The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-20
SHOCKING DETAILS
OF HONDA WRECK
Sad-Faced Shriners Return
From Unfortunate Trip to
California.
I'D
SPEND PLEASANT DAY
IN SALT LAKE CITY
Graphic Description Given of
Horrible Accident, and
Hardships Endured.

The week prior TO May II, 1907, the
Shriners from all over the United States
and portions of Canada spent the lolli-
est and most pleasurcable time in all
their experience in Los Angeles. 1T
was the occasion of their annual as
semblage. Los Angeles did herself
proud in providing all necessary ar
rangements for good time, and in ex-
tending unstinted hospitality to the
noon Of Saturday, May IL, nothing had
occurred to mar the pleasure Of the
gathering. Up to that time not a sim
gle serious accident had occurred. On
that day many of the visitors began 10
pull out on their return trip to Eastern
homes via San Francisco. The train
containing the members of the Ismailia
temple of Buffalo, N, Y, to the num-
Der of about seventy"fve, left Los An
geles in the forenoon At Santa Bar
bara two Pullman coaches filled with
Shrlners of Rajah temple of Reading,
Pa, were attached to the train. Of
the terrible wreck of that train, which
occurred about 2:30 p. M of that day,
all the world has heard.
Arrive in Salt Lake.
The survivors of that ill-fated train
to the. number of about seventy five ar
rived In Salt Lake on their return Jour
ney early Saturday morning and spent
the day, departing for the East at $50
p. m They were travelling IN n spe-
cial train. Two.thirds or more of their
number were members of IsmaIlia tenn
pie of Buffalo. Upon their arrival here
they were taken 10 the Kenyon and
entertained, that hotel being used as
hpAhnn0rt1rc 6f tho ho;,
stay in Salt Lake. In looks, in deport-
ment, In general spirits it was NOT the
lovlal aggregation of men and women
that left their Eastern homes some three
weeks ago on pleasure bent. Their aniet
demeanor, their smileless faces, empha-
sized only TOO plainly the nerve. .shatter.
ing ordeal through which they had
passed.
Inspecting Zion.
In Salt Lake they spent the dsy in
various ways, bent on seeing as much
OF the city as their limited time would
permit, Many of them went out to
Saltair In the afternoon and took what
they called an enjoyable dip in the
most wonderful water they were ever
In. At o clock they nearly all availed
themselves OF special organ recital
at the Tabernacle, given for their espe-
clal benefit. At $50 they resumed their
Journey East. The time spent in Salt
Lake was the only bit of pleasureable
sunshine they had experienced in a
week.
In briefly discussing the wreck to
a Tribune representatives, William y
Doherty, Police Commissioner of the
city of Buffalo, said
Tragic Story Is Told.
1--WE pulled out of Santa barbara
about l p. m. and had lunch on the
train. The two last coaches were al
tached 10 our train at Santa Barbara.
They were occupied by members and
their wives of Rajah Temple of Read,
ing, Pa About 2:30 we struck an open
Switch at Honda, some fifty miles north
or Santa Barbara, the point where the
Christian Endeavorers were wrecked
some years ago. [ was in the first
Pullman, Immediately behind the diner.
Inc baggage car was next to the loco
motive. When the crash came, FIVE of
us were IN the rear drawingroom. We
were all hurled from our seats. and
when the cars left the track our car
did not turn over, but plunged wildly
and recklessly for thirty seconds. Evi-
IDENTIFY the trucks were torn from the
car, as one could hear the vibrations of
them as they tore through the tracks
ana ties before we came to fnll
stop. We Immediately rushed out and
found the condition serious, awful. an
palliugl ~ -pltiable, as our car had
plunged through the diner and into the
baggage car, turning the former upside
down In the diner there were thirty
two occupants, and about ten in the
baggage car. The thirty-two in the
diner were composed of Shriners and
their wives from Rajah Temple, Read
ing, Pa.
Twenty-nine Victims.
'This Temple occupied the two last
cars of the train, and they were com
pletely wiped out. There were only
seven of lsmailia Temple of Buffalo
killed, which included only two that
resided in Buffalo, the others living in
adjoining cities, To add to the terror
of the scene, the diner caught fire For
tunately a tank of water was on the
side track, which was used to good
advantage, after forming a bucket bri-
gade./ In this way we soon got the
ire under control.
'tWe all worked like Troians for two
hours, carrying out the dead from the
wreck, and caring as best we could,
'or, the injured, before a wrecking
rain came from San Luis Obispo, Two
lours elapsed before any assistance
,ame at all, although the news of the
wreck was conveyed to Santa Barbara
lx minutes after it occurred. | can
lot emphasize too strongly, and in this
voice the sentiment OF every one on
no train, the careless and Inefficient
manner in which we were handled aft
II the wreck, and whoever is to blame
deserves severe censure, as we were
ide-tracked for nearly six hours in
eturning to Santa Barbara. We left
he wreck at p. m, and did not reach |
santa Barbara, about fifty miles dis |
ant. until 1870 o'clock a. m. next
aorning. They let four regular trains
'ass u.s. for which we had to give the |
light of way. Notwithstanding that, |
Fe had twenty-nine dead bodies and a
lumber of injured, and the great strain
n all our people, who were naturally
worked up to high pitch of excite
nent, were left cold and hungry on the
rack until after l 'clock in the morn.
ng' Mr.. Richardson, the company's 10.
al representative, however, did all DOS
ible to make lis comfortable i'm Tho
otter hotel, and I cannot speak too
lghiy OF the efforts he made to make
p Tor the great outrage perpetrated
pom our Uarty Wa ruara la1l's-