The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-09-05
Thirteen Passengers Injured, Two
Seriously, When Almost Entire
Trains Wrecked on Account Of
Broken Rail Early This
Morning.


point four miles east of Minot
shortly after 2 o'clock this morning,
resulting in the injury Of thirteen
passengers, who are receiving treat
ment at St. Joseph's hospital. Of
this number two women can be said
to be seriously injured and six or
eight of the other passengers are
badly hurt, but the others were all
injured but slightly. All will recover
with the exception of the two women
and they have fighting chance.
The train had stopped at the Sur
rey junction. 1t was on time and was
pulling along towards Minot at the
ordinary pace, when something went
wrong with a rail. The wreck was
caused either by the rail breaking or
else spreading Supt. McCandless is
of the opinion that the breaking of
the rail caused the accident.
The engine, tender and baggage car
went across all right, and the smok-
ing car was the first to go off the
track. The smoking car had left the
track and was leaning at an angle of
about 80 degrees when the train stop
ped. The two day coaches and the
tourist sleeper went over on their
sides, going down a fifteen foot en-
bankment The dining car was drag
ged along the track and came within
an ace of overturning. When the
train stopped, this car was tipped at
such an angle that it appeared that a
few pounds more pressure would send
it completely over. The Pullman
sleeper was off the track but remained
almost upright, while the observation
and sleeping car combined, did noS
leave the track.
The rails were bent out of shape
FOR several rods and the ties were
ground up to kindling wood
One peculiar thing about the wreck,
and probably the reason why many
people were not killed, is the fact
that despite the way in which the
coaches were pulled along the ditch,
not coupling was broken. This kept
several of the car from 'overturning.
affair and this saved the loss of many
lives. In spite Of the terrible shak-
ing up the coach got, not chandelier
in it was broken and not window
was cracked. This is considered al
most marvellous.
The wreck occurred so quickly that
no one in it has a clear conception
of how it happened. The lights went
out Immediately after the smoker left
the track and then it was biff, bang
until the train stopped few seconds
later. All was confusion. Women and
children were screaming and the in
jured were moaning.
The engine was in charge Of Engi-
neer Billy Hines and Fireman Oscar
Nelson. They, together with the bag
gagemen and mail clerks, got out
quickly and lent assistance to the in
jured. Those in the Pullman cars as
sisted in getting the injured out of the
overturned coaches.
Three soldiers from France, enroute
to their homes in Washington, honor
ably discharged because of disability,
did valuable service in first aid work
When the doctors and nurses arrived
few minutes after the wreck occur
red, they found that the soldiers had
gotten out their kits and bandaged
those wounded the worst and they did
mighty effective job; too. They did
this, despite the fact that one of the
SOluleTS received d pdlIlul CuC Ill lllo
arm, himself. He is being treated at
the hospital, but his two companions
have gone On.
Conductor AL Piclens was taking
up tickets in the smoking car when
the terrible crash came. He lost his
bundle of tickets, but these were re-
covered under seat later in the day.
A good many of those injured were
hurt in one of the day coaches, when
they were thrown into the windows
and cut by the broken glass. In one
of the cars, the passengers were taken
out thru window, opened at the bot
tom of the car as the coach lay on its
side.
C. A. Stotlar of Minot was riding in
the smoker when the wreck occurred.
He was not injured.
E. J. Walsh, chef in charge of the
dining car, was sleeping on the tables
when Hades broke loose for recess.
He says that practically every table
and chair in the car was piled up on
top of him, but he escaped injury by
a miracle. eve had fine lot of grub