Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-11-17
IL DEAD In
BURNING WRECK
Immigrant Train Takes Fire After
Collision With Freight
45 BODIES WERE CREMATED

Chicago Nov. 13.-More than one
half the passengers on an immigrant
train on the Baltimore g. Ohio road
were killed and injured in a collision
between the passenger train and a
freight near Woodville. Ind.
One hundred and sixty-dve passen-
gers were on the train. or these 81
were either killed outright or were
burned 10 death ia a Gre that broke
out in the wreckage Immediately after
the collision. The names of all OF the
dead will probably never be known
as 45 of the bodies were consumed in
the flames or were so badly burned
that Identification will be out OF the
question.
Thirty-oight people were injured. anG
several of these will die Eighty 9th
ers escaped unhurt. but lost nearly all
their baggage and clothing.
The disaster was caused by a blum.
der OF some employee OF the railroad
company but just where the blame
lies has not as yet been determined
The passenger train. which was load.
ed with Russian Jews. Servians and
Poles. an OF them recent arrivals in
this country. and bound for Chicago
OF places in the northwest was the
second section OF a through train from
baltimore
light snow was falling. and as the
freight was rounding a sharp curve
just west OF Woodville the second sec
ton of the immigrant train came in
sight short distance away. tearing
toward Chicago at the rate OF 40 miles
an hour. The two trains came togeth.
or with unslackoned speed. and in the
crash six passenger coaches and sew
eral freight cars were knocked into
kindling wood. and. together with the
locomotives. went rolling down the 10
foot embankment
FIRE broke out almost immediately
In the wreckage. and although a mum.
her Of the injured were saved by the
desperate efforts of the train crew
and surviving passengers. the greater
part OF those who were pinned down
IN the debris were burned 70 death.
The flames spread through the wreck.
age SO rapidly that IL was impossible
10 save number of people who were
only slightly hurt. bat were held fast
by umbers that weighted them down.
These were burned in plain sight OF
the throng that stood around the scene
OF the disaster. utterly unable 10 lend
assistance in any way. The fire con.
unued until all of the shattered cars
were entirely consumed. and OF the A.
people whose death followed the COLI
sion. 45 We're burned TO ashes. All OF
the six cars OF the immigrant train
were burned. as were three freight.
cars.
The depot in Chicago was crowded
with men and women who had come
TO this country 10 escape the massa.
ores IN Russia. and who. after months
OF hard work. had saved enough to-
pay the passage OF members of their
families. and their grief. when thew
became aware that possibly all their
sacrifice and EFFORT had resulted only
in the death Of those whom thew had|
sought to bring TO them, was pitifrI
Crowds Of Russians and Poles waited
aroung the depot all day for news
from Woodville, and when a train
came in bearing the SS injured par
sons, all Of whom were taken To Mercy
hospital for treatment, IL was with the
greatest difficulty that the police were
able TO open a passageway for the
wounded