Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-03-08
SEVEN PERSONS LEAD
FORTY ARE HURT.
Cleveland Train Bound for Inaugural
ton in Wreck and Fire Near
Pittsburg.

Pittsburg, Pa, March 4.-Running to
make up lost time, special train carry
ing the Tippecanoe club of Cleveland
to Washington plowed through the rear
coaches of another special, which had
been stalled last night on the Cleveland
and Pittsburg railroad tracks eight miles
west of here. More than 100 persons
We're aboard the two trains. The for
ward one carried the battalion of engi-
neers, Ohio National guard, from Cleve-
land which was on its way to march
III the inaugural parade today.
Seven Dead; Forty Injured
After the most searching tigation
it is today practically certain that the
list of dead will not exceed seven. The
list Of injured win reach forty, six or
seven of whom are likely to die. All
are being cared for at the several hos
pitfalls.
Both trains left Cleveland about noon
yesterday and were making a good run
through to Washington. The National
guard engineers had the first train, which
consisted of a baggage and six Pullmans.
just after the train had passed through
the Conway yards it had to be stopped OH
account Of a hot box. The box was
cooled off, but three other stops We're nee
essary by the time Sewickley had been
reached.
ton to catch up and after passing Sc
Wlckley the trains were running but one
block apart. At Clifton the first train
was again stopped by the hot box. The
tralnmen say Flagman John Murray was
sent back as an extra precaution to stop
the train following in case it had passed
the last set Of signals.
Wreck Scattered Half Mile.
Murray had hardly left the train when
the second section, running fifty miles
an hour, turned a slight bend at this
point. Engineer Nicholas Long of the
second train said the block he passed
showed green, but when he saw Flagman
Murray he applied brakes. 1t was too
late The heavy train sped on over the
slippery rails and crashed fairly into the
rear coach of the first train. The wreck
was scattered along distance Of half
a mile.
Six Cars Burn Fiercely.
The six cars which had been destroyed
were burning fiercely almost before the
occupants of the other cars. which re-
manned on the tracks, We're able to leave
them. The flames lit up the scene Tor
miles around. The heat was so intense
that the occupants of the cars which es-
capped injury were almost scorched in
their attempts to assist the imprisoned
passengers.
The second train carried the famous
Cleveland club, with q band and twenty
five or thirty women. The club also was
to have been i'll the procession.
Killed as They Hold Cards.
In the coaches Of the stalled train the
engineers were playing cards. Passen-
gers were thrown in every direction.
Some were found, dead or injured, nearly
a hundred feet away from the tracks
The rear car, tossed to the top of the To-
connective tender, was split in twain The
second coach was made prison. damned
out Of shape, half turned on its side, and
with timbers shattered and ironwork torn,
it held a score of passengers.
Rescuers came from the village almost
before the sound of the ripping of tim
hers had ceased. With axes they cut into
the debris. The first efforts were to take
the passengers from the car into which
the engine had plunged. This was being
done, when suddenly there came a burst
of flame.
Two hundred men now were caring
for the first of those taken from the
wreckage, and with axes, crowbars. and
sledges working on the shattered car in
front. After nearly twenty minutes
work, with the flames approaching them
rapidly, for no water was near they
took out all the persons in this coach
Train Given to Flames.
The train ahead was given I'D to the
names. Ine engine ana two forward
coaches were pulled away from the
wrecaage, and the rest Of the cars We're
burned
The more seriously injured were taken
to a hospital at Rochester, Pa, and to
another at Allegheny on relief trains
Other trains were sent out to take the
engineers and the Tippecanoe club back
to Cleveland
Cannot Go to Capital.
Neither orga nization will participate
in the Inauguration ceremonies at Wash
ington tomorrow. Only a few of the
400 passengers continued their trips.