The Washington herald., 1910-09-22

Fort Wayne, Ind, Sept. 21.-
Thirty-nine persons were killed and
twenty or more fatally injured in
the most disastrous traction-car ac-
cident that has maFked interurban
traffic since the system was estab-
lishsd, when a south-bound limited
and a north-bound local car on the
Wabash Valley collided near Kings
land, north OF this city, to-day. The
accident occurred on a short curve.
Many of the bodies were so man
gled that identification is rendered
slow, if not in some cases impos-
sible.
Hardly any passengers in the two
cars escaped injury, but the less Sc
-iously hurt gave what assistance
they could, and in a few moments
thirty7six bodies, horribly mutilated,
were carried to the roadside and
laid along the track.
MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Others were so pinioned in the debris
that they could not be reached until
wrecking crews arrived upon the scene.
The northbound car was loaded with peo-
pie coming 10 the county fair here, and
among them were many women and
children.
What led 10 the accident is not known.
| but it IS supposed that there was n mis-
understanding OF orders. The car bearing
the people 10 the fair was an extra. and
| it Is believed that its position on the
road was not definitely known, anj the
limited, running on its own time. was not
! apprised Of its approach.
No Time to Jump.
The curve where the wreck occurred IS
one Of the shortest on the Wabash Val
ley line, and there was ony an instant
after the local car was sighted before The
crash came. The motormen on tho tWO
cars had no time TO jump.
The scenes following the wreck were
pathetic. as mothers anh fathers saw the
mangled forms Of children taken from the
wTeckage, and a husband saw a wife or a
wife a husband taken out so mangled
that ideniHication could be male ,uly
from the clothing.
. Physicians and nurses were rushed y
!
and other places on the line. and many
Of the injured are now in hospitals. Some
of them died before medical aid could be
given, and two died while being taken 10
hospitals.
A Tangled Mass.
That the cars were running az a very
fast rate is demonstrated by a view OF
the wrecked ears. The iron and wood
OF one could not be distinguished from
the other. so tangled was the mass. and
in this was a struggling. shrieking mass
of humanity. praying. calling for help,
and pleading for some relief from their
! misery.
There were four men In charge Of the
3 two cars-two conductors and two mo-
tor men-and Of these three are dead and
the fourth badly injured
Though the wreck occurred about noon
1t was after o'clock when the last body
was gotten out of the WreCkage. Thirty
six OF the dead were identified. mostly by
the clothing they wore and letters or
papers on their persons, but three who
were killed outright have not been iden-
titled. and one dying on the way TO the
hospital is unknown.
Owing 10 the delay in attending TO the
injured or the inability in such a great
d number to get around L al. several died
. from loss OF blood which could have been
q prevented had the survivors not been sc
!, greatly appalled, as to be incapable OF
rendering assistance.
Belong TO Wealthy Class.
OF the thirty six identified dead, eigh.
teen were from Bluffton, and many OF
e them were among the most wealthy class
d They were going 10 see the races at Fort
$ Wayne Fair. and just as the two car.
c met many of them We're singing eomi<
d songs and cracking jokes at each others
= expense. -.ere were number Of young
h people in the northbound car, and they
had been in a specially hilarious MOOD
from the time the car left Bluhton.
There We're two physicians on the car!
7 at The time OF the wreck One then
n eseaTed serious injury. and with th'
/, other, who had himself been painful!
Coussuuad nm pu-o z Cotuu,u n