The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-01-22
GREAT CATAS-
TR0PHE ON
C.P.R.R.
TRAIN GOING 40 MILES PER
HOUR WRECKED BY BROKEN
RAIL AND PLUNGED INTO
SPANISH RIVER

North Bay. Ont, Jan. 22-Esti-
amtes of the number of killed when
the four cars on the Canadian Pa
cific plunged down the embankment
into the ice covered Spanish river
yesterday. vary from twenty to fifty.
The officials list of known dead is
sued by the company numbers 8, and
injured "a
North Bay, Ont, Jan. 22.-At least
| 25 and perhaps 40 persons were
killed today when four cars of Can
adam Pacific passenger train on the
| 500 branch jumped from the tract.
and, falling down a steep embank-
ment, plunged through the ice into
| Spanish river, about 100 miles east
of Sault Ste. Marie.
| Some were drowned. others were
burned almost within hand reach OF
the drowned, still others were crush
| ed to death. One of the splintered
cars was burned on the brink of the
river.
| The number of dead and injured
was unknown late tonight, as tele-
graphic communication was not es-
| tablished with the scene of the wreck.
According to stories told by injured
passengers brought to Sudbury, it
was one of the worst catastrophes in
the history of Canadian railroading.
| The wrecked train was en- route
from Montreal to Sault Ste. Marie
and Minneapolis. An official state
ment says that the accident probably
was due to a broken rail-
The engine, baggage, express and
mail car and one second-class coach
remained on the rails, while one sec
ond-class, one first-class, a dining car
and sleeper went down the en-
bankment The sleeper, diner and
second-class car stopped on the bank
of the river, the second-class car
catching fire.
The wreck occurred 81 miles west
of Sudbury. where the tracks cut into
the side of steep hill skirted by the
river The forward part of the train
passed over the break, whatever 1t
was. The day coach, the fourth from
the end of the train, was the first to-
leave the rails.
/ Running 40 Miles an Hour.
The train was running at 40 miles
an hour and the momentum carried
the car down the hill in terrific
plunge. About rs passengers were in
this car and it is virtually certain
that none escaped.
/ Two minutes after the first crash
only the roof of the day coach showed
above floating ice in the river. The
second-class coach smashed against
the end of a culvert and was crushed
like an eggshell.
i The strong construction of the din
ing car saved it's occupants. Every
one In it escaped without serious in
jury.
Every man who was able to stand
turned to the work of rescue. Snow
was piled upon the burning second
class car and the train crew and the
uninjured passengers did heroic work
in trying to rescue those pinned in
the burning wreckage.
Physicians were hurried from Sud-
bury as soon as word was received,
and a wrecking train with General
Superintendent Gutulius made record
4 time from North Bay. Arrangements
were made to bring a diver on a spe-
cial train from Sault Ste Marie to re-
cover the bodies from the submerged
car He is now at the wreck.
Il Sault Ste Marie, Jan. 21.-From
the crew OF freight train, which ar
rived here tonight. 1t is learned that
; two second-class coaches we're derail-
ed and afterwarj took fire.
/ 1t is reported that J. J. Anderson.
] district passenger agent Of the Can
adian Pacific, was on the train. 1t Is
! expected train made up at the scene
of the wreck will arrive here early
tomorrow morning.
} There is some disparity in estimates
: of the number OF passengers In the
. submerged coach. Members OF the
I train crew say there were not more
than Is. but passengers who had just
: left 1t to go into the dining car place
the number as high as %.
| 1t is said six of the injured taken
to the Sudbury hospital have since
died. but their names are not obtain
able