Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24


the engineer and fireman of the special
train.
Four men were killed and a score in-
jured by collision between the Over.
land limited on the Santa Fe and n
special from Claremont carrying the
students from the local colleges and
high schools who had been at that
place during the day attending the
field meet.
The collision occurred near the
Buena Vista street bridge at 1903
o'clock last night. Both trains were on
| time. The special had the right of way,
as instructions had been given the en-
gineer of the Overland to wait at tho
tower around the curve and 200 yards
from where the collision occurred. Had
the engineer followed these orders the
collision would have been averted.
The engine of the special was derailed
and the rear part of the baggage car
telescoped by the smoker. 1t was in
the forward part of the smoker the
men who were killed were sitting, while
the majority of those injured were in
the same car.
Many Slightly Injured
All the passengers in the following
three coaches were pitched from their
seats and many were cut by flying
glass and bruised by being pitched to
the floor and crushed beneath the seats
which had been torn from their fasten-
ings.
The collision occurred near the Buena
Vista street bridge and but a short dis
tance from the curve there which COM
pletely hides from view the rails until
it has been rounded.
On the north side of the curve is
a switch and tower. 1t was at this
point the Overland was supposed to
wait until the special had passed.
AS the Overland came around the
curve the engineer, Fred Walker. saw
the special but few yards ahead.
He made frantic efforts to bring his
train to a standstill, but despite his
endeavors the engines came together
with crash which demolished the fore
parts of the boilers and threw the pas
sengers in huddled heaps to the aisles.
Hurried to Hospital
Cries of frightened men and women
at once rent the air. and for a few
moments confusion reigned. Then
cooler heads took charge and the work
of carrying the dead and injured from
the wreck was started.
Ambulances were called and the
wounded were hurried to hospital,
while the more seriously injured were
attended at once by physicians who
were aboard the special.
In the special train the greatest
damage was Lone. Where a moment
before happy hundreds had been cheer
ing the favorites who had succeeded in
winning contests and lowering the
colors of opposing colleges during the
day means filed the air. The happy
| college song was changed to cries of
pain and misery as twisted and torn
bodies We're dragged from the debris.
Men and women together worked over
the injured, endeavoring in some way to
alleviate the sufferings OF those who
had been less lucky than themselves.
College girls tore their skirts in
shreds and with the pieces bound up
bleeding hands and bodies, all the time
whispering words OF hope, cheer and
comfort to the injured.
Body Thrown Twenty Yards
AS the bodies OF the dead were placed
side by side near the tracks. tears
flowed from eyes long unused to weep
ing. These same young men during the
day had, in the fun strength Of youth
ful manhood, shown their power on
the athletic field and fought and won
kcontianed On Pase SIKH