The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-10-05
TH|RTY.S|X ARE
DEAD IN WRECK
Thirty One Others Were In.
jured When Two Interur-
ban Cars Collided

oeouulou, 1Il., OCL. o.-lQlFIy-SlX
persons dead. and thirty-one injured,
Is now the record of the casualties re-
sulung from the collision which oc-
Cured between two electric cars on
the Illinois traction system at Dick
enson curve near here yesterday.
"Motorman John Linermann of the
northbound car admits he alone is re-
sponsible for the wreck yesterday,
said H. E. Chubbuck, vice president
and general manager of the Illinois
traction system, who Investigated the
wreck. There seems to be no rea-
son for his fatal observation-disclosures in
running by the meeting point at
Wallis Siding. Both train orders are
absolutely clear to the minutes de-
tails, showing the dispatching to be
tiawless. AS far l can find out Liner
man had no trouble on his mind"
Motornan Hermann and Conductor
Leonard in charge of train No. IA,
were arrested this morning and were
held for the coroner's' inquest. Lier-
mann was found in his little sitting
room with his wife and children all
crying pitiously. Hermann made no
effort to escape. Conductor Leonard
suffered severe scalp wound and had
been treated by local physician and
taken home. He. as we'll as Hermann,
was in pitiable state of mind.
A graphic account of the wreck was
given by Conductor A. G. Wilkonson
in charge of the first relief train to
reach the scene of the wreck.
The members of the bridge gang
and the members of the section crew,
who were working just below and
above the scene of the accident. with
the passengers who were not injured,
had removed eighteen or twenty
bodies, from the wreck" said Wilkon-
sin. The first man l saw was Land
Commissioner Berry He was lying
next to the east right of way fence.
He was alive but bleeding terribly
and while the others carried him
away, went to the cars. l saw legs,
arms, heads and bodies protruding
from every conceivable place. The
people in the wreckage were crying
piteously and we did what We could
to rescue them. The were so many
of them that our efforts seemed of no
avail. People were crushed between
the floors Of the cars and wedged in
so tightly that we could not rescue
them until we got jackscrews and lift
ed the car up"
The majority of those killed were
men in the smoking compartments
and women riding in the front seats
of the two cars.
The Details.
Springfield, ILL.,, Oct. 5.-Thirty-six
people were killed and thirty-one
were injured late yesterday afternoon
when two interurban cars on the Illi-
nois traction system collided head on
at Dickerson curve, two miles north
of Staunton. Both cars were going at
a high rate of speed and as the curve
where they met is at the bottom of a
hill, both cars were plunging down
hill. They met right on the curve and
SO sudden was the collision the motor.
men barely escaped with their lives
by jumping. Both cars were demol-
ished and the dead. dying and injured
were piled in bloody mass, while the
screams Of the MANNED and bleeding
added horror to the scene.
Car No. IA north bound had orders
to meet both sections of train No: 70
at Staunton. The orders were carried
out so far the the first section was
concerned, but it is officially reported
that the orders to wait for the section
Of No. 13 were overlooked.
The members of the crews of both
cars escaped. They are: John Lier-
man of Staunton, motorman, and NJ
A. Leonard, conductor of No. IA; W..
v. Duncan. conductor of Springfield,
and E. J. Young, motorman, Spring
field, car No. 73.
Among those killed were three Of
the prominent officials Of the traction
sytem.
]. E. Berry, Springfield. land COM
missioner for the Illinois traction line.
d. v. Black, assistant superintend-
ent Of motive power and equipment Of
Springfield.