New-York tribune., 1921-02-28
Michigan Central Express
Plunges Into N. Y. C.. I'm.
terstate Where Rails
Cross at Porter, Ind.
y Bodies Found:
TOwerman Held
Failure of Engineer to
Heed Block Signal Is
Blamed for Catastrophe

PORTER, Ind, Beb. 27.-Forty-
five or more persons were reported
killed and more than 100 injured to-
night when westbound New York
Central train crashed into a de-
rallied eastbound Michigan Central
train here in what railroad officials
said may be one of the most disas-
trous wrecks in history.
Unofficial reports made the death
list as high as fifty.
The towerman of the Michigan
Central was arrested Immediately
after the wreck.
Train Cut IN Half
The Michigan Central train, known
as the Canadian Express, left
Chicago at sos p. M, bound for
Toronto, Canada. 1t was cut in half
by the west-bound flyer, and both
engines plunged down an embank-
ment, The train was carrying sew
eral hundred passengers.
Both enginemen of the New York
Central train were killed. The engi-
neer was Claude Johnson, Of Elk.
hart, Ind. Five bodies were recov-
cred near the debris of the two en-.
gines.
Identification of many of the bodies
was impossible because of their
mangled condition.
A partial list of the dead follows:
Claude johnson, engineer of the
New York Central train, of Elkhart,
Ind.
George Deland, fireman of the New
York Central train, of Elkhart. Ind.
Mrs: Barney Cramer, Michigan
City, Ind.
W. G. Engler. Detroit, twenty
years old; identified by means Of q
railroad pass.
Mrs. Ralph See, Michigan City.
Keller, former superintendent Of
schools of Michigan City.
Peter Cain, Regina, Saskatchewan.
7. j. Campbell, eighteen years old,
address not learned
Mrs. Pearl Cavanaugh, Michigan
City.
Mrs. Frederick schnier, Michigan
City
Mr.: and Mrs. Addison E. Van Ripper,
Michigan City.
The list of those seriously injured
included:
Louis Heck, Jackson, Mich, sales
man for a Chicago firm.
Miss - Rosenwald, school teacher.
OF Michigan City; home, Chicago.
All OF the victims SO far as known,
except the two members of the New
York Central engine crew, were occu-
pants of the wooden day coach and
were mostly residents of Illinois. IN
diana and Michigan points. Sixteen OF
the bodies have been removed to Ches-
terton, Ind.
According to railway officials. the
disaster was caused by the failure Of
the engineer of the Michigan Central
train to heed a block signal at the
cross-over where the Michigan Central
and New York Central tracks inter
sect.
Train Automatically Derailed
The block signal automatically set o.
derailing switch. When the Michigan
Central train failed to heed the signal
against it, it struck the deraiiing
switch and plowed along the ties for
300 feet before it stopped, with the
wooden coach directly on the track in
front Of the oncoming New York Gem
trai train, which hit it squareIy and
plowed it's way into the wrecksge,
The telephone operator at the local
exchange sent out an emergency call.
and farmers for miles around gathered
to aid in the work of rescue.
AT 1O o'clock twenty-six bodies had
been recovered from the wreckage and
railway officials were of the opinion
that the total death list might exceed
forty-fives
Twenty bodies were taken to Chss-
terton, Ind, and four to Michigan CITY.
Ind, in automobiles.
There were no physicians here and
first aid was given the injured only by
passengers.
The only dead known on she New
York Central train were the two sn-
ginemen. The engineer of the Mich
igan Central is missing. Ys ~as Ye-
ported that he ieaped from his esb
when he saw the oncoming Nav Yori
Central train.
The towerman was blamed by railroad
officials for allowing the Michigan Csn.'
trai train to attempt TO cross ahead az
the westbound train.
A few persons living at this irnes,o~
point immediately began the worL -
rescue, using lanterns in their sssrcS
for the dead and injured. Relief trains
arrived, from Michigan City and Ch;'
eago about an hour after the yx,ast.
carrying nurses and doctort. Ths VIZ
tins were taken to Gary ard 20 Mick.
igan City.
CHICAGO, Feb. 27-The unin;ur.s
passengers on the New York Csnsr.Ii I
Central train ct Porter. rnS a Ian
brought into Chicago on a special trsss ~
late tonight. sssah
ona John IN !; H. Gelhar., a Of Oak Park, H.,
sengers, gave graphic deserint,onp psss u
the wreck as follows: OF
The. The first intimation we had n shs
% jerk and jump whsn ths an oegar
nFaKes axe were suddenly applied snes
shattcred tas a''s s1 nGmsas T1,s tho vindows w.,
ta1ere was terrific prins;aags is;aags ans
piowed through the [ otass as re