New-York tribune., 1907-01-20
WRECK VICTIMS BURN.
SIXTEEN THOUGHT DEAD.
Cars Catch Fire After Collision in
Fog on Big -Four.

Fowler. Ind. Jan. I9-At least sixteen per-
sons were crushed or burned 20 death here early
to-day in a collision between freight train
and the Cleveland. Cincinnati Chicago & st.
Louis Queen City flyer. which left Chicago last
night. Ten persons seriously injured and
several more slightly hurt
The passenger train was running fifty miles
an hour and consisted OF a combination coach.
three sleeping and Big Four private car.
occupied by Mrs. c. f. Schaif. wife OF the vice.
president of the railroad. The train de-
stroyed by fire. except the private and one
sleeping car. Seven OF the dead have been
identified. Eleven Of the victims were burned
to death in the combination coach. and only two
Of these have been identified.
The crash OF the wreck awakened nearly every
person in Fowler Among the first to reach the
wreck were the County Recorder and the County
Auditor who procured axes and saws end be-
fore the flames reached the sleeping began
the work OF rescue. They worked their way
into the mass Of wrecksge caused by the tender
and the combination coach. -Four bodies were
seen protrudmg from among the broken seats.
John Meyer. of New York, was rescued when
the fire within fes feet of him and he
was begging some one TO shoot him. His leg
was broken.
Il is probable the exact number OF victims will
never lie known. Railroad officers OF whom
there were several on the train, said there were
not more than fifteen passengers in the COM
bination coach. but passengers say there were
nearly thirty persons in that car. If this be
true. the death list may reach twenty-five per
sons
With one exception, every member of the pas
EenEer train crew was killed. The known cas-
ualties are:
HARRIS " p lnd3napOlis ana died in Emsrssnoy Hos
HTDDINGER / H.. indianapolis conductor Of passen-
MAGEE l. H, basEasemaster. indianapolis
q A. o.P Ind died on way to
ol.CoTr Henry z, Cincinnati. fireman OF passenger
Price s9' oas; osy 9f 5sfass Cal E" route
PRICE, Mrs. Henry A
jumped ad SRs h. f2sn6s dosneG d IN poo s
side tracks; condition serious
Ta5 slightly GaP ind4aip0' n{a1ad engineer Of freight
eRsE snES MpG5 ..Ps2 Sa, ,1 Of freight
LINK H w Hastings. Mich; seriously but fatally
LANG. L F. Chicago: slightly hurt,
street, New York: left leg slightly injured
RARNEs. F. c. l. Cincinnati: slightly bruised
DOUGLASS. s. A Freeport. III
MEYER. John. New York leg broken
The passenger train, in a heavy fog ran by
Geographic block signal which called for stop.
The red light was not obeyed. 1t was probably
obscured by the fog The locomotive was teIe-
scoped with the combination coach making
mass OF wreokage. under which the passengers
in the cars were wedged. Seats were hurled
through the roof and Goals from the hrebox set
the debris in flames
There were many instances of presence Of
mind and heroism among the passengers who
were uninjured. Mrs. Schar gave her car TO the
injured, five of whom she later took in the car
10 Kankakee. She was taken with them to
hospital and after seeing to their wants was
able 10 continue her journey to Cincinnati
The train was running fifty miles an hour
when the accident occurred, and the tender
Of the passenger engine was driven the en-
tire length OF the combination car. in which
were from fifteen to twenty-five passengers All
the dead and injured We're taken from the
wneckage OF this car. none OF the passengers in
the sleepers having been hurt. Soon after the
collision the wreck caught fire from the engine
Goals.
Paul D. Harris. attorney. OF Chicago. who
was his way Florida, was far
known. the only person 10 escape from the com
bnation car. He reached Lafayette on another
train. and reported that the dead and injured,
fast they drawn from the wreckage,
were placed in the first sleeper. This car caught
fire, and the victims hastily removed TO the
next The fire also spread 10 this and II
became necessary again 10 transfer the dead
and injured. this time 10 Vice President Schaf"s
private car. in which they were taken to Kan
kakee. III. one passenger was pinned under
some Of the wreckage and burned to death.
One man. who was rescued when the fame.
were within six feet or him. and another man,
who thrown out OF the window Of the
smoker, into ditch. were the only passengers
rescued from the smoker
coroner Fomley ana Prosecuting Attorney
Han VIII make an investigation Of the wreck.