The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-24
SOLDIER
train IN
WRECK!
EIGHT INJURED
when UP. HITS
SANTA FE AT X
Four Soldiers Hurt in Accident
in North Topeka.
Trains Come Together Under
Slow Speed at Junction.
TROOPS ON THE way T0K. G.
Heavily Loaded Coaches En-
Route to Football Game.
Locomotives a Mass of Wreck
age Delaying Traffic.
T0PEKANS IN INJURED LIST
Thomas, Engineer, and HOIIO-
way. Fireman, on Santa Fe.
Heavily Loaded Coaches En-
Route to Football Game.
Locomotives a Mass of Wreck
age Delaying Traffic.
TOPEKANS IN INJURED LIST
Thomas, Engineer, and HOIIO-
way, Fireman, on Santa Fe.
Santa Fe Crew Claims Adher-
eRce to Crossing Rules.

EVAN THOMAS, santa Fe engineer, $40
Jefferson street, Topeka; right leg
X HOLLOWAY, santa Fe fireman. To-
Peka; burns. cuts and bruises, arms.
face and body.
SANFORD HOWARD, Union Pacific en-
gineer, Kansas City. Kan; cuts and
burns. arms and body.
PRIVATE ROBERT PROFFIT, Dunlap,
Mo-; member Co. f., S54th Infantry.
head cut.
LIEUTENANT j. w. BRowNLEE. Camp
Funston, S5Srd Infantry; shoulder and
hip bruised and head cut.
GEORGE ROSS, Santa Fe conductor, St
Joseph, Mo-; hand cut. head and body
PRIVATE N E. GAINES. Bowling Green.
MO; Co. F., S54th Infantry. head and
J. II. WILLIAMS, mess officer assra
regiment. Camp Funston; bruises and
Eight men were injured short
ly after 10 o'clock this morning
when a special Union Pacific
troop train from Camp Funston
crashed into Santa Fe passenger
No. 105 at the Union Pacific
Santa Fe junction in North To-
peka. The fact that both trains
were running thru the yards at
slow rate of speed prevented
a heavy loss of life. Both en-
gines were demolished and mem
bers of the Santa Fe engine
crew were sent to the Santa Fe
hospital.
The heavily loaded ten coach
special troop train was carrying
800 rooters and band to the
Army-Navy football game at
Kansas City. Members of the
Santa Fe crew declared their
train had been stopped and whis-
tie sounded for the crossing in
conformity with rules. The
heavy Union Pacific mogul en-
gine rammed squarely into the
Santa Fe engine as it was cross
ing the track. Both engines were
wrecked and a Santa Fe baggage
car partially telescoped.
Slow Speed Saved Lives.
The engine OF the Union Pacific
caught fire and companies from the
North Topeka and jefferson street
stations responded to calls. None of
the members of the engine crews were
caught under the pile of wreCkage.
Train officials declared that a heavy
loss of life was prevented only be-
ca,.~a- Of the slow movement of the
/. aims.
Neither train crew realized an ac-
cident was impending until the trains
crashed. Neither train was running
faster than five miles an hour.
here
from St Joseph. Mo, and Atchison.
Kan. had stopped at the North To-
peka station a hundred yards north
of the crossing. The train whistled, it
was declared. and started to cross the
Union Pacific tracks. At the same
time, the troop special came from the
west and struck the Santa Fe engine
squarely in center.
Soldiers Badly Shaken Up.
All of the 500 men on the troop
train were badly shaken up and the
impact of the trains broke scores %
windows. 1t was the falling glass,
rather than the shock of the col
Hsion. tho that caused practically all
OF the injuries on the Union Pacific
train number of the soldiers were
thrown over seats and into the aisfes.
In the shower of glass a number of
Sammies were cut on the hands, face
and head only in the cases listed,
tho. were the injuries of sufficient inn
portance TO warrant medical atten-
tion.
hospital. Before the north l;ne of the
Union Pacific's double track was
cleared for traffic at noon. the troop