Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-03-29
men IMPALED
ON WRECKACE
Sunset Limited DitChed by
, Running Into Open
Switch

COTTON, Cal, March 29-As a !
result of the disastrous wreck of the
west bound Southern Pacific Sunset
Express late yesterday afternoon, 25
bodies lie today in the local under
taking establishment.
Eight terribly injured passengers
are in the Cotton hospital. There are
more than SO others whose hurts are
less serious. They have been taken
| to Los Angeles on special trains.
The exact cause of the wreck can
not be determined until the coron-
| er's inquest is concluded.
The train was running 40 miles an
hour when it struck an open switch.
The Southern Pacific trains are
still blockaded
Dead Terribly Mangled.
COTTON, Cal, March 29.-One of
the most disastrous wrecks in the his
tory of the Southern Pacific railway
occurred shortly after o'clock yes
terday afternoon one and one-half
miles east of town when west bound
train No. from New Orleans for
San Francisco ran into an open
switch while going at the rate of 40
miles an hour and ten of the IA
codCHeS were ueIdllSu VIII ITlSnlIuI
results.
The injured number about 100,
many of whom are seriously injured
/ and will die.
The wrecked coaches were hurled
in every direction. Four of them
3 were smashed into splnters. Most OF
: the dead were Italians from New
: York and New orleans going to Sar
: Francisco. They occupied the smok
2 er and day coaches
: The dead were terribly maime'
= and mangled,
70 Florence Roberts in Wreck.
n The Florence Roberts Theatres
ty company occupied one coach whic
was hurled from the track and bot
.e ends .of it crushed in by the impac
ps against the others.
J. But two members of Miss Robert
IN company out Of a total of 22 peop
ed were injured. Miss Roberts herse
n, escaped entirely unscathed. The
he cape from death of those on the c;
of was remarkable, considering Il
manner in which the coach was spill
rs tered and torn to pieces.
of The men and women were hurl'
lg from one end of the car to the otht
tn Leave Swith Omen.
to The derailment of the train w
caused by the crew of a switch e
est gine leaving a switch open at Il
he point. 1t is said that the engi
lie. passed through the switch a I
for moments before the overland a
ion reared. A switchman named Nj
the rison was in the yard.
en- After the switch engine had pa
ed on to another track, the engin
tty asked the fireman if he had thro
ter the switch. The fireman recall
ork that he had neglected to do so
old tne engineer whistled franticaly
ere Morrison to close 1t.
+. The signal was not given in Il
as Morrison did not reach the swi
rks- before the Overland had plum
OBJ through and been derailed.
lore Had No Warming.
and The train which was due in
iver ! Angeles at 1880 a. m. was nearly
the hours behind time. At the time
the disaster. it was running at
mu- rate of speed to make up for
ap- time. There was absolutely no w
ino of tne impending catastrophe
noon The engineer saw the signal of
|
n in tant from it and had no time 10 SC
inner even a whistle of warming much
The to reverse the throttle or set
t lot brakes. He called to his hrema
lump and they both leaped
from opposite sides of the engir
The engine left the track, tu
over on its side and plowed
distance along the right of way.
Bodies Cut and Torn.
The italians in the day coach
IPA smoker met a horrible fate. w
IN without warning came the II
ASS and three of the cars were
completely telescoped and hurl
one side.
The helpless passengers were
'Ihree ribly torn and cut to pieces.
e felt came to a score Of them instan
morn Many were dismembered an
paired upon pieces of the wre'