The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-05
MANY KILLED AND
|NJU RED IN WRECK
ON KATY At ATOKA

McAlester, Okla July Eight per
sons were killed ~ seriously injured
some thought fatally, and 10 others
suffered minor injuries when Katy
freight train smashed into the rear
end of carnival company's special
in the Atoka yards at 10 O'Clock Sun.
day night.
The dead, most of whom have been
identified, have been placed in the
and dying were rushed in a special
train 70 McAlester hospitals
The switching crew switched the
cars of the carnival company onto the
main line where it was split open
by "a fast freight, running extra. Ac.
cording to McAlester NJ. X. & T. rail-
way officials, the switching crew had
failed to place a flag or signal on the
line.
Local Katy men declare that they
understand that an official investiga-
ton will be started at once to place
the blame for the catastrophe.
When the speeding freight train
came down on the show cars, with no
other warning than the glare of the
headlight and a belated Shrek Of the
whistle the crash was heard for nearly
mile around.
Wreckage In Flames
Immediately after the crash one of
the cars caught fire and amid the
shrieks of the dying and the dull
thud Of falling timbers came the
crackle of the flames as they crept
upon those pinned under the wreck
age. and unable to extract themselves,
The train was one of bedlam for
few minutes. Hundreds of persons.
including those members of the car
nival crew who We're not on the
doomed cars, rushed to the scene and
began to work frantically TO rescue
the victims.
The freight train stopped a short dis
tance above the wreckage and the
crew returned to lend its and. With
no adequate water supply and with
the smoke and fire from the burning
cars making the rescue work almost
impossible. the workers turned their
attention to the cars not yet on fire
in an effort to save the injured.
Scene of Horror
AS soon as an injured form was
brought out of the debris. the doctors
gave temporary aid, dressed wounds
and turned 1t over to others for care.
Some of the injured were able 10
crawl from under the wreckage while
others were pinned and had to oe
pried from under the piles.
Train Had Crossed Over
The fast freight Train was switched
onto the west line Of the double TRACK
at Caddo, Okla, it is reported, and no
flagman or torch was placed behind
the show ears to give warning Katy
officials al Atoka declare that rail-
road officials will begin an investi-
cation Immediately to place the blame
for the catastrophe.
Two cars were set fire and wers
completely burned, several of thosc
killed were trapped in the burning
cars and rescuers were nuable TO gel
them out of the wreckage.
The Dead
The following list is of dead. ser.
iously injured and minor injured:
Mrs, Maude Woehler, Miami, Okla,
Mrs. Anna Wilson, San Bonita, Cal;
Mrs. Myrtle Duke and babe, Greenville,
Texas; Mr.. George Hunt, Bolton, Tex
as; Mrs. MoClanahan, Dallas, Texas;
Mrs. Ii. h. Daville, Miami, Okla: An.
other woman unidentified.
Seriously Injured
p. j. Smell, head and face bruised;
Mrs. May Alemong. fractured hip;
Pauline McCalahan, (baby) fractured
thigh; A. S. Roger, fractured collar
bone; j. w. Hulse, Tyler, Texas, in
ternal injuries; Mrs. Gladys Powers,
Atchison, Kan, broken ribs; w. o.
Downes. broken ribs; Mrs. Julia Roger,
fractured left thigh.
Minor Injuries
W. r. Smell, Jennie Sweden. Marie
Spencer. C. Hill, II. Hill, W. Neal
Mrs. Betty Allen, Anna Reedinger,
Mrs. ]. w. Dyer. Neva Cook, G. w.
Right, (Colored) Mrs. Anna Boone, w.
S. Rankin, Mrs. Ora Mills, Mckinley,
Texas. and w. NJ Woehler, Miami,
Oklahoma.