The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-29

Cotton, Cal, March 2S.-A disastrous wreck on the Southern Pacific occurred one and a half miles east of this town shortly after o'clock this afternoon when west bound train No. from New Orleans for San Francisco ran into an open switch while going at the rate of forty miles an hour, and ten of the four- teen coaches were derailed. Twenty-six people are known to have been killed and the list will total much higher. The in- iured number about 100, many of whom will die.
 The wrecked coaches were hurled in every in every direction. Four of them were smashed into splinters. Most of the dead were Italians from New York and New Orleans They occupied the smoker and day coach.
 The dead were terribly mangled. Eigh- teen were taken to Cotton by o'clock, and eight additional bodies could be seen underneath one of the overturned cars. This car could not be raised until derrick was brought from Los Angeles, sixty miles away.
 The injured weer carried to this city in vehicles of all sorts, and the Cotton hospital was quickly filled to it's capacity. Many were then taken to the Presby- terian church and many private resi- dences.
 But two Americans are known to have been killed, although several of those among the injured will probably die.
 George l.. Sharp of Muncie Ind, was instantly killed. The baggageman of the train, whose name had not been aseer- talned was also killed. Engineer Clar- ence Wormington and Fireman Victor Crebb both jumped and were caught in the weckage. They were both terribly burned and scalded.
 out of about eighty Pullman passengers there were but two who sustained seri- ous injury. The three Pullman coaches and the diner which, which were in the rear of the train, did not leave the track. The occupants of these cars were prac- tleally unharmed. The Florence Roberts Theatrical company occupied one coach. which was hurled from the track. and both ends crushed in by impact against the others. But two members of the com- pany out of a total of twenty-two peo- pie were injured.
 Miss Roberts herself escaped unhurt. The escape from death of the occupants of this car was remarkable, considering the manner in which the coach was splin- tered and torn 10 pieces. The men and women were hurled from one end Of the car to the other.
 There were three tracks where the &C., cident occurred which is in the open country. The people of Coton were first to be notified of the catastrophe Hun dreds of people hurried to the scene of the wreck. Physicians and nurses were brought from San Bernardino and Col ton and ministercd to the Injured.
 Left Switch Open.
 The deralment of the train was caused by the crew of a switch engine leaving a switch open at this point. It is said that the engine passed through the switch few minutes before the overland appeared switchman named Morrison was in the yard. After the switch en- zine had passed to another track the engineer asked the fireman if he had thrown the switch. The fireman recalled that he had neglected to do so, and the engineer whistled frantically for Morrison to close it. The signal was not given in time as Morrison did not reach the switch before the overland had plunged through and had been derailed.
 The train. which was due in Los An geles at 7:30, was nearly twelve hours be- hind, and was running at a high rate of speed. There was absolutely no warming of the catastrophe. The engineer saw the signal when only short distance away. and had time to sound whistle or warning, much less to reverse the throt-
 
 fireman to jump. and both leaped wildly from opposite sides of the engine. The engine left the track turned over on it's side and plowed a great distance along the right of way.
 Escape From Fire.
 The wreckage of the day coaches and smoker filled with the bodies of the dead and injured were hurled all around. Help less passengers imprisoned in the wreck age called frantically for help. By miracle the train was not set afire.
 Three of the passengers who escaped in- fury set about the work of rescue. Dozens were pulled and lifted from the Wreckage and laid beside the track until vehicles arrived to convey them to the hospitals. Members of the theatrical com pany aided nobly in the work of rescue. Men and women alike cared for the in jured.
 Plush seats were taken from the coaches and bedding from the Pullman cars, and the roadside was converted into tempor- ary hospital. Several of those taken from the wreekage expired before conveyances could be had to carry them to Colton. It was half an hour before any medical aid could be secured.
 The wrecked train Is the regular Sun set express. leaving New Orleans daily This train left the latter city at 11:5o .. III. Monday.