Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-02

TO Plymouth. The Great Western last
week took a party of German editors from
four and half hours. establishing new
record.
The Southwestern attempted to beat this
last night, with the resulting death roll
The distance run from the start to the
place OF the accident. 148 miles. occupied
1sT minutes. The first part OF the journey,
from Plymouth to Exeter. Is over heavy
grades where the speed was necessarily
lower There is straight run of twelve
miles before Salisbury is reached, and this
was taken at flying pace.
There is long but not sharp curve at
the station. and 1t was in the middle OF this
that the train jumped the track 1t Is clear
that the speed was not reduced and the
comparatively light English engine and cars
could not stand the strain.
seventy-Four Miles an Hour.
Some OF the railway oficials at Salisbury,
IN conversation with a prominent English
man who went there to identify friend
among the dead, estimated that the speed
Of the train at the time OF the accident was
seventy-four miles an hour.
Every elndependent effort to discover the
cause OF the accident has thus far failed
and the officials this afternoon said they
slso were in the dark. Railroad engineers,
experts and representatives OF the coroner
and board of trade examined inch by incn
the rails on which the disaster occurred
but apparently with no result. The conIu-
sion was accumulated by the death OF the
engine driver and stoker. and the cause Oh
the derailnent will be enveloped In doubt
despite all theories. until the board Of trade
inquiry and the coroner's inquest are con-
Guided
Not liable, They Say.
4 disayowal of liability In connection with
the wreck of the American line express at
Salisbury. England. yesterday, was mace
today by the directors OF the international
Mercantile Marine. which controls the
steamship line. The directors take tne
ground that at the time of the accident the
passengers were out of the jurisdiction Oh
The International Mercantile Marine, ana
that the London and Southwestern Railroad
Company had them in Its care.
The officers OF the steamship company
here were besieged today by friends ana
reia tives seeking news of passengers VINO
sailed on the steamer New York
Courage Of the Injured.
The courage Of the injured persons Is ad-
,niringly discussed All who participated
in the work of rescue relate instances OF
the patience of those who were suffering
from broken limbs. their gratitude for the
assistance rendered them and their words
OF announcement to the chair and stretch
er bearers.
Only reIative, OF the injured or those
representing them are admitted 10 tne IN
II y
tory has resorted to the bulletin-board sys-
tom. 1.-THE attest information repeats the
earlier announcements. with the exception
that MT. CritcheN and Miss Grlswoiu are
now doing fairly well.
Miss Anna q. Koch Of Allentown. Pa,
fourteen years old, whose father was killed.
whose mother Is among the injured ana
who escaped with black eye. was out
shopping today. She does not seem to real
Ice the enormity of the disaster. is unable
10 tell how II happened and simply de-
clares she does not know.
A number of relatives and friends OF the
victims arrived here this afternoon and
many affecting scenes were witnessed ut
the temporary mortuary, which is grew
come sight. On a platform outside spilnters
and other wreckage, piled high ana ioohihs
like matchwood. bore evidence OF the ter
rifice force of the impact which caused the
bereavement Of the visitors.
American consul at Southampton. Albert
w Swain. Is looking after the interests OF
the Americans
Immediately after the jury had been
sworn 1t proceeded to the railroad station
to view the bodies. Reporters were not al
lowed TO accompany II.
When the jury returned the coroner an
nounced that only evidence regarding the
Identification of the bodies would be taken
and that the inquest would then DC al
Sourned for fortnight. 49,
Walter Grerson. who saved his lie py
hanging TO a strap, told this story TO
Star correspondent:
II would not part with this railway strap
for any money. / brought II away with
me, and I intend to keep 1t all my life, as
memento of the narrowest escape any
man ever had.
So said Walter Grerson one of the few
survivors of the wreck. IN his West Ken
Angton home today, in speaking OF how MS
life had been saved by strap hanging
Grerson who was the first Of the passengers
to escape from the wreck. then described In
detail. from first TO last, the full story
OF the accident.
Tine smash occurred precisely at 1;5o
am. as we were running at full speed ana
well up to time" said Grerson.
t'Otber accounts have given It as a few
minutes later. but have good reason Tor
being able TO fix 1t definitely. A few mo-
merts before poor Macdonald. who was
instantly killed. had compared time with
me. The first telegram that was dispatched
from Salisbury Station, announcing the
disaster. was sent three minutes later at
l:ss CrttcheN whose left leg Is broken,
and myself had reserved two seats In
car at the end of the train. and about mid
night we were in the smoking CONF
where McMeakin. who Is now dead, asked
us to Join him and some ladies' al supper,
which was served at 1890.
I'VE were quite merry party Nc
Meakin said he had never enjoyed such
dinner Poor fellow 1t was his last. and
Door Mcdonald was saying what good
time he intended to have on this side. All
the way from Davenport we had noticed
that tho train had been rocking consider
ably. but we were not IN the least alarmed.
"Going through Salisbury, however, we
felt q sudden severe shock. and ! seized
strap and held on Then we ran smoothly
again and then the crash came It all
happened in o second. The woodwork few
into splinters and pinned McMeaktn, KILL
ing him instantly. Mcdonald was also
killed.
Mrs. McDonald's Experience.
Mrs. Mcdonald. who was IN the act Of
leaving the compartment. was thrown IN
der the table and this certainly saved her
life. for the table was pinned down by the
Debris. I held my left hand In front Of
my face. hanging on to the strap with the
other and escaped being struck with the
shattering glass Our carriage was right
on the side with its wheels in the air. and
! managed to get a window open and to
drop out. ! was slightly injured by the fall
and the shock and at first could hardly
stand I found I was the first to set free
and all around were dead and wreckaee.
We sent for all the doctors and for stretch
ers and then. with long ladders. we started
to get the people who were still living
The very first one We got out was Fred
eriok Cossick, q young, clean-shaven man.
who was on his bridal trip. and next his
widow They had been known on the boat