The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-31
FATAL CRASH.
53 Persons Killed and Over so
Injured in Wreck.
Rear End Collision in Suburbs
Of Washington, ID. G.
DENSE FOG PREVAILED
Engineer Says He Could Not
See the Signals.
Vas Running at a Speed Of
so or 60 Miles.
BODIES HURLED ABOUT
Many Injured Died Before Help
COHld Reach Them.
Wreckage StreWn for Long Dis
tanco Along the Track.
Vas Running at a Speed Of
so or 60 Miles.
BODIES HURLED ABOUT
Many Injured Died Before Help
Gould Reach Them.
Wreckage Strewn for Long Dis
tanco Along the Track.

Washington. Dec 21.=At > O'Clock
this evening the number of dead as
a result of the Terra Gotta wreck, ac-
cording to the police. had reached
ffty-three. Forty-f1ve of the number
have been identified
Washington. Dec. 31-The list OF
dead as result of the appalling wreck
at Terra Gotta of the Baltimore
o. r. r last night had reached forty
seven al noon today.
Inquiry at hospitals in the city
where the injured have been taken,
shows number OF persols whose con-
dition is regarded as hopeless. The in
jured number over fifty
It has been decided to postpone tha
coroner's in quest until Wednesday.
This viii be the first official step TAX
en- towards fixing the responsibility OF
the disaster In the meantime it is
understood railroad officials are max
ing a searching investigation Two
distinct stories are being told by the
friends of those who viii naturally be
implicated.
The entrance to the block on which
the accident occurred is at Silver
from Frederick had entered the block
with a clear track. Two green lights
were then set on the signal tower,
showing that the block was occupied
The engineer Of the dead train,
which was following. accordingly
slowed down as he entered the block
To- run cautious laz.fts-At the TakoIna
station. near the center of the block, it
is said the day operator had tied
down white signals showing a clear
f@.rh 1-
dication the engineer of the dead
train crowded on all steam and forged
ahead ar tremendous speed in the dark
and foggy night and on slippery
track II was only few minutes un-
III the huge engine of the dead train"
plunged into the rear OF the local, just
pulling out Of Terra Gotta and only
three miles from Washington.
Operator Phillips at Takoma denies
that his signals We're white. He de-
clares he was at his post and that red
signals were set showing occupied
tracks.
He was much astonished to see the
dead" train and expected it to slow
down and back up Instead he heard
cf the accident in a few minutes
While the wreck haas brought the
deepest sorrow to scores Of Washing
ton homes. triple portion visited that
Of DR. F. o. Belt. who lost his life with
his two sons. Edward and St. Clair.
Mrs Belt was at home nursing the
Youngest son. NorveIe. three years
old. who has a broken leg. Hearing of
the wreck and knowing her husband
and sons were on board the train, it
was with increasing horror she waited
in vain their coming She summoned
DR. Morton Griffith and started him in
search for the missing ones DR. Grif-
nth first visited the hospitals and then
turned 10 the morgue. Here he found
the fatherand one of the boys. The
little fellows body was badly mangled
and only the trunk of Belt remained.
The other lad St Clair. was located a
block away where he died a coro-
ror-s Jury which was in session on an
other case today formally viewed the
bodies at the morgue and postponed
further action in the case until We'd
nesday by which time all the Witnesses
VIII have been summoned.
Washington. Dec. 31-An appalling
disaster occurred last night at
o'clock on the Baltimore & Ohio at
Terra Gotta three miles from this city
The total number Of killed is estimated
a about 30 and the number of injured
Al so. The wreck was caused by an
engine drawing eight empty cars run
ming into a local train known as the
Frederick express. just as the passen-
ger train had pulled out from the sta
tion bound for this city.
Engineer Hildebrand. who was in
charge of the dead trainl snd who
iisicn declares that on account of
dense fog he was unable to distinguish
the signal light at Takoma Park block
station Tower Operator Phillips de-
clares that the Canger signal was in
its proper place and that Engineer
Fildebrands train passed the tower
station going at a speed Of SO to so
miles an hour
Following is the list OF dead:
The Dead:
ALBERSON. COL. ROBERT. New
ark.
AUSTIN. negro. Washington
BALDWIN, LEWIS, East Orange
BAILY. oLIN, =, minister New
q BARNES. MRS. [. A. Terra Gotta.
D. c
BELT. DIR. f. OLIVER. Washing
on. chief surgeon Of the Episcopal
we. ear and throat hospital and sur
seou for B & O. r. r
GET. EDW. NJ. b. 4 O. railroad
CHASE. MRS. FRANK, and infant
.hild Of South Brooklyn. ID. c.
CORINE. MISS NJ. 19 years old.
Washington: milliner-
COREWELL. CARRIE
COLB. lulu. Belt. CT. Claire
CROSS. MISS ROSALIE. Washington
CUNLlO. ANNIE. Washington.
BEED. A. J., address unknown
BOND. $ l.. address unknown