davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27

gushing of the lamp, the res:
cuers set to work to clear away
the wreckage, and within an
hour the dead and injured had
been removed.
TWELVE SURGEONS.
A relief train from Valley City
arrived a short time later with
eight physicians and several
nurses, and the work Of caring
for the injured was carried on
by twelve physicians, the nurses
and towns-people. The dead
were identified and were placed
in the fire hall and their families
notified.
AS soon as the bodies were re-
moved the work of clearing up
the wreckage was commenced
and at l o'clock yesterday after
noon the track was cleared and
train service resumed.
Enderlin is a town Of about
!, 500 inhabitants and is a divis-
ion point on the 500 line.
YARD FOREMAN's STATEMENT.
The freight engine was in
charge of the yard foreman, who
is a new man. He says he re-
ceived orders between l and 1:30
O'Clock to look out for the pas
senger train at 2::10, and sent a
switchman back to flag the pas
senger and to place torpedoes on
the track. The passenger engi-
neer had orders to stop at the
yard limits, but had not reached
there when the accident occurred.
The report Of the speed at
which the train was running at
the time of the collision vary
from ten to thirty miles an hour.
HELPED OTHERS, THO HURT.
Martin O. johnson, Of Carver,
Mimi, who was one Of the pas
sengers in the smoking car where
the loss Of life was greatest, tells
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27

a thrilling story of his escape.
Johnson was on his way home to
spend Christmas with his family
at Carver. He is now at St.
Mary's hospital, but hopes to be
out soon. His hands were cut by
glars, and bones in the right an
kle are broken, yet hespent near
ly all Of the day yesterday help
ing others who were worse in
jured in the wreck.
Il do not know how it hap
,, pened," said Mr.. Johnson to a
in the smoker, about half way
back, before the accident. Then
the baggage came smashing thru
from the front, ripping up the
seats and crushing everything in
it's way. After the instant Of
confusion found myself crowd
ed against the roof of the car or
top of a tangled mass of broken
seats and mangled passengers.
It was terribly hot and my first
thought was of fire from the
stove or lamps. With my hand
l knocked the glass out OF one OF
the ventilators to let in the air
and to call for help.
EVERYBODY WORKED.
"As soon as Twas pulled out
went to work to help the badly
injured. Everybody worked.
There was a man in the seat with
me and l tried to find him. We
talked together Saturday even
ing, but l did not learn his name.
| knew he was with me in the
seat at the time of the accident,
but l could not find him after
ward. l do not think he vas
killed, but tho l went to all the
places where they had injured or
J dead, | could not find him, nor
did | see him on the streets any
where.
The doctors did everything
men could do. There we're two
!, doctors on the train and four
came from Enderlin. Others
we're called from Valley City and
other places. Men and women
who Wee not hurt or who were
Just slightly hurt, assisted the
doctors or worked in the wreck
looking for the dead and injured
The townspeople did all they
could do for US and we left fol
Minneapolis yesterday after
noon.
WRECK NEAR A CURVE.
The place where the accident
occurred is a bad one. There is
} a curve and down grade. 1t
was dark outside, and the fog
made it darker. Until we could
get lights, it was hard work to
do anything in the wreck. Ev.
erybody was afraid Of fire, and
those who were not hurt at once
} began to look for lamps anc
stoves that might cause trouble
Fortunately the fire in the smo
ker stove was out, or went out
The lights were Jared out, with
} one or two exceptions, and some
body extinguished those still
burning.
81 am thankful | got out alive
1t was a close shave. l don't
want to 60 thru another wreck
} Some OF the injured suffered ter
ribly, and their cries and shrieks
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27
only slightly damaged.


WHERE THE SLAUGHTER WAS.
When the engines struck the
baggage and smoking cars crash
ed together, and the upper parts
of both cars giving away, the
floor Of the baggage car swept
the seats and passengers in the
smoker toward the rear and COM
pressed them into a space Of
about six feet. It was here that
the lives were lost, and the great
est injuries sustained. The pas
sengers were piled in a great,
writhing mass, pinned under the
weight of the seats and those Of
the passengers who had been
forced toward the roof of the car
in the backward wave.
TWO OF ONE FAMILY DEAD.
A family consisting of a father,
mother, daughter, and son-in-law
all were passengers on the train.
The two men were in the smoker
and both were dead when taken
out. A 7-year-old boy found his
father among the dead and said
that he was now an orphan.
An old deaf mute had both
legs and one shoulder broken, but
he kept up his courage and smiled
as he wrote that he was thank
full that it was no worse.
HOTEL MADE A HOSPITAL.
The few in the smoker who es-
capped were the first to go to the
rescue of the victims. They
were soon reinforced by passen-
gers from the other cars, and
within about ten minutes citizens
and wagons began to arrive from
the town, and the injured were
conveyed to the local hospital
and hotel, which was immediate.
ly converted into an emergency
hospital. When the danger of
fire was removed by the extin-
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27
LIST or WRECK VICTIMS.

