The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1910-08-18
TRAIN INTO DITCH;
TWENTY-FIVE HURT
Mayor ]. E. Williams and Will
b. Weeks Hurt.

Missouri Pacific railroad Thursday
morning about $50 o'clock when an
engine and six coaches went into a
ditch relr the little station of Horton.
The South-bound passenger left Rich
Hill about thirty minutes late, and
was trying to make up the lost time.
When the engine was approaching
the bridge near Horton, rail turned,
pitching the engine into the ditch.
All of the coaches, with the eXcep-
ton of one sleeper, and the mail and
baggage cars left the tracks and were
damaged.
Fireman Grover Murdoch was
pinned beneath the engine and was
badly Scalded. He was rescued Just
in time to save his life by Engineer
John Higgins.
The injuries consisted mostly of
bruises, sprains and cuts. The tracks
were blocked all day by the wreckage.
A negro tramp, who was on the
blind baggage, was killed. The in
iured were taken to a hospital. Physi-
clans and surgeons from Nevada and
Rich Hill were sent to the scene of
the wreck ON relief trains.
j. E. Williams, chairman of the
Democratic Central committee, and
Will B. Weeks, deputy county clerk,
were seated in the smoking car when
the accident occurred. When the car
left the rails, humping over the ties,
Mr., Weeks supposed that the engine
had been suddenly reversed to avoid
a head-on collision, and shouted to
Mr.. Williams that there was going to
be a wreck. They had barely time to
brace themselves in their seats when
the coach seemed to leap into the air,
and turned with a jerk. Mr.. VIII
liams has a recollection of Mr.. Weeks
being thrown into the air, over his
head, and alighting on the broken
seats and glass on the other side OF
the car. An instant later his grip
loosened, and he lost consciousness
in the air. They recovered con.
seriousness at about the same time,
and everyone else had left the car.
Mr.. Weeks was pinned under q
broken seat, and had to be released
by Mr.. Williams. The car wa:
turned upon its side, and they wer,
both too badly hurt to reach the win
dows over their heads, but discov
cred that pair of broken trucks or
which the car rested allowed then
just sufficient space to crawl out or
the under side.
After getting out of the car, Mr.
Williams returned in search of theil
hats and baggage, and while there
examined the seats in which he anC
Mr.. Weeks had been sitting, which
were then at the upper side of the
coach. They were iammed by the
seats, both before and behind, anC
Mr.. Williams says that had they beer
able to retain their hold and keel
from, being thrown, that they would
undoubtedly have been crushed Il
death.
The injured were taken to Ricl
Hill, where they were given medica
attention, and Mr.. Williams and Mr.
Weeks were brought home Tuesda,
afternoon in an automobile.
Mr.. Weeks probably sustained thu
worst injuries of anyone on the train
He received ajgash about three inche
in length on the top of his head, an,
sustained injuries to his side which i
giving him considerable pain.
Mr.. Williams sustained painful
bruises on his body and legs, and hi
left arm and shoulder are out Of com
mission, temporarily, at least.
B. F. Richards, who was in tn
chair car, was bruised about the hea
and face, and Gaylord Vantrees ha
a leg badly wrenched.
L. Mead, division roadmaster, wa
riding in the engine cab. He wa
bruised. Passengers who were O
the train at the time of the accideI
say they can not account for their e.
cape, as the coaches were torn
pieces.
Trains were detoured by way
Fort Scott, Has, to Kansas City.
Corn IA Feet High.
O. P. Wilson has on display at Il
C1~A~ Del. Ali, .sk..