The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-30

clared that the trai was running a.
the rate of forty miles an hour wher
the airbrakes were set.
1T was bad place for a wreck
| said passenger. there being a
pretty deep ditch on both sides of the
track. but of course, it could have
been much worse.'
The wreck occurred at the switch
| just east of the station at almost the
same spot where passenger train on
which Governor Hoch was a passen-
ger. was wrecked last fall. There is
bad curve there and it is supposed
the train was running at too high a
rate. There were seven cars in the
train and all but the two rear sleepers
went into the ditch.
A relief train left Topeka a few
minutes after the wreck was reported
carrying the wrecker and a force of
surgeons. The injured were brought
to the Topeka hospital.
Engineer Hadley r. Rossiter, who
was killed, was one of the best known
engineers on the Santa Fe. He was
mayor of Argentine two years ago and
was popular with his associates and
with the officers of the company.
When especially fast time was to be
made Mr.. Rossiter was usually called
upon as he was known to be fearless
Rossiter lived in Emporia fifteen
years and has two sons who are brake
men on the Santa Fe with headquart-
ers at Emporia.
The Santa Fe officials say the train
was making 40 miles an hour when
the accident occurred. 1t does not
stop at Wakarusa-
The wreck was north of Wakarusa
station. The accident happened right
at the switch. The rear trucks of the
tender jumped the track going around
the curve, and threw the engine off
about two hundred yards down the
track.
The engine lies on its side right
across the track, and the tender Is in
the middle of the wagon road about
fifty feet from the track.
One mail car is on the east side of
the track and the other is on the west
side of the track. Two passenger cars
did not go over. The trucks are out
from under one of them. EAout 200
feet of the track are torn up.
Engineer Rossiter was thrown from
the cab and struck one of the fence
posts, crushing his head. Fireman Has
let has one leg and lower jaw broken.
He fell on top of the engineer. The
mail clerk was internally injured. one
leg is crushed and he is very badly in
jured. Three or four passengers were
slightly injured.
This is the fourth wreck which has
nv fhn Co Mt "a of
Wakarusa.
The Official Report
- The following account of the wreck
was given out from the general man.
ager'ss office of the Santa Fe at 2
o'clock this afternoon:
Train No. 8. due out of here at
1880, and running on time, was de-
rallied at the east switch at Wakarusa
at 11:0S this morning. The engine.
No. 521. turned clear over and En-
gineer Hadley r. Rossiter was killed
and Fireman Haslet badly injured.
Five cars left the track but were not
turned over.
zone, passenger. a lady. who was
standing up at the time of the wreck,
was badly injured, and one postal
clerk living at Kansas City. was also
badly injured. Beyond these bare de-
tails the general managers office had
no. further particulars of the wreck.
The wires to the general offices here
have been kept busy arranging a new
train schedule and making prepara-
tions to clear the track for traffic.
THE dead engineers home was at
Newton. while the fireman lives at Ar
gentine. 1t was understood at the gen.
eral offices that the engineer met his
death. either by jumping or being
thrown from his engine. His skull was
fractured. The fireman was badly
scalded. The Office was not yet pre-
pared to make a statement regarding
the cause of the wreck. 1t is expected
to have the track clear for traffic be-
| fore night"