THE DEAD.
Charles Backus, Bergen, n. d.; body
sent to Map,e Lake, MINI.
H. Volkering, Anamoose, n. D.
!. John Satterburg, Anamoose, N. D.
Z Tony Glenn, Velva, N. D.; body to
Glencoe, MINI.
D.J. Beresford, Medicine Hat, Cana.
da.
T Herman Rosenbaum, Velva, N. D.
w. 4. Danielson, Sheldon, n. D.
Neils F. c.. Hanson, Kenmare.
Ole Thompson, Starbcck, Mimi.
Two unidentified mon.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27
CRASHED INTO STANDING ENGINE

CRASHED INTO STANDING ENGINE
Enderlin, N. D. Dec. 24.-Soo
line passenger train No. LOG was
wrecked at Enderlin yesterday
morning about 2::3O O'Clock. Eight
persons were killed outright and
others received fatal injuries.
Forty-one received more or less
serious injuries.
The accident occurred in the
yards here. the passenger train
clashing into a switch engine
which was standing on the main
line. Reports indicate that the
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27

were something awful. In some
cases it was necessary to cut
away woodwork to reach pas
sengers pinned down in the
wreck, but there were plenty OF
workers, and they all worked
hard and tast."
LIKE NEW PRAGUE WRECK
A. 3. Olson Of the rlght-of-way
department of the 500 line, who
was on the wrecked train at En-
derlin, has returned to Minneap-
oils. His description OF the
scene makes it appear that the
wreck was almost an Identical
reproduction of the recent New
Prague wreck, IN which the light
and unvestibuled smoking car
was telescoped when the crash
came, and other cars were not
injured to any extent. Mr.. Olson
was asleep, but was awakened by
the force of the impact. Hesays
that the passenger train was
going only about ten miles an
hour and that the tank trucks OF
the switching engine which the
passenger engine collided with
we're not even raised from the
rails.
Quick work was done in rescu4
ing the injured, getting out the
dead and in clearing the track.
Mr.. Olson says that Shaw, the
passenger train conductor, put
out the kerosene lights in the
baggage and smoking car imme-
diately as a precaution against
fire. The Nelson boys from Vel
va were thrown from one end OF
the damaged car to the other
but escaped with slight injuries.
BLAMEs FREIGHT CREW.
O. NJ. Young OF kensal, n. d.,
one OF the survivors OF the En-
derlin wreck, believes that the
awful accident was the result OF
terminal negligence on the part
OF the freight crew, combined
with a dense fog which made it
impossible for either of the engl-
,neers te see fifty yards ahead Oh
the track,
The accident occurred at 2:3O
in che morning" said MIR. Young
II was sleeping in a day coach
when there was an awful Jolt and
when l awoke the lights in the
car we're burning without shades
or chimneys, and broken glass
was scattered all over the car,
but on going to the door Imet a
brakeman who said that people
were hurt ahead, and help was
needed. Going up in front !
found the baggage car telescoped
with the smoker, and the dead
and injured were in the midst Of
the debris. Both engineers es-
capped with a few scratches.
= "On account of the Jog it is
easy to understand why the pas
senger engineer did not see the
approaching danger, but the
crew Of the freight must have
known that the passenger train
was due, altho the train was an
hour late
BROCKETT IS INJURED.
Among those injured in the
| Enderlin wreck was G. M. Brock
ett OF Minneapolis, MINI. He
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27
INJURED WHO RECEIVED
.r. FIRST MEDICAL ATTENTION

