The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-23
SLID INTO RIVER
The Pennsylvania 1S-HOur New
York to Chicago Train
Slips Down . 6O-Foot Embark
ment Near JOhnstOwn.
EVERYBODY INJURED.
Rounding a Curve at so Miles
an Hour.
Brake Rigging Dropped ana
Tore Up the Rails.
PULLMANS LEFT TRACK
A humber of Prominent Chicago
People We're Hurt.
Postmaster F.A.Bussc Is Among
the Injured.
Rounding Curve at so Miles
an Hour.
Brake Rigging Dropped ana
Tore Up the Rails.
PULLMANS LEFT TRACK
A Humber of Prominent Chicago
People We're Hurt.
Postmaster IA. Bussc Is Among
the Injured.


Johnstown. Pa. Feb 23.-The Penn
sylvania special, the fast IS hour tran
on the Pennsylvania railroad between
New York and Chicago, was wrecked
at Black Diamond, Pa, seven miles
east of Johnstown shortly after mid
night From 40 TO so persons were
injured and u are reported as missing
Many prominent Chicagoans were on
the train all of whom were seriously
injured. Among those were F. A: Bussei
postmaster of Chicago; Samuel r MY
on of Nixon & Zimmerman, theatres
proprietors; NJ. a. Singer, manager La
Sale theater. Chicago; Lightner Hen
derson, a civil engineer; George ,.
Wood. manager Colonial theater chi
cago; and J. J. Kern, ex-states attor-
ney of Chicago.
The train was running about so miles
an hour and was 81 minutes late
When rounding a sharp curve at Black
Diamond the whole train swayed- The
engine and smoking car remained on
the tracks. but the Pullman coaches
left the rails and plunged over 90
foot embankment. All attempts to OBJ
tain information from the railroad Of
ficials were met with rebuffs at every
hand and at an early hour To-Day,
while it was reported that 81 passen-
gers were on the train when it left
Altoona, only 20 Were said to have
been accounted for. 1t is believed that
the missing are dead in the wreckage
ed over an embanllInent near the scene
of the Johnstown food
At an early hour this morning this
city was practically besieged by news
paper men on their way to the wreck.
Trains were few and to reach the scene
it was necessary to take a ten mile
journey four or more hours around the
mountain From the scene it was
going west. The engineer was trying
TO make up lost time.
The wreck was caused by what is
termed by railroad men an unavofd-
able accident. The brake rigging on
the first Pullman following the COM
bination coach on the train dropped
distance of goo yards. The engine and
combination coach did not leave the
rails, but the four Pullmans follow
ing ploughed down over the embank-
lnent to the river bank 100 feet below,
overturning when they reached the bot
tom.
The eighteen hours train" travels
ct a high rate of speed. coming down
the mountain. When the brake rig
gipg fell it either stripped the heads
off the bolts holding the rails to the
ties or tore up the rails themselves.
Rails Torn Up.
Every rail for the distance mention
ed was torn up. The four Pullman
coaches tore down over the bank. The
speed at which the trains was travel
ing when it left the rails was terrific.
There is a curve about where the
first rail was loOsened. The cars did
not overturn going down the steep hill.
There were no trees or Instructions in |
the way to hinder them and they re-
manned upright until they reached the |
bottom. The first car overturned and !
slid along on its side for quite dis
lance. The second car did likewise. |
The third car turned over completely |
and had its top crushed in. The !
fourth car is on its side. Most of the |
passengers on the train were in their |
berths when the cars left the track !
to ascertain the accurate |
and definite casualty list of the wreck |
have thus far been hampered by the |
railroad officials.
The Injured.
Pittsburg. Feb. 23.-Following Is a |
correct LIST of those injured as gather
ed by the Pennsylvania railroad:
]. Wood Wilson. Marion. Ind
Frederick A. Busse, Chicago. post
master.
Samuel F. Nixon. New York, of
Nixon & Zimmerman, theatrical pro-
Felix Isman. Philadelphia, rea.
estate dealer.
Mrs. L. Miller, Lexington hotel, Chi
cago.
c B. Coates. Chicago.
P E. Ferguson, ST Louis
James BlakeIey. colored, New York |
Charles Dickinson. Chicago.
Mrs. H. Sanborn Smith. Troy, N. Y.
Theodore Douglass. New York
H. S. Beardsley. New York
H. s Piepintrink, Joliet. Ill.
Alfred r. Urion. attorney, Chicago.
H. Tyree, Salt Lake city.
Rev. Edgar Cape. philadelphia.
w. o. Duntley. Chicago.
Frank l.. Brown. chicago.
z. ]. Murphy, joliet, III.
Mrs. Carl K. FrancoH, and 9 year
old daughter Margaret Tacoma. Wash.
Mrs G. s. Garnet, jersey City, N J.
w r. Beall and wifi. Redding. Car.
w. E Virts. Pullman conductor
6 w. Prince, ChicaSo.
Frank A. O'Neil. Chicago.
Charles S. Knight. jr. assistant sales
American Stea & Wire COM
pany. Chicago.
]. r. S. Mcleod. Brooklyn. II
D. w. Wisin. Chicago,
A. E Berts, Jersey City.
A.W. Macarthur, Railway, n. ].
NJ. c. Harrison, Pittsburt.
w H. Freeman, Brooklyn.
E c. Guets. FIT. Scott.
Mr.. Leo A. Loeb and wife, Chicago. |
Miss Irva Rotchilds. Chitago.
Miss Beatria Rosenberg, Chicago.
Thomas Baurer, Lafayette, Ind.
John P Kline. Joliet. III.
George s. Wood. Chicago.