The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-31

Thursday.
The place where the wreck took place
is just north of the wakarusa station,
probably about half a mile from the
depot. The track to Wakarusa from
the north is a little down grade and
just before coming in sight of the sta
ton there is reverse curvs shaped
like the letter IS" 1t was while round
ing the last part of the curve that the
engine started from the track.
The train left Topeka yesterday
morning about ten minutes late. The
wreck occurred at Wakarusa at Hos.
and the train was running between 40
and so miles an hour. AS soon as the
train started to leave the track, Engf-
neer Rossiter applied the emergency
brakes but the train was not stopped
until it had gone a couple hundred
feet. The wreck took place just north
of the switch. stand which operates the
sidetrack.
The site where the wreck took place
was on an elevated grade about four
feet above the level of the wagon road
which ran along the right of way.
The wreck itself was horrible look
ing sight. OF the seven cars in the
train five left the track. The rear car
which was the observation car and the
sleeper just in front of the observation
car remained on the track.
The engine was turned over on the
right side. The pilot was lying across
the track after the wreck while the
right side of the engine was resting on
the embankment. The tender was ly
ing to the side of road. The baggage
car which Immediately followed the en-
CINE was thrown to the east side of the
track resting on it's trucks which were
buried In the embankment. A mail car
was next in the train and in II were
several mail clerks who were working.
This car left the track and ran part
way down the west embankment but
did not turn over. Several of the mail
| were injured, B. w. Fickner being the
most seriously injured of the number
He was thrown to the floor and several
| boxes fell on him, wrenching his neck
partially dislocating his shoulder and
| injuring him internally.
That the casualties were not greater
was due to the fact that the limited
was carrying an extra mail car in it's
equipment. This car was flled with
mail for the Orient and was unoccu-
pied. This broke the force of the shock
from the cars following. The buffet
car was raised off the trucks and one
end was badly battered up. The dining
car lodged half way down the embank
ment parallel with the track and
thrown on it's side at an angle of 30
degrees One sleeper was thrown off
the track but did not leave the grade
and was easily placed on the tracks.
sitter made his jump after having done
everything in his power to lessen the
danger, is a fence post in the right of
way fence. His dead body was picked
up at this place with his skull badly
fractured, and 1t is supposed that his
head struck this post and that death
was due to brain conclusion. Fireman
Haslet followed Engineer Rossiter but
jumped clear of distractions. He
would have been uninjured had he not
gone back to help remove Engineer
Rossiter. In his efforts to save En-
gineer Rossiter, whom he did not
know was already dead. he received
some severe steam scalds. These form
| his principal injuries although his face
was bruised in his jump from the cab.
The track presented a sorry looking
sight at the wreck. In many places
the big eighty-five pound rails were
clear out of shape. The ties were
torn into shreds, fit only for kindling
| wood. The steam valve in the engine
blew of and a large hole was blown
| into the ballast to a depth of three feet
by the escaping steam.
| All yesterday afternoon and late last
| night the Santa Fe had big army of
| men at work trying to remove the OBJ
ing train was sent from Topeka An
other came up from Emporia- Di-
vision Superintendent c.. T. Mcclellan
| and Trainmaster Lloyd Stanley came
| up from Emporia IN a special, and
| later the big steam wrecker from Ar
| gentine arrived. A big gang of Mexi-
/ cans were put to work relaying the
1 track fast the cars could be re-
moved. Late last night the line was
| open for traffic and in few days the
track will be in good condition again.
| The cars and engine will be repaired
| in the Topeka shops.
The passenger service was uninter-
| rupted during the time the track was
| blocked. Train No ran 9
wakarusa yesterday afternoon and the
| passengers. baggage and mail were
| transferred around the wreck to a
stub train which was sent out from
| Topeka.
More people were injured than was
| at FIRST Thought most of the in f11rfes