Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-29
LAKE SHORE WRECK.
Ran Into Open Switch While Going
70 Miles an Hour.
NINETEEN PERSONS WERE KILLED.
The Tender and One sleeper
Hurled Against Depot, WTeckinS
It--BoII-r Burst aud Cars
Caught Fire.

of the Twentieth Century flyer on Tn
Lake Shore at Mentor; O., is one OF thu
largest In the history OF that ROAD
numbering 10 persons. All the victim
were prominent in the business AM
professional world in New York, Chi
cago Cleveland and other cities.
Travelling at the rate Of more than
mile a minute, the heavy train wa
hurled to its doom with u momentum
that was appalling. The scene OF thu
accident was at the Mentor depot. Th'
switch that caused the trouble Is about
100 yards west of the depot. AS the
heavy engine struck the switch. the
engine left the main track and swung
violently to the left
For 20 yards the engine ran on the
rails and then, leaping from the track,
turned on Its side Just to the east oil
the depot. The momentum was such
that the heavy tender was hurled en-
tirely over the engine and was buried
In the depot.
The combination car was hurled with
terrific violence on top Of the engine
and tender and In moment was en-
veloped in flames from the engine.
The Chicago sleeper, which was i'm
mediately behind the combination
car, swung from the track and, crash
ing into the depot, was completely
buried in the wreck Of the building.
The violence Of the crash was such
that the depot collapsed on top Of the
wrecked coach. The hapless passen-
gers in this coach were crushed and
manned in the wreck and then COM
pletely buried in the collapse Of the
structure.
The next sleeper following was
thrown off the track behind. The 9th
ers remained upright on the rails.
An instant after the crash Of the
wreck the boiler of the great engine
burst with terrific force, scattering fire
and steam through the wreck in
manner that made escape for the help
less imprisoned passengers impossible.
The wrecked combination car, which
had landed crushed and splintered on
top Of the engine, was at once envel-
oped in binding flames and scalding
steam. The cries of the imprisoned
passengers were heard above the roar,
but were beyond all human aid.
As to who is responsible for the open
switch which was the cause Of the
wreck, the railroad oflcials are still
uncertain. They believe that the
wreck is TIE result Of either a maniac
who wanted to see a wreck of such a
fast train, or some person bent upon
revenge. A careful. examination OF
the switch showed that 1t was In per-
feet condition,
Detectives are working on the case.
Irainmen are Of the opinion that the
crew Of the Twentieth Century was
deceived by second white light one
hundred feet beyond the switch which
was open. but while travelling at such
fast speed were unable to gauge the
distance and mistook the second light
for the first one.
W. H. Marshall, general manager
Of the Lake Shore, believes the speed
Of the train was not a contributory
cause to the wreck. He said that 9TH
o. Lake Shore trains travel through
Mentor at speed equal to that at
tanned by the Twentieth Century last
night. which was not, Mr., Marshal
said, above the rate of go miles an
hour. The schedule for the train
called for a speed Of 81 miles an hour
at that point.
The wreck had no effect on the sale
Of tickets for the same train Thurs
day night, the full quota allotted to
this city having been sold long before
the time of the trains departure
Coroner York, Of Lake county, an.
nounced that the inquest would begin
next Monday morning at nine o'clock
at the court house in gainesville. He
says he will summon ofHicials Of the
railroad company to testify.
New York, June 2s.-President New
man, Of the New York Central and
Lake Shore railroads, said Thursday
that the 2O-hour schedule Of the Twen-