Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-29
Train on Southern Pacific
Runs Into Open Switch.
One Hundred Are Injured, Many
Of Whom May Die.
A New 0rIeans.'Frisco Train De.
rallied Near Cotton, Cal.

Cotton, Cal, March ga disastrous
wreck on the Southern Pacific occurred
one and Il half miles east of here late
this afternoon, when westbound train
No. from New Orleans for San Fran
cisco ran into an open switch While go
ing at the rate of 40 miles an hour. Ten
of the IA coaches were derailed. Twen-
ty-six persons are known to have been
killed anl the final list will probably
total much higher. The injured number
about 100, many of whom may die.
The wrecked coaches We're hurled in
every direction and four were smashed
into splinters. Most of the dead were
Italians from New York and New Or
leans, going to San Francisco. They oc-
cupied the smoker and day coaches.
The bodies of the dead were terribly
manned. Eighteen bodies were brought
to Cotton this evening and eight addi-
ticnal could be seen underneath one of
the demolished cars. This car could not
be raised until a derrick was brought
from Los Angeles. 60 miles away.
The injured were carried to this city
in vehicles Of Ill sorts and the Cotton
hospital vas quickly filled to its ca
pacity. Many were then taken to the
Presbyterian church and to private
residences.
But two Americans are known -
have been killed, although several of
| them among the injured undoubtedly
will die within the next few hours.
George L. Sharp of Muncie, Ind.
was instantly killed. The baggageman
of the train, whose name has not been
ascertained also was killed. Engineer
Clarence C. Wormington and Fireman
Victor Crebb jumped but failed to get
| clear. were caught in the wreckage,
and terribly burned.
Of about 80 Pullman passengers only
two sustained serious injuries.
| The three Pullman coaches and the
| diner which were on the rear Of the
| train did not leave the track. The oc-
| curants of these cars were practically
| unframed.
The Florence Roberts Theatrical Co.,
| occupied one coach, which was hurled
| from the tracks and both ends of 1T
crushed in by impact against the 9TH
| ers Two of the 90 members of the COM
| pany were injured. Miss Roberts escap-
| ed unhurt. The escape from death OF
| the occupants of this car was remark
| able, considering the manner in which
the coaches were splintered and torn.
| The men and women were hurled from
one end Of the car to the other.
There We're three tracks where the
| accident occurred which is in the open
country The people of Cotton were first
to be notified of the catastrophe. Hun
dreds hurried to the scene and physl-
clans and nurses were brought from,
San Bernarliro ard Cotton.
The accident was caused by the crew
| Of a switch engine leaving a switch
| opon, It is said that the engine passed
through the switch a few minutes be-
fore the Overland appeared. After the
switch engine had passed the engineer
asked the fireman if he had
thrown the switch. The fire.
man recalled that he had neg
lected to do so and the engineer whis-
tied frantically for the yard switchman
to close it, The latter failed to reach
the switch before the Overland had
plunged through it.
The engineer saw the signal for the
open switch when but a few rods from
it and had no time to set the brakes
He called to his fireman to jump and
they leaped as the engine left the track
turned over on it's side and plowed
along the right Of way.
The Italians in the day coach anc
smoking car met a horrible fate. The
three foremost cars were telescoped ant
hurled to one side and the occupants
torn to pieces. Many were dismembered
and impaled on pieces Of wreckage.