The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-10

8ooJoo Ptnneo Down.
The bodies OF the trainmen were
pinned under tons of coal against the
toiler and could not be extricated until
the wrecking crew arrived and built a
track alongside the wreck on which to
operate the crane and lift the locomo
tive. This work was begun at once
but II was not until midnisht that the
D6dles were removed. sT@As''''fS6 =
None OF the passengers WAS injured,
although all of them were severely sha-
ken and dashed about in the cars.
The train was q special from Indi'
annapolis to Richmond and is known az
the hay fever special"
Spends Nights Here.
While Erwin had home in Indiana.
polls at 474 Randolph street, he spent
every night at his daughters home
here and had a host OF friends in Rich
mond.
Railroad men who were interviewed
today are firm in the belief that de-
liberate attempt was made to wreck
the train for the switch was found
open, the lock broken and the lamp
cold.
Barely twenty minutes before a sol.
Id Pullman train from st. Louis to New
York passed over the switch and the
Fight was burning and the switch prop
crly set.
1t is possible that the trainmen who
were killed underwent terrible torture
before they died. Their bodies were to-
gether in the underside of the cab,
which fell over toward the south. both
vedged tightly against the boiler and
n ass OF pipes.
Hubbard erasps Rods.
r. F. Hubbard, baggageman on the
train, who is also former resident
Of Richmond, had narrow escape
from death. saving himself by his pres
ence of mind in grasping one Of the
reds that run along the top Of the car.
When he felt the first suspicious qufv-
or he sprang to the rod and braced
himself The car turned entirely on
it's side and brought up with a crush
ing blow, but Hubbard climbed out of
his door unhurt.
The wreck caused almost a panic
among the passengers. They rushed
from the doors OF the coaches to places
Of safety along the track, where they
remained until assured that there was
no danger. 1t was at the dinner hour
and the dining car was we'll filled. The
diners were tumbled about among the
tables and broken dishes. The passer-
Cers were taken back to Indianapolis
and arrangements were made for them
TO continue their trip as the Pennsyl.
vania's main line track was blocked
for only a few hours.
Finds Lamp Cold.
Deputy Coroner Wagner Of Indiana
polls, was one Of the first persons at
the scene of the wreck He said:
The first thing I did was to exam
inc the SWITCH he said. There l
found the broken lock and then I felt
tue lamp. the light in which was not
burning. The lamp was cold. It is my
firm belief that some one extinguished
the light. broke off the lock and turn.
cd the switch"
DR.. Wagner pocketed the switch
lock. which he will use in making his
investigation.
B.. F. Morris, a rural carrier in Irv-
ington. was about forty rods away from
the switch when the train ran into It..
He said that Immediately after the To-
comotives swerved he saw fire flying
from the wheels along the train, an
evidence that Erwin had applied the
air brakes and was doing his utmost
til the last to save the passengers on
his train.
Erwin Saves Passengers.
Certainly the heroism OF Erwin. the
ensineman. in sticking to his post and
using his last ounce Of power to bring
the massive train to stop was largely
responsible for the fact that there
were no fatalities among the passen-
gers. Praise for his bravery was
feard on all sides. The train was
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