The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-22
ANTWERP EXPRESS CRASHES lN-$
TO TRAIN LOADED WITH Pill
GRlMs Az coNLlcH.
FIFTY ARE KILLED
Misplaced Switch the Cause Of Terri
BILE Catastrophe Scene Begoars 81
serintion-Many Bodies Had Com
pIeteIy Lost All Human Shape
Government Will Investigate.

Antwerp, May 81 The worst rail-
road catastrophe ever registered in
Belgium took place near Conlich,
six miles southeast Of Antwerp, this
morning. Because OF q misplaced
switch the Antwerp express, running
so miles an hour, crashed into a train
loaded with pilgrims that was stand
ing on q siding.
The catastrophe appears to have
been due to defective switch where
the main line crosses local line. AT
the point a train carrying q large
number Of pilgrims on their way to a
local shrine was standing. Into this
the Antwerp-Brussels express dashed
at q speed Of so miles an hour, literal
" leaping on top Of IT. The heavy
coaches of the express crushed the
lighter train into splinters.
Every car Of the pilgrim train ex-
cept the foremost one was telescoped.
The cars were literally ground to
pieces and practically all the passen-
gers were either killed or badly in
jured. About so dead people already
have been removed from the wreck
and succor is being extended to more
than 100 injured.
Surgeons, doctors and nurses ar
rived early from Antwerp at the scene
Of the wreck. Helpless wounded per
sons are still pinned under the debris
and the scene is one Of horror beyond
description.
Horrible Death Struggles.
The rescuers, even the doctors, VINO
were hardened to such scenes, were
sickened at the hight tnat met their
gaze. Evidences we're found Of horri-
bic death struggles that occurred In
the crushed coaches. In one place
dismembered hand was found clutch
ing one Of the supports OF the torn
car. One body was found lying across
the boiler Of q locomotive, crushed
into q shapeless mass. The majority
Of the dead could not be recognized
at all either being decapitated or their
heads being terribly crushed.
The signalman at Contich saw that
his switch was not working Just as
the Antwerp express came thunder
ing down the line. He leaped from
the window Of his signal station and
heroically ran down the track toward
the on-coming train, waving red
nag. His efforts, however, were too
late. The engineer and the hrsman
Of the express were killed outright.
Tho work Of extricating the dead
and wounded from the debris appall-
ed even the stoutest Of the rescuers.
Many Of the bodies had completely
lost all human shape and were re-
duced to pulp. head. arms and legs
having been ground on in the wheels
and scattered through the wreckage.
Three decapitated bodies were found
20 feet from the track.
The occupants OF the cars were
mostly workmen and peasants. The
wounded persons were transferred
from Contich to Antwerp and Brussels
as rapidly as possible. a second
class coach was overturned by the
force of the impact. The bodies OF
the wounded were pinned down Dy
wreckage so that the rescuers had to
make use Of axes to get the victims
free. IA,
Prince Visits Wounded.
The sides Of the express cars were
torn from their fastenings, the floors
collapsing. thus precipitat-
Ing the passengers to the side Of the
track uninjured, whence they fed
trenzled, across the fields. But for
this fact the death roll would be much
greater. Few Of the occupants Of the
local train escaped alive. Those that
we're not killed were badly injured,
many Of them mortally.
The Judicial authorities Of Antwerp
soon arrived on the scene and opened
IN investigation into the disaster.
They ordered the signal men In
charge Of the switches under arrest,
although It is believed BY the author
ties that they we're blameless. The
engineer and fireman Of the express,
we're both killed at their posts. s
Prince Albert went to Contich this