Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-25
NINETEEN PERSONS PERISH.
Express Train Wrecked In Collision
Sleeping Passengers Killed and Their
Rodies Burned.

Express Train Wrecked In COLLISION
sIeeping Passengers Killed and Their
Bodies Burned.
= Durand, Mich, Aug. 25.-Eight
terribly scalded and mangled lifeless
bodies, three persons probably fatally
injured, three others missing, and five
others seriously injured, IS the result
of frightful wreck on the Grand
Trunk at Duffield, near here, early
today.
The Montreal express, from Chicago,
consisting Of nine coaches, stopped at
Duffield, east Of Durand, to make some
repairs, when train No. 1, running
thirty-fve minutes late, crashed INTO
the rear end, splitting the Pullman IN
two and hurting the passengers III
every direction.
The wreckage caught fire immediate
w, and the cries of the dying and IN
jured rose above the cracking OF the
blazing ruins. When some of the
bodies of the dead were taken from the
wreck early this morning, they were
so frightfully burned and mangled that
Identification was impossible.
Positive statements Of the rescuers
on the scene in the first hours follow
ing the wreck, were that ~ were
killed. They still insist that there are
other dead beside the eight bodies al
ready recovered, and even rallroaders
at the scene think the list will total the
first estimate. The confusion has been
SO great at this little junction that the
Grand Trunk has not yet made an
official statement.
A number OF bodies. said to be 10,
were taken out and put aboard train
which proceeded to Flint. Two bodies,
of women, one middle-aged, the other
about %, we're taken to a local morgue.
At a. IN. several more bodies wers
taken from the fiercely burning debrle
and the sickencd rescuers we're horri-
fled to see others slowly cremated and
their ashes blended with those OF the
Pullman. One woman was literally
cut in two.
The Montreal Express from CiIca-
90, consisting of nine coaches and run
ming as train No. IA, stopped at Duff
field. little town four miles east OF
here, to make some slight repairs to the
locomotive.
Engineer George Mitchell was under
his engine wllcp the crash came, and
was seriously injured. His fireman,
George Nelson, was brought here this
morning fatally scalded.
Brakeman e. n. Graham, OF De
troit. was sent to the rear OF No. II to
post danger signals. He declares he
struck his signals rs ordered, but will
not commit himself rs to the rear
lights of the train. He was brought
here pending an investigation Of the
wreck.
Engineer Charles Spencer Of passcn-
ger train No. 4, was running fast to
make up Il few lost minutes, and de-
clares that he put on brakes and re-
vcrsed as soon rs he heard the torpedo,
placed on the tracks to warn him, but
that it was too late. He claims No. Il
had no tail lights. Ills fireman Is mis-
sing and thought to be dead.
No. 4 bloughed through the rear
Pullman like stick through sand.
The passengers had no chance for their
lives.
1t is declared here that both crews,
with the exception Of the engine crew,
we're strikebreakcrs. held over by the
Grand Trunk.
As all the killed except the trainmcn
were asleep in their berths, their ldentl-
fication is extremely difficult on account
OF the absence OF clothing. 1t will be
days before their identification is fully
established, as relatives probably will
have to come from distant points TO
make the identitcations,