The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-04
DEATH LIST TH|RTY-N|NE|
FATALITIES IN THE SUNDAY
NIGHTS TRAIN WRECK
New York Central Crew Assert
That Clear Signal Was
Given Them

Porter, Ind. March 1.--Investiga-
tons by Indiana state officials and
officers of the Michigan Central and
New York Central railroads were
continued today to determine the
cause of the wreck here Sunday
night fatal to thirty .nixe passengers
on the eastbound Michigan Central
train.
Members of the Michigan Central
train crew were closeted yesterday
with General Superintendent ]. l.
Mckee, but no statement was given
out The inquiry was conducted al
Niles, Mich. and early today the Of
ficials returned to Porter for further
investigation Henry link and ]. @
commission were on the scene max
ing Eurvey for the state but gave
no Indication of the nature of their
inquiry.
Steps For Coroners inquest
County officials OF Porter count
early today took steps to have Co.
roner III. o. Seipel call an inquest
Most of the statements so far OBJ.
tanned from railroad men connected
with the wreck have been state
ments to press representatives and
Robert H. Moore deputy prosecuting
attorney of Porter county declared
he would start mandamus proceed.
ings against the coroner unless an
inquest was opened at once to take
official testimony.
Both Towerman Jos. Cook and
Operator Charels Whitehead insist
ed that the New York Central train
was given the right Of way and that
fy.oa az cto le
were set to stop that train as the
q train approaches.
Signal For New York Central
New York Central officials state
that the fact that the New York
Central train did not leave the rails
proved that the clear signal had
been given that train and pointed
out that it is mechanically impossi-
bleAto give both trains clear sig
nal.
Engineer w. e. Long and Fireman
George Block Of the Michigan Cen
trail train were still secreted by
Michigan Central officials but in q
statement given out by New York
Central officials they declared they
saw signal indicating they had q
clear track. Their statement added
IudI ING, pTOOI VI Lie Cl0dT SlSudl ldy
in the fact that the engine the fact
that the engine and one coach pass
ed over the derail and continued on
the rails. New York Central officials
declared, however, that the engine
had been derailed and had jumped
back on the rails when the front
trucks struck the guard rails at the
diamond crossing.
Most Bodies identified
OF the thirty. five bodies taken tr
the Chestcrton morgue mile from
the wreck identifications had been
made of all except two. but some Of
these were regarded by Coroner Sell
pei as unverified. The coroner de-
clared the death total would not ex-
coed thirty seven or thirty eight
but information from relatives and
friends showed half a dozen persons
still unaccounted for early today.
All of the wreckage had been
searched early today except beneath
the battered engine of the New York
Central train and q heavy wrecking
crane was expected to arrive early
today to life 1t from the pit where II
buried itself.
Bodies Of four women and one
man remained today, but some OF
them could be only recognized by
relatives officials said.