Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-12
NEARLY ALL IMMIGRANTS
Entire Immigrant Train and Three
Freight Cars Destroyed by Fire.
CONFUSION REGARDING SIGNALS
injured Are Being Hurried to Chi
cago, Where Police Have Been
Called Upon to Assist.

CHICAGO, November I2.-At I
O'Clock officials of the Baltimore
and Ohio announced that they had
received positive news from the
wreck at Woodville, Ind, that out
of I35 people on the train, 40 were
killed, IS others injured and 60 es-
capped unhurt.
VALPARAISO, Ind, November 12-Fffty
OF 167 immigrants who were on a Balti-
more and Ohio train which collided head
on with a freight train at Woodville. ten
miles north OF this city, this morning are
missing, and 1t is believed that their bodies
were consumed by the fire which destroyed
six coaches Of the immigrant train
The immigrant train was bound for Chi
cago. The accident was caused by the
freight crew falling to observe signals on
the first section of the immigrant train that
another section was following The immi-
grant train caught fire and was entirely
consumed. OF the 1877 passengers on board
the train, III have been accounted for.
All the injured are on the way to Mercy
Hospital at Chicago a special train af-
ter their injuries had been attended to by
corps of physicians from this city. All
of the train crew on both trains escaped
except the fireman on the immigrant train.
who was killed. The immigrants consisted
of Russian Jews, Servians and Poles, and
were en- route via Chicago to the northwest
Report From Chicago.
CHICAGO. H., November IA disas-
trous wreck occurred today on the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad at woodville Ind,
about thirty miles from this city Reports
so far are conflicting but the majority Of
them place the number of dead at five.
killed outright in the collision, twenty to
thirty others caught IN the wreckage and
burned to death, and twenty-five seriously
injured. The majority of the killed and in
5ured are immigrants.
The accident is said to have been caused
by confusion regarding signals which al
lowed immigrant train to pass a station
when freight was approaching from the
opposite direction The two trains came
together at full speed, and the impact
wrecked both of them completely A num-
Der Of the cars Of the immigrant train were
hurled down ten-foot embankment and
. immediately caught fire. Although every
possible effort was made to extricate them
from the wreckage the flames spread SO
rapidly that this was impossible IN many
cases. and it is certain that fully score
were burned to death before aid could be
given them. 1t is known that five of the
Immigrants were killed outright and the
engineer OF the immigrant train was so badly
injured that his recovery is impossible.
Woodvile is a small station about ten
miles north OF Valparaiso. Ind. and aid was
Immediately summoned from that place A
wrecking train. which was at once made
up at Woodville, was dispatched along the
line to secure medical aid, and every physi-
clan within reach was at once taken on
board the train and hurried back to Wood
Vile.
Reports Are Meager.
. SOUTH BEND, Ind. November Pre-
ports from the Baltimore and Ohio wreck
at woodville. Ind, are that forty-hve per-
sons are unaccounted for and are probably
burning IN the wreckage. Reports very
meager.
From the Railroad Company.
BALTIMORE, Nd, November 12-Ad-
vices to the Baltimore and Ohio general
offices here say:
The collision was between a westbound
Immigrant train and a Chicago-New York
fastbound freight train. There were 135
Immigrants on the train. The last report
says that up TO $50 o'clock only one i'm
migrant was found dead. and near
could be tod about forty to forty-one
We're missing. The entire immigrant train
of six burned. as were three cars
In the freight train. The fireman of the
- freight train is dead and Fireman Cutler Of
the immigrant train is so badly hurt that
he cannot live. Engineers Benneman and
Burke of the two trains and Baggagemaster
Snyder of the immigrant train are badly in
jured Both engines were turned over on
the south side of the track and fell clear
of the main track. 1t is expected to have
the main track clear and repaired by noon.
Passenger trains are being detoured by
other lines with little delay as possible.
Injured Taken to Chicago.
The Baltimore and Ohio notified the
physicians in charge OF Mercy Hospital to
be prepared for the reception of forty in
Jured persons. The train was scheduled
to arrive in this city at noon.
Police Called In.
Immediately after notifying Mercy Hos
pital to prepare for the reception of the
wounded in the woodville wreck, the Of
fcals of the Baltimore and Ohio requested
the aid OF the police department in caring
for them and Chief OF POLICE Collins at
once ordered fourteen ambulances to meet
the train at the depot. 1t was then an
nounced by the officials of the road that
the train would reach this city before $50
o'clock.
Flames Drove Them Back.
The engineers and fremen saved them
selves by jumping. though the engineer on
the passenger was badly scalded by escap-
ing steam. The passengers were asleep
when the accident occurred. and many
were killed while they slept The scenes
that followed were heartrending. for the
cars took fire at and many were
caught in the wreckage. The imprisoned
victims were unable to release themselves
before the fire reached them. and were con-
sumed- Cries of the dying filed the air
while passengers who were not badly hurt
tried to save others. The would-be res