The searchlight., 1911-12-22

Odessa, Minnesota. Ten to
twelve persons were killed and as
many more injured, some of them seri-
ously. near this station about a. m.
when fast silk train on the Milwau-
kee road crashed into the Columbian.
one of the crack trains of that railway
system. also running east.
The sleeping car of the Columbian,
which had been attached at Aberdeen
and was of lighter construction than
the other cars of through coast trains,
was telescoped by the engine of the
silk train at one end and by the heavy
dining car at the other end. Only two
cars were hurled from the track, the
sleeper and the diner.
Ten Dead Taken Out.
Ten bodies have been taken from
the wreckage. and all but one identi-
fed. There is some reason to believe
other bodies are still under the debris,
and men are at work in the ruins.
All of the injured will recover. All
the bodies Of the dead and most Of
the injured were placed on train and
taken to Ortonville. where good hos
pital facilities would be obtained.
Relief From Miibank.
The news of the disaster was flashed
to Milbank, freight division head
quarters Of the road. and to Ortonville.
Two OF Ortonville's surgeons. Drs. Bert
Karn and Charles Bolsta, were hurried
to the scene in automobiles and did
heroic work in succoring the injured
,,.A txTs.,. afI
were sent on the relief special from
Milbank.
Engineer Sorby and Fireman San
dell Of the second section jumped
when the collision was seen to be in
evitable. Scndelis ankle was broken.
The accident occurred short dis
tance from the signal tower at Odessa.
The first section Of the train had been
stopped by the towerman because Of
a freight train In the block ahead of
1t. The second section, which closely
followed the first, is what is known as
silk" train. carrying merchandise.
The railway officials attribute the
accident to the failure OF the operator
to set the signals against the second
section. They also believe that the
brakeman Of the first section failed to
run back to flag the second section.
Because Of the darkness the engineer
of the second section did not see the
rear light Of the train in front In time
to avert collision.
The wreck tore down the telegraph
wires and there was some delay in get
ting word of the disaster to the head.
quarters Of the road.
The operator at the Odessa station
says he left the station and block
open for the train to go through and
went of duty. When the train
reached the station the block was
closed and the engineer applied the
air The second section was following
SO closely and at such high speed that
there was no time to warn II of the
danger.
Worst Since Rio Disaster.
The wreck is said to be the worst
the Milwaukee road has had for twen-
ty-seven years. or since that near Rio.
Wis. in 1884. when a train southbound
from Minneapolis to Milwaukee. left
the rails. The wooden cars then in
use. took fire from the heating stoves
and thirteen persons were burned to
death" The entire train was consumed
by the fire.
Mrs. J. r. Richard and her daughter
Vessie were wife and daughter Of the
superintendent of the Trans Missouri
division Of the Milwaukee road with
headquarters at Mobridge. on the Mis-
souri, river. west of Aberdeen.