The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-08
FORTY KILLED N COLLISION.
TWO TRACTION TRAINS CRASH
WITH TERRIFIC IMPACT
NEAR STAUNTON, ILL.
Rcscucrs Remove All Injured and
Nearly An Bodies From Mass OF
shattered Iron and Steci--Few Vic
Tins Identified.

Staunton. Ill. Oct. 4.-Thirty-twO
persons were killed and 2S in
jured I'm collision on the Illinois
Traction system. two miles north Of
here. late this afternoon. One Of the
injured died on the way to the hos
pital. Another Is not expected to live.
Only three of the dead have been
Identified as yet. and these are all
prominent officials of the traction
system.
The collision occurred between To-
cal train No. IL. northbound, and an
excursion train No. 81. headed to-
ward st. Louis and loaded with pas
seugers on their way to view the pa
-rade Of the Six Yelled Prophets at
So. Louis. The accident. 1t is said.
was due entirely to the disregard Of
orders by the crew of the local.
which was In charge OF NJ. A. Leon
ard. conductor. and John Herman of
Staunton. motorman.
Train No. II had orders to pass
train 70 at Staunton. The latter
train was running I'm two sections
and the orders given to No. IA were
explicit that II should pass both Sec
tions OF the southbound of 73 at
Staunton. The first section of 73 had
passed when the crew OF No. II
pulled out on the main track and
started north. At sharp turn In
tho road at the bottom OF a decline.
two miles north OF this place. the
two trains came together In a spiin-
tering crash. Train II and the Sec
ond section OF 73 were both on the
down grade and moving at speed OF
80 miles an hour when they met.
The collision occurred right at the
bottom OF the double incline and at
the sharpest part Of the curve.
Carmen Uninjured.
The crew OF No. IL and the crew
Of No. az. which was composed Of
W. ". Duncan. conductor, and K. j.
Young. motorman. both OF Spring
field. Ill. leaped for their lives as
soon as they saw the collision was
enevitable and all four escaped with
out serious injury. They were badly
shaken up, but were able TO lend ar
sistance to- the injured an instant
later. None OF the passengers had a
chance 10 escape as the crash be-
tween the cars followed immediately
the cries of wsrning issued by the
conductors and inotormen as they
jumped from the trains.
The cars came together with a ter
rife crash. and both were demolished
and piled In ore huge mass OF wreck
ase. through whi.h the bodies Of the
dead and wounded were scattered.
Few Escape Unhurt.
II Is certain that by far the larger
portion of the passengers on both
cars were either killed outright or
desperately injured. The two trains
were so closely twisted together that
n was a marvel that anybody escap-
ed death or injury.
As quickly as possible word Of the
accident was telephoned to Spring
held and Peoria and a special car
was Immediately rushed from these
points Other cars were also sent
north from Granite City. ILL.,. These
last took many OF the injured and
hurried them back to Granite City,
whore they were placed In hospitals.
As fast as the dead were extricated
they were placed In one Of the cars
sent from Springfield.
Only Three Identified.
In n short time a car containing
IS bodies was sent to Carllnville,
where they were placed in an under
taking establishment Late tonight
only three bodies had been identified.
General Manager Chubbuck OF the
traction system was In Peoria when
the news OF the wreck was received.
Accompanied by minor officials. he
started at once for the wreck.
At Springfield all the available ply
sieians were placed on MIR. Club
bucks special car and hurried to
Staunton.
Within few minutes after the
collision occurred, farmers from the
surrounding country and nearly every
man in Staunton were en- route TO
the scene TO render whatever assist
ance was possible. The early comers
we're greeted with a spectacle such as
never before was seen In this part Of
the country.
The two cars had come together
with such force that they were not