The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-19
RAN BY THE SIGNAL.
Supposed That Block Warning
Was Disregarded.
Accident Took Place on Short
Stretch of Single Track.
Five Topeka People in List of
Injured.

the Santa Fe, Oklahoma and Texas ex
press which left Topeka last night at
11:20 o'clock collided head-on with a
stock extra eastbound at Bradock Is
miles east of here at 1892 this morning,
resulting in the death of Engineer Da-
vid H. Roberts of the stock extra and
the injuring of % passengers on train
II, although none of them seriously.
The collision occurred just west of the
station at Braddock ands both train
were running at full speed at the time.
1t is thought the accident was caused
by the crew on No II running by u
block signal. Conductor French of
Kansas City and Engineer Speckin Of
Topeka were in charge of train II and
Conductor Plante and Engineer Rob-
erts both of Emporia, were on the
stock extra. About 40 head of cattle
were killed and the engines were dam
aged to a considerable extent.
The following list of dead and in
5ured was given out at the office of
General Manager J. e. Hurley this
cluded In the list of injured but none
OF them are seriously injured Irene
Brown, Of Florence, Kan, who was
injured internally, is said to have been
the most seriously injured The list
OF casualties:
ENGINEER D. H. ROBERTS, En-
poria Kan.
Tho Injured.
A. r. Mulholland. Topeka, cords of
neck strained.
J.. D. Robertson. Topeka, neck
strained.
r. E. Overton, Topeka, head bruised
and neck strained.
A. L., Tanderns. Topeka. back
Alfred Booker. Topeka. back
J. L. Oberdorfer. Philadelphia, neck
and back strained
w. F. O'Conner, Kansas City, cords
of neck and back strained.
A. e. Moeser. Kansas City, head
bruised and neck strained.
Guy Strafer, Kansas City, neck
strained
T. D. Stamps Oaks, N. D.. lip cut
A. X. Marshall. Atchison, Kan, cuts
above eve.
Mrs. Bessie Mack. St. Joseph, Mo-.
back wrenched
Mrs. H. E. Yard, Atchison, leg slight
ly bruised.
]: A. Sharp, Usage City. Kan, nose
and mouth injured.
Irene Brown, Florence, Kan. injured
internally.
Riley Lake. Kansas City, shoulder
bruised.
Mrs: I. r. Armstrong. Kansas City,
Mr.. L. Again. Kansas City, bruised.
Joseph Getter. Kansas City, slightly
bruised.
Laura Lane, Lawrence, confusion
over left eye and one tooth knocked
w: ]. Ryan, Kansas City, bruised on
head.
John w. Byron. Kansas City, neck
strained.
An Official Investigation.
The cause of the wreck has not been
officially determined. and will NOT he
given out onicially until an investiga-
tion is made by the officials 1t is said
to have been caused, however. by the
failure of the passenger engineer. c. w
Speckin. to properly observe his sig
nails.
The point where the wreck occurred
was just west of Bradock a small sta
tion fifteen miles east of Newton. Be
tween Braddock and Walton. a distance
of six miles there is no double track,
although between Emporia and Newton
with this single exception, the Santa
F'e has double tracks.
The collision took place at 3:32 this
mornine both trains running at full
speed at the time Both engines left
the track as did six cars of live stock
which were in the freight train. About
many more injured.
Most of the passengers who were
injured were in the sleepers and their
injuries consisted of severe bunninys
Engineer c. w. Speckin, who is said
to have been responsible for the dis
aster, is Topeka engineer. He has
within the last two weeks been as
signed to this run, and has within that
time moved his family from Argentine
to Topeka. H was formerly an en-
gineer on the California limited the
Santa Fe's best run, which is given n
none but the most careful and ex.
perienced engineers.
The track near Braddock where th.
wreck took place was badly damaged
as a result of the collision. Earlv mi.
morning 1t was thought that the WRECK
would be cleared by the middle of tbs
forenoon, but the track was damaeef
worse than was at first supposed. Trajr
No. which should have reached Tone
ka at 4:30 this morning has been an
nulled as it Is indefinitely late Th,
other eastbound Santa Fe trains ar,
held back on account of the damaeef
track
The Santa Fe has a large force n
men at work repairing the track an,
by supper time trains will reach To
peka from the west. Wreckers from
Newton and Emporia are pressed inf,
service
The injured passengers have been ia
ken to Newton where those who nee
medical aid are being attended by tn,
company physicians of that place. Non,
of the passengers who were reporte,
injured are in serious condition.
r. E. Overton, who is mentioned +,
the list of injured as a Topekan. i
from Guthrie Ok. He is a brother q
Il. L. Overton, manager OF the Eagl,