Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-29

those among the injured will uns
doubtedly die within the next few
hours.
Indiana Man Killed
George L. Sharp of Muncie, Ind, was
instantly killed. The baggageman Of
the train, whose name had not been
ascertained, was also killed. Engineer
Clarence e. Warrington and Fireman
Victor Grebb both jumped, but failed
to get clear and were caught in the
wreckage. They were both terribly
burned and scalded. John Golden; the
train conductor, was in the Pullman
section of the train and escaped un-
injured. 1t is thought Fireman Crebb
succeeded in shutting off the oil sup
ply leading to the engine, thus pre-
venting the coaches from catching fire.
Out of about eighty Pullman passen-
gers there were but two who sustained
serious injury. The three Pullman
coaches and the diner, which were on
the rear of the train, did not leave the
track. The occupants Of these cars
were practically unharmed.
The Florence Roberts theatrical COM
pany occupied one coach, which was
hurled from the track, and both ends
of the coach crushed in by the impact
against the others.
But two members of Miss Roberts
company out of a total of twenty-five
people were injured. Miss Roberts her
self escaped entirely unscathed.
| The escape from death of the occu-
pants of this car was miraculous, con-
| sidering the manner in which the coach
was splintered and torn to pieces. The
men and women were hurled from one
| end of the car to the other, but all es-
capped with the exception OF the two
mentioned
Four of the ten coaches which were
derailed were smashed out of all re-
h11npa
were three tracks where the accident
occurred, which is in the open country.
The people of Cotton were first to be
notified of the catastrophe. Immedi-
ately hundreds of people hurried to the
scene of the wreck.
Physicians and nurses were brought
from San Bernardino and Cotton and
ministered to the injured.
How the Wreck Occurred
The derailment of the train was
caused by the crew of a switch engine
leaving a switch open at this point. 1t
is stated that the engine passed through
the switch a few moments before the
Overland appeared.
A switchman named Morrison was in
the yard. After the switch engine had
passed onto another track the engineer
asked the fireman If he had thrown
the switch.
The fireman recollected 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 be-
fore the Overland had plunged through
and been derailed.
The train, which was due In Los An
geles at 7:30 a. M, was nearly twelve
hours behind time.
At the time of the disaster it was rum
ming at a high rate of 81 oed in an at
tempt to make up time.
There was absolutely no warning of
the impending catastrophe. The en-
gineer saw the signal of the open switch
when but a few rods distant from it
and had no time to sound even whis-
tie of warning, much less to reverse the
throttle or set the brakes. He called to
ihs fireman to jump and they both
leaped wildly from opposite sides Of
the train.
Injured Call for Aid
The engine left the track, turned over
on its side and plowed a great distance
along the right of way.
The broken wreckage Of the day coach
and smoker, filled with the bodies of
the dead and injured, were hurled all
over. The sound of the escaping steam
mingled with the cries of the dying.
Helpless passengers, imprisoned in the
wreckage, called frantically for help
The fact that the train was not set on
fire probably saved a hundred lives.
Those of the passengers who had es-
capped set at once about the work of
rescue.
Dozens were pulled and lifted from the
wreckage and placed beside the track
until vehicles arrived to convey them
to the hospital
Members of the theatrical company
aided nobly In the work Of rescue. Men
and women alike cared for the injured
Plush seats were taken from the
coaches and bedding from the Pullmans
and the roadside was converted into a
temporary hospital.
! Several of those taken from the
wreckage dying expired before convey
ances could be had to carry them Ia
Cotton. 1t was half an hour before any
medical aid could be secured.
Italians Meet Horrible Fate
The Italians I'm the day coach and
smoker met a horrible fate. Wholly
without warning the impact came and
three Of the cars were almost COM
pletely telescoped and hurled far to
one side.
The helpless passengers were terribly
torn and cut TO pieces. Death came to
a score Of them instantly.
Many We're dismembered and impaled
upon pieces Of the wrecked cars.
The Southern Pacific headquarters in
(coatiausd GA Page Two.l