Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-28

Decapitated.
Porter Ind Feb 28-Forty-two bodies had been coll
ected early this forenoon from the wreck last night when
the Canadian Limited the Michigan Central and the In
erstate Limited of the New York Central lines crashed at
crossing 1t diamond shape crossing. permitting
the New York Central train which struck as the other
prawled deracd the intersection. to rake two
Michigan Central instead OF cutting them right
angles
Witness Describes Tragedy
Edward w. Fierke who stood on the platform Of the
day coach just few feet from the point where the New
York Central engine hit it, and who the passengers in
this coach trying escape the headlgh bore down
them, told his story today. lie is from Grand Rapids
Mich. His story begins at the point where the Michigan
Central train deraled and to stop the New
York Central tracks.
The car swsyed suddenly and left the tracks he
said. Then bumped along the ties for few fecta
full speed. From one side heard blast Of whistle
looked out There Was'anoter train bearing down
1T full speed
Il couldn't move My tongue stuck up in the roof Of
my mouth. tried to open the door into the day coach
shout the people inside Ny hand refused function
IT. perhaps wasn't thirty seconds between the
years to me-
/ "The headlight Of the approaching train made
thing bright day where stood thought was
surely going to be Killed.
Passengers Saw Train
"As stood could sec into the day coach. On the
side the New York Central train approaching could
jumped up from her She held little girl to her
breast Men jumped upone started for the door where
II was standing.
Then suddenly the side Of the car buckled in NV
last conscious impression OF everything dssoving
front of remember seeing the of the engine:
reenber the lights in the going out remember hear
ling that I'll never forget and then darkness.
Thrown From Platform
y was thrown from that platform nearly fifty feet. I
lit on the ground-the breath knocked of When
sat up-thc whole middle Of our train had gone 1t
!! little hell there for a few minutes.
Il wish could accurately describe the sensations OF
that moment that waited for DEATH can't understands
even now how I'm alive. When could get my knees,
stayed there and gave up PRAYER. And I'm glad of it.
I'll forget the expression the faces Of those
poor people they died. The staring eyes Of
looked directly into mine-hat face is going
for the rest of my life.
T'icrke outsiIe Of numