopped within it's own length
and the third sleeper was opposite
the wrecked car. Before anyone could
leave the passenger train, which was
not very badly damaged, few slight
explosions occurred and then there
was one great flash and roar that
shook the earth. The whole affair oc
Cured within a period OF few sec
onds.'
Scene Of Horror.
A scene of horror followed the eX
plosion of the dynamite. The passen
ger cars and some of the freight car:
instantly took fire. AS the reverbera
ton of the terrific explosion dice
L. away across the Susquehana river
the agonizing cries of the injured coult
be heard. Men and women came
tumbling and climbing from the ca
windows and crawled from under thu
/ wreckage. Shortly afterward anothe
explosion occurred. Fearing that thu
entire freight train might be loaded
with dynamite, no one dared go nea
: the wreck. Finally the railroad mel
who knew the contents Of the burne'
! freight train led the way and the un
/ injured passengers followed.
Scores of those who were trappe'
in their sleeping berths or pinione'
! under wreckage were taken out an
t laid the field, badly hurt. The ad
, vancing of the fire drove the rescuer
; back as they as they were about t
take others from the wreck and tn
e unfortunate men and women wer
y soon enveloped in the flames. Tn
!, cries of the dying were heart-rendine
! but nothing could be done for them.
v A Passengers Story.
e A passenger on the train said:
: heard an awful crash and was throw
out into the aisle of the car / wa
/ daZed for time and only realize
t my position and what had hapepne
j. when | felt a woman grabbing me an
$ screaming. For Gods sake help me
j. | pushed her out of the window an
IellOW passenger udIued Jul S1i
r which belonged to her. He then lei
l. the train and called me to jun
l. through the window. Just then Their
was terrific explosion. AS droppe
e to the ground missile struck an
n knocked me down. l don't know ho'
:. long l lay there, but when l recovere
e l crawled across the tracks under
S freight train and rolled down the en-
k bankment on the other side. l wa
g in my night clothes and all my othe
S clothes and belongings were lost.
n "Women were screaming, childre
l. were crying and strong men wer
y wandering about dazed and helpless
n The tracks were strewn in all dire
It tons with half naked men and won
n en-, some of whom were dead an
others seriously injured"