Villa m Sutton, Foley, MINI.
J.T. Miller, Minot, N. D.
Ed Carlson, Parkers Prairie. MINI.
Heinrich Swanson, Velva, N. d.
G. NJ. Brockett, 1926 Bryant avenue,
S, Minneapolis Madge Langland, De-
corah, Iowa.
Charles McDiarmid, Kenmare, N. D.
Henry Anderson, Bergen, N. D.
Jason Ralston, Balfour, N. D.
Minot J. Sweet, Alexandria, Mlnn.
l.. M. Larson, Starbuck, MINI.
H H. Cole, SIT west Central avenue
St. Paul.
Engineer Frank S, Barnes, Enderlin
N. D.; Swedish hospital, leg broken.
Harry Dizzard, brakeman, Enderlin.
L. A. Mandery, 9l5 .Minnehaha ave-
nue., Minneapolis.
SLIGHTLY INJURED.
Tony Plackteller, 1913 Oliver avenue
N, Minneapolis.
Joseph Labo, Buffalo, ninn.
H. H. Barker, Donnybrook, n. d.
Albert Fairbanks, Darlington, Nd.
u. Bolstad, Enderlin. N. D.
andrew Carlson, Annandale, MINI.
r. G. Ryan, Graceville, Mimi.
Walter Jensen, Velva, N. D.
Reuben Nelson, Velva, n. D.
Conrad Nelson, Velva, N. D.
A. Lind, Minot, N. D.
John Reinger, Sleepy Eye, MINI.
w. Westgard, Velva, N. D.
Charles Knickerbacher, Drake. N. u.
A. A. Crumweidy, Perley, N. ID.
John Magnuson, Bergen, N. D., 80,
E. L. Strubble, baggageman No. lOt
st. Paul.
Martin johnson, Carver, Mimi, at st
Mary's hos pital, feet bruised by seat.
John Kravig, Pennock, Mimi.
w. L. Sampbell, Kimball Prairie
Mlnn.
William Gradin, Benedict, MINI.
John German, Bow bells, N. d.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27

brakes of the switch engine had
not been working properly, and
while it was blocking the line a
brakeman had been sent back to
flag the passenger, which was
three hours late. The night was
foggy and as the passenger train
was on down grade, it got by
the signals. There is also a re-
port that the brakeman was a
new man and became panic
stricken when he saw there was
danger of a collision and dropped
his lantern. 4
CARS WERE TELESCOPED.
All the persons who were kill
ed and injured were in the smok-
ing car, which was telescoped by
the bsggage car. Most of the
dead were taken from the rear
end of the car.
There is small private hospi-
tai at Enderlin and the injured
were cared for there and at the
hotel. Physicians and nurses
were summoned from all the
nearby towns.
Passengers on the wrecked
train say there was hardly stand
ing room in the aisles, there
being an unusually heavy list on
account of the holidays.
EIGHT BODIES TAKEN OUT.
The work Of rescuing the
struggling victims pinned down
by the seats was commenced
promptly and within an hour
eight bodies had been removed.
OF the thirty-five or forty res
cued, three have since died in the
hospital and others are reported
dying. Terrible as the catastro-
phe was, it probably would have
been much worse but for the
presence of mind of one of the
men imprisoned in the wreckage.
He was directly below a lamp,
and with rare fortitude and pres
ence of mind he reached up and
succeeded in snuffing out the
light. His action, which left the
struggling victims in darkness,
called forth several protests at
first, but when the realization
came that he probably had saved
the cars from fire there was a
murmer Of appreciation from the
helpless sufferers.
] The train crashed into freight
Iengine standing on the main
| track in the yards about half
mile west of the station. The
freight engine was on the main
track headed toward the east,
when the passenger engine crash
ed into it.
SAVED BY JUMPING.
The engineers and fremen Of
both engines saw the danger in
time, and jumped, none of them
being injured. The mail clerk k
, and baggagemen were not seri-
ously injured. and none Of the
!, train crew was hurt. Both of
the engines were wrecked, but
none of the coaches except the
, mail and baggage cars left the
tracks. They were not overturn-
, ed but were hurled from the rails
/ by the shock. The brunt of the
, shock was taken up by the en-
gines and the baggage and smok-
!, ing ears, the other cars being
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27
WRECK DEATH LIST
MAY BE INCREASED

Four more names may be adj
ded to the list OF eleven persons
killed in the train wreck at En-.
derlin, N. D., according to an
unverified report to The 500
lines general offices in Mime
apOIis. Verificati0n of this re-
port would make the total dead
IA.
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27

The Anh History FIap
Linz its of Fourteen
Were Residents of No. Dakr and Two Were From k1mot
The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-12-27

NContinued on Page u. }
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
SELLS HALF INTEREST
J. I. Driggers Associated With J.F.
Riggs in the Riggs Misfit
Parlors

J. F. Riggs; proprietor Of the
Riggs Misht Clothing Parlor on 7nd
and Chickasha has sold half in
terest in the business to ]. T. Drig
gers, Of this city. The business
viii still be conducted under the
name of the Mistit Clothing Par
lor.
Mr.. Driggers, the new partner
is well known here as a successful
business man. Mr.. Riggs has had
a splendid business since his open
ing here few months ago and the
new firm will greatly enlarge their
business. Mr. Driggers invites his
friends to come and see him at bis
place Of business.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
WOODMEN At ALEX
Big Time Planned For August Second
Picnic on the River at the
New Bridge.

