The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-22
Somebody Removed the Fish
Plates and Bolts.
Then Pulled Rails Apart With
Wire When Train Came.
ONE MAN WAS KILLED
Twenty-Five Persons Injured,
Three Probably Fatally.
Cars Rolled Off a Trestle and
Dropped Is Feet.

Los Angeles, Cal, May 22.-Train No.
2. one of the Southern Pacific coast
flyers, due at o'clock last night, was
wrecked at West Glendale, ten miles
north of here, at 1890 o'clock this
morning. The wreck was the deliber-
ate work of train wreckers. One man
was killed and % persons injured, three
probably fatally.
In accomplishing the wreck of the
train which was the shore line limited,
a develish ingenuity had been exercised.
At point on a trestle over the Arroyo
Seco, the fish plates and bolts of two
connecting rails on the southbound
track had been removed and in the
apertures whence the bolts were taken
strands of heavy wire were fastened at
the end of each rail- From the ap-
pearance of the track after the wreck
it was evident that some person hidden
on hillside close to the trestle had
pulled the wire as the train approach
ed and spread the rails out toward the
edge of the trestle.
The train, three hours late, was trav-
cling at 35 or 40 miles an hour. The
engine wheels were first to leave the
rails and the engine took to the ties,
travelling nearly 100 yards before it
was brought to a standstill The ten
mail and baggage cars plunged over
the edge of the trestle, falling a dis
tance of 16 feet. The buffet car, the
express car and one of the Pullmans
were turned upside down and the 9TH
ers landed on their sides. All were
badly crushed and splintered.
The man killed was T. j. Mcmahon,
of Santa Barbara. member of the
lieved to have been stealing a ride on
the baggage car and had as his COM
panion, Frank Naylor. a l5-year-old
boy from Santa Barbara. who was IA
tally injured.
Among the others injured were:
T. II. Young. Oakland, porter; cut
about head; hip dislocated.
Mrs. Shidlea, Los Angeles, injured in
ternalIy; will probably die.
Mrs. Rose F'etterman, Cleveland, arm
broken, decorations of scalp and mead,
injuries; probably will die.
Miss Fern Opdyke, Pittsburg, Pa, in
jured internally, scalp cut.
A. G. Young, Marshall, Mo-, cut about
head and face, arm broken.
w. S. Stitt, Los Angeles, scalp cut,
internal injuries.
William Love, Pullman porter, face
cut, injured internally; will probably
die.
c. H. Robbins. Los Angeles, head cut,
injured internally.
And a number Of others signify cut
and bruised.
car remained on the track The rail-
crushed and damaged several of the
cars arI it was in the grinding crash
that the passengers were hurt
AS soon as possible the untnJured
trainmen and passengers scrambled
down the steep bank to the overturn-
and doors forced with axes wleldeo
from within and without. the trlght-
ened passengers emerged, While from
the darkened interiors came the
groans and cries of the injured. News
of the wreck was received in this city
shortly after it occurred and relief
train carrying several physicians start
ed for the scene.
men made an examination of the track
in order to determine if possible the
reason of the derailment. Under the
first coach. which remained on the
t,- rack was found the 1oosened rails
with the wires securely fastened
through the bolt holes and the ends
uniting in a single strand that LED INTO
the brush on the hillside.
,,ineer Charles McCairn and Fireman
W. w. McGregor, remained apoaro lle
engine and escaped un1nJureo. ooIl.
ductor Blushington ana Braheillai1
IIiggins were also among those VINO
RE injured were brought to this T
citv shortly after 8 o'clock on traIl l
No %. the Coaster" which 1oilo"eu
At the Southern Pacific general of,
Aces in this city notices were posted
his morning offering 100000 for the
! IL L!..s+ md conviction of the party or
oarties Who were responsible for the
wreck. The officials announced that
they had no clew whatever
Mrs. Frederick w Schon OF fhlla-
5aInbia Dresident of the mothers con-
press which recently adjourned in this
sity. was a passenger on the wrecked
rain with Mrs Edwin c. Grice, OF Pnll-
adelphia, who also had been delegate
10 the congress. Both were taken TO the
1o+eI Resides being badly shaken up
Mrs. schoff and Mrs. Grice are reported