Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-05

stanton. Ills, OCC. fl lllFly SEVEN
persons We're killed and from is to
. injured in a collision on the Him
dis Traction System two miles north
of Staunton late today.
Three of the injured and possibly
more of the injured are not expect
ed to survive. Reports from the
wreck up to the present time have
been difficult to obtain and although
some of the statements received from
Their max tn number injured as high
as so, it is not believed it will run
over %. Only three of the dead have
been identified as yet. They are:
J. e. Barry. Springfield, Ills, land
commissioner for the Illinois Traction
System.
w. N. Street, Staunton. Ills, assist
ant train master of the Traction Sys-
tenn.
ID. V. Black, Springfield. assistant
superintendent CT motive power and
equipment
The collision occurred between the
local train nOrthbound and an excur-
sion train headed toward ST. Louis,
and loaded with passengers on their
way to view the parade OF the Yelled
Prophets at St. Louis. The accident
according to present information, is
believed to have been caused by the
disregard of orders by the crew OF the
local, which was in charge of NJ. A.
Leonard, conductor, and John Lier-
man of Staunton, the motorman.
The local train had orders to pass
the southbound train at Staunton. The
latter train was running in two sec
tons and the orders given to the local
were that it should pass both sections
of the southbound train at Stanton
The first section had passed when tho
crew of the local pulled out on tbs
main track and started north At q
sharp turn, called Dickerson's curve
two miles north of Staunton the two
trains came together in d splinterin,,
crash.
DickersOn's curve is at the bottom.
of a decline both from the north anu
from the south. The local train anC
the second section of the excursion.
train were both on the down grade and
moving a speed of 40 miles an hour
when they met. The collision occurred
right at the bottom of the double in
cline and at the sharpest part of the
curve.
Tie cars were so close that 1t was
impossible for either of them to stol,
or slew down. The crews were able to
Go nothing except set the brakes and
jump for their lives. The crews of the
local and the crew of the special, which
We're composed of w. V. Duncan, con
ductor. and E. j. Young. both o.
n rfic11 in
they saw the collision was inevitable
They We're badly shaken up but Were
al BILE to lend assistance to the injured
None of the passengers had chance
for safety as the crash between the
cars followed Immediately the cries o.
warning uttered by the conductors and
motormen as they jumped from TIL.
trains.
The cars came together with terrifc
crash and both were demolished an, piled
in one huge mass of wreckage, through
which the bodies of the dead and wound
ed were scattered. 1t is not definitely
known how many of the passengers es-
capped uniniured but it is certain that by
far the larger portion of those on both
cars were either killed or desperately
hurt
AS quickly as possible word of the &C
cident was telephone to Springfield and
Peoria and a special car was immediate
ly rushed from these points. Other cars
also were sent north from Granite City.
Ill. These last took many of the injured
and hurried them back to Granite City.
where they were placed in hospitals. As
fast as the dead were extricated they
were placed in one of the cars sent from
Springfield. In a short time a car con-
tanning % bodies was sent to Carlinville,
where they were placed in an undertake
ing establishment.
From Springfield all physicians were
hurried to Stanton.
Within few minutes after the col
| lision occurred farmers from surround
| ing country and nearly every man In
| Stanton was on his way to the scene of
the accident to render whatever assist
ance was possible. The early corners
were greeted with spectacle such as