Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-03
IS Meet Death
In Collision,

persons, all Mcxieans but three, were
killed, SIS persons were injured and
bodies Of 20 Mexicans were inciner-
ated early today in head on
collision Of two passenger trains Of the
Chicago, Rock island and Pacific Rail-
road near volIand. The wreck occur.
red while both trains were running
slowly on a curve in a cut where the
grade was steep. All the killed were
in the southbound train except tramp
who was on the baggage car Of The
northbound train. This tramp, negro
porter and a workman accompanying
a gang OF 80 Mexicans were the only
Americans killed so far as known, al
though passenger says that woman
and a child were burned in a tourist
car.
There were 50 Mexicans and five
Americans, composing a gang OF rail-
road workers, in the smoking car of
the south-bound train. OF these 80 Mex
leans were burned in the wreckage and
two died later.
Most of the injuries were due to the
every passenger in the south-bond
train was thrown to the car floor by
the quick setting Of the brakes. The
orth-bound train was running 10 miles
an hour up grade. The Mexicans were
pinioEed under the seats and the doors
were damned SO they could not get out.
In the chair car also many passengers
were held down by the seats.
The train caught fire from the gas
tanks, which were broken. The passen-
gers in the rear cars escaped in night
clothes and dressed in the mud be-
side the tracks. Then came the cries
for help among the Mexicans in the
smoking car and the people pinioned
fast in the chair car. Every man and
every woman on the train worked to
rescue the unfortunates, but the flames
soon became too hot to permit of APP
preaching the cars.
The injured were rescued from the
chair car with less difficulty and APP
parertiy all We're rescued alive from
these cars. However. some of the pas
sengers declare that a woman and
little girl were burned in a chair car
William Cane, conductor of the
south bound train, has broken col
lar bone and is much bruised about
the face. He said:
"The train was just pulling clear OF
the Voiland yards and was travelling
about 90 miles an hour. I dropped into
the front seat of the smoker and dozed
",Ihcre were 80 MeXicans sitting two
in a seat back of me, also AL Link, an
interpreter. a foreman and five paid
fares. was awakened by the setting
of the brakes I jumped head first out
of the window and struck on my
shoulder.
when l turned and looked at the
train I saw flames leaping 90 1ee'
high from the smoker"
The foremost. tourist sleeping car OF
| the south-bound train also burned. but
all tn, occupants escaped serious in
jury.
| John Lyons, is years old, telegraph
operator at Volland, who let the south
bound train get by his station. where
| it was to pass the north-bound, tonight
gave the following statement before be-
| ing taken to Jail.
Il bad been awake all night and was
SOBER At about 4 or o'clock this morn
| ing TIC dispatcher gave me four or
dcrs: one was for the SOuth-bOun0
train to meet two trains at Volland IN
stead of at Altavista as previously ar
ranged. The south-bound train headec
into a switch and let one train pass
| backed out of the switch and headed
down the main line without waiting
! for the other train. l thought 1t was
going to stop to take water, as trains
have been doing, but instead 1t went
by at about 10 miles an hour. The
south bound signal was at danger.
according to the lever in the office. but
| the train did not stop and l ran ou'
with my lantern. but with two swings
across the track it went out. l ther
run to the pump house grabbing the
bumpers lantern, waved 1t a re"
| times and it also went out. also called
the pumpcr, telling him what had hap
pcned. I went back and told the dis
hatcher that the suuth-bound train was
by and we waited to see If it was 60
| ing to come back or hit the north
bound. l told the dispatcher that | was
coming to Topeka and was trying tt
get there when arrested"