The camp Of Woodmen of the
World have made arrangements
for big time there on August end
There will be a grand basket pic.
mic on the river near the new
bridge. A very good program
will be carried out to entertain
the crowd. Amusements of Ell
kinds have been arranged for, base
ball, horse races, swings, merry
go-rounds, boating on the river
and other sports. There will also
be speaking by prospective candi-
dates.
The Woodmen of Alex know
how to entertain big crowd and
those who went last year will re-
member the good time they had
and will doubtless go again. Every
body is invited TO spend the day
with them.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
A YOUTH PLEADS GUILTY
To Lareeny-He Wants to &c to the
Reform School

Grover Anders a youth, plead
guilty to larceny before the grand
jury this morning and will probab-
ly be sent 10 the reform school as
he expressed a desire for a course
in the improvement of character
in that institution.
Grover had a roommate, Rudd
Harrison. and one morning Grover
and sIT.4o which Rudd had left in
his pocket were missing. The lad
was arrested and sweated BY the
police but no evidence could be
found against him and he was re-
leased. A few days later, the
Harrison boys pocket book was
found in his possession and It was
learned where he had been spend
ing money, He was re-arrested
aud taken before Judge Payne and
it was then that he decided to
make a confession before the grand
jury.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
HIS FIRST TIME ON SKATES
But He Says He Is Going to Try 4
Again if the Arnica snd Plaster
Don't Give Hrt
It was at the skating rink.

lie was above the average size,
weighed about $50 pounds He
stood watching the crowd gliding
around the floor and finally at the
suggestion of some friends that it
was easy" he procured a pair OF
skates.
After using up lot Of surplus
energy and incidentally whiting
collar and cuffs with the exertion
Of putting on his skates. he was a
Fat man, remember, he felt all the
confidence in the world in him
self.
He started to get on his feet,
but something connected with his
pedal extremities seemed 10 hurry
the thing along he was on his back
counting the electric lights in the
ceiling. A friend picked him up
but he would make no further at
tcmpts to get on the floor until af-
ter due deliberation and a careful
survey of the length Of the rink.
He then took a fresh start. but
the floor took a notion to take some
Of the coHceit out Of him and de-
liberately few up and hit him in
thd solar pIexus. In attempting to
rise he got top heavy, as was evil
denced by bump about the size Of
an apple over his eye. Il just seem
ed as il no power on earth could
fasten his feet to the floor. He de.
hberately, and with malice afore.
thought inveigled two gentlemen
to help him around; then the real
trouble began, They accused him
OF being a "piker" and an ''awk.
ward COW" and other choice cpl
thets. After he had brought tn
three of them down in a pile for
about the tenth time, his assistants
got disgusted and left him TO his
fate.
The gentleman was seen last
night after the rink closed getting
together a supply Of srnica and
bandages and declared that he was
game and was going to''get there"
if he had to undergo the process
Of skin grating after it was over.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
SETS THEM TO TALKING
Politicians Discuss Judge Stewart :
Announcement Only Furman
now out

Muskogee, Okla. July 1.-THE
announcement of Judge C.E. Stew.
art Of McAlester that he will not
be candidate for the United States
senate when the first legislature Of
the new state meets, has set the
politicians to talking. 1t was gen.
orally understood, that he would bc
a candidate. and he is one Of the
strongest democrats and ablest men
in the territory. It is believed that
he could have secured the nomina-
ton above any other democrat had
il not been for his railroad afilia.
tions, and the effect Of this Of
course was problematical. This
leaves Henry h. Furman of Ada
the only candidate who has admit
ted that he will be in the running.
It is understood that Furman and
Bob Williams, present national
committeeman, have formed a com.
binstion, Furman for senator and
Williams for governor, and they
viii endeavor to land both places
through the heavy democratic
strength Of the choctaw and Chick
asaw netions. This apparant CON-
bination IS causing the politicians
to take notice.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
LAST YEAR RECORD SHOWED THE
HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION In
MANY YEARS
is VERY LITTLE BELOW IOWA
Average for Thirteen Years was over
Thirty Inches. Some Interesting
Figures

Guthrie, Okla July II.-Some
interesting facts are revealed by an
official statement recently compiled
from the war department records
at Fort Sill inregard TO the rain
fall in Oklahoma, and its increase
since the country was settled up.
The statement gives the precipita-
tion for every month from 1899 to
1905 inclusive.
Comparing the two years at the
extremes of the period covered, the
report shows the rainfall for 1905
10 have been 42.S8 inches, as COM
pared with 20. 20 inches in 1880,
the year Oklahoma was opened to
settlement. There have been only
two years out Of the eighteen
covered by the report when the
rainfall exceeded that of last year.
In 1899 the total was Asst inches
and in 1902 the record rainfall for
the twelve months was 47.so ir
ches.
A comparison is also made with
the official rainfall report for Iowa
for the thirteen years from 1890 to
1909 inclusive, which shows that
in no year during that period did
the Iowa rainfalIexceed 54.IS in
ches, except 10 1902. when ii was
42.s7. That year was also the re-
cord breaker for Oklahoma. The
average annual precipation in Iowa
for the thirteen years was 3I.Is in
ches and in Oklahoma so.s4 inches
showing Oklahoma's average TO be
oaiy .o4 inches behind Iowa.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12

taken up at the next meeting. AT
that time the subject will be dis
eussed pro and con,
A large number Of new mem
bers were added to the roll, after
which the club adjourned till the
regular meeting on the first Mon
day in August.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12
ADOPTED CONSTITUTION AND BY
LAWS AND PERFECTED THE
ORGANIZATION.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Working Committees are Appointed
The Club is a Lively
YOugster

The second meeting OF the de.
mocratic club took place at the
court house last night, a-good
crowd of democratic pushers being
present. But a week Old, the clut
has already demonstrated that it is
a lively infant aud gives promise
Of becoming one Of the banner
clubs OF the new state.
The most important work of the
club last night was the adoption oi
constitution and bylaws. Through
its chairman, Alger Melton, the
committee appointed at the previous
meeting reported and with a few
minor changes the instrument was
adopted as read. The "chickash a
Democratic Club" was the name
selected and all male citizens who
have arrived at the age of eighteen
and who receive their mail at Chick
asha, who believe in the principles
of the democratic party and are
willing to abide by the will Of the
majority" are eligible to member
ship. 0fhcers are to be elected an-
nually and regular meetings are to
Be held on the first Monday In each
month. with special meetings when
II IS deemed necessary.
After the constitution had been
adopted. the club proceeded to elect
the additional officers provided for
Emmett Goodwin was elected SER
geant at arms and the following
were elected to constitute the ex-
ecutive committee, with the presi-
dent and secretary: B. B.Barefoot
w. L. Beavers and J. +. Bishop.
President Williams announced
the appointment of the following
committees:
Membership;-Will Atkins. Geo.
Ladd, Jas. Hill, NJ. B. Louthau.
Joe Dews.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Cloud, S.
]. Craddock. w. NJ. Edwards. ].
+. Bishop, +. E. Riddle. It is the
duty Of this committee to arrange
programs for meetings select
speakers etc.
On motion Of S. w. Hayes the
chair appointed a committee Of FIVE
toeommunicate with representative
citizens of the nineteenth record
ing district, requesting them to
meet Judge Clayton here, July y,
10 confer with him in regard to dis
tTicting for delegates 10 the con.
stitutional convention. 5. W. Hays.
Alges Melton, R, L. Richards, W.
A. Hopkins, and Geo. w. Bare
foot were selected.
The committee on place Of meet
ing made a report thrdhgh its
chairman, DR.. Riddle, recommend
ing that the court house be select.
ed and the report was odopted.
Robert Burns offered resolution
that it the sense Of the club that
in the formation of the constitu.
ton Of the new state, a provision
should be embodied granting the
right TO legislate by the initiative
and referendum, as means Of
more effectively and completely
placing governmental power in the
hands Of the whole people" Inl
introducing his resolution, nr.
Burns stated that he offered il for
discussion and requested that II be
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12

Joe NJ. Loudon, who travels in
the interest Of the Knights ofPythias
was in the city Saturday.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-12

Engine number SIS was turned
out at the shops yesterday after
being overhauled.