The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-05-12
Prominent Persons Aboard and
One Dies From His
Injuries
EXPRESS DASHED
into THE DEBRIS

Harrisburg, Pa, May 11.-Nineteen
persons are known to be dead and
more than 100 others were injured in
a railroad wreck and dynamite explo-
sion which occurred early today on
the Pennsylvania railroad in the
southern part of this city. That no
more persons were killed is consider
ed remarkable by PENNSYLVANIA Of
ficials, as fun box car of dynamite
exploded directly at the middle of a
heavy express train.
Prominent Persons Aboard.
The train carried a number of prom
inent persons and most Of
them escaped with only slight
injuries. Among those on the
train were Mr.. and Mrs. James R.
Tindell of Pittsburg the latter
daughter of United States Senator
Knox; Mrs. A. ] Barr. wife Of the
Pittsburg Posts editor. and her two
daughters; w. L. Crabbe, son n-law
Of Robert Pitcairn OF Pitt burg, as
sistant to J A. Clsseft, Of the Penn
sylvania railroad, aid Samuel S. Shn
bert. ene Of the prominent theatrical
managers OF New York.
Crabhe Died of snilr.es.
Mr.. Crabhe dlea In the Harrisburg
hospital at noon. Mr.. Shubert was
reported to be badly injured, but the.
others were only slightly hurt. The
wrecked train was second section OF
tho Cleveland and Cincinnati express,
leaving Philadelphia at 1l:05 O'clock
last night. II CON listed Of combi
natirn baggage anu smoking ear, one
day coach and six sleepers.
How the Wreck Occurred.
There are various stories Of how
the wreck occurred, but the only YER
sion reliable is about as follows:
At 1:40 O'clock the engine on an
east bound train was tagged by the
crew of a shifting engine ahead on
the same track The engineer quick
" put on his air brakes and the train,
an unuGually long one, came 10 sud
den halt The strain on the air
valves was a severe one and the CON
Meeting air hose in the middle of the
train blew out This caused the mid
die of the train to buckle" and the
damaged cars, one OF which contained
explos. yes, fell over on the passenger
tracks.
Just as this happened, the Cleve-
land express came laundering up and
"eide,swiped" the wreck. Express
was stopped within its own length ana
the third sleeper was opposite the
wrecked cars. Before any one could
leave the passenger train, which was
not very badly damaged, few slight
explosions occurred and then there
was one great flash and one that shook
the earth The whole affair occurred
within period of few seconds.
Gene of horror followed the ex
plosion of the dynamite. Passenger
cars ana some of the fire ght cars in
stantly took fire. As the reverbera
ton of the terrific explosion died away
the agcnized cries Of injured could be
heard. Men and women came tumb
ling and climbing from car windows
and crawled from under the wreck
age No one for the moment SCENE,
to know what to do and many of TIL
passengers, momentarily seized will
terror ran wildly about the fields Of
the north side CT the railroad or wac
cd nto shallow waters of the rive
w ch parallels the railroad on tn
south.
Rescue Work Was Slow.
The work of rescue was at frs
slow and 1t seemed as though flame
would envelope the entire express
train before those who were pinne
beneath the heavy wreckage could b
freed. From everywhere there cam
cries for help and the frantic rescuer
worked with willing hands. Scores {
those who We're trapped in their sleel
ing berths or pinioned under tn
wreckage were taken out and laid |
the field badly hurt The rapid al
vance Of the fire drove the rescuer
back as they were about to take otl
ers from the wreck and unfortunate
men and women, were soon envelope
In the flames. Cries from the dyin
We're heartrending, but nothing coul
be done for them.
An alarm of fire was sent in, bi
when the firemen reached the seer
the flames had done their work. TT
entire train was consumed by fire.