The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-08
Three Hundred Passengers on
Santa Fe Train MarOOned.
Coaches TOppIed Into Water at
Pomona on Cut-Off.
CHILD is DROWNED.
Two Other Passengers We're
Slightly Injured.
Train Running in Water when
Wreck Occurred.

Ottawa. Kan, July s.-Three hundred
Passengers from Santa Fe train No. 5.
which was wrecked by the food near
Pomona, Is miles west of here late
Wednesday afternoon. are uuartered
with farmers in that vicinity or are
lodged in hotels or rooming houses here.
After three of the six coaches OF the
train had slowly rolled on their sides
in the water, the passengers who had
taken refuge in the other part OF the
train or on the overturned cars were
ferried mile to the dry land.
The 4-year-old daughter of Mrs. Car
rie Rose of Chicago was drowned Miss
Laura st. Clair sustained a wrenchea
back and right shoulder and her elder
sister, Miss Mamie st. Clair suffered
ing to assist her sister that the younger
woman was hurt. They were en- route
to Perry, Ok. from Boston
A relief train was Immediately dis
patched to bring the stranded passen-
gers to Ottawa, but as this train was
compelled to travel part of the way
over rails covered with water many OF
them would not board IT fearing a repe-
ttion of the incident to No. 5.
That a greater number of persons
We're not injured when the three day
coaches overturned is due to the fact
that the yielding embankment allowed
the cars to settle very slowly ana N
was several minutes after the train had
stopped before they lay on their sides.
Later after all of the passengers
bad been taken from the train II was
reported the cars turned over stiH far
ther and lay in IS feet of water
The town of Pomona. near where the
wreck occurred had but one small boat
and efforts to reach the train in this
were futile. A hasty search was made
along the river for other crafts and soon
a small fiotilla Of skiffs and rowboats.
well supplied with oars and ropes, went
to the aid Of the stranded train. D.
men and children were taken Off first
and, though many were in a highly
nervous condition from fear. no ac-
cidents occurred.
1t appears that the train which had
been detoured from the main Inc over
the Emporia branch was running along
smoothly through the water when it
began to sink on the undermined tracks
The coaches sank so gradually that the
passengers and crew were able to get
into the Pullman cars before the three
coaches finally toppled over and sank
from view. People from the surround
ing country attracted by the cries OF
the 300 marooned passengers Immediate
ly endeavored to start on a rescue. Rats
were hastily constructed and the few
boats available were pushed out, but
by this time the current was so swift
around the train that only the most
venturesome were able to reach the
people. 1t was after dark before a res
cue by means of a series of boats tied
with ropes was effected. Boat trips Of
from one to two miles were made to
the nearest farm houses free Of the
flood and the passengers were finally
taken to safety. Almost all the passen-
gers will have to remain at the farm
houses until the surrounding floods sub
side.
From information which has been re-
ceived at the office OF General Manager
J. E. Hurley. the cause of the wreck
has been found to be large piece OF
floating driftWood which got under tbs
trucks of the smoker, causing the de-
railment. The smoker was deraiied but
upright, and two coaches were deraiied
and settled on the side. Three cars to
the rear of the coaches were also de-
rallied but were only slightly inclined.
The train Just before the derailment
was running over tracks covered with
water, but was feeling its way along
slowly. Just before the accident the
train stopped but started up again.
feeling its way more cautiously than
ever.
The only reports Of casualties which
have been received at Mr. Hurley's Of
fee ire as follows: Mrs. s. b. McL.ane.
of Chicago, whose ribs were broken and
who received cuts about the head and
face.
Mrs. shope Of Larned. Kan. leg in
jured.
The reports also show that a child
whose name has not yet been learned
by the Santa F'e officials, is dead, pre-
sumably from drowning.
Five or six others whose names do
not appear IN the official reports wers
also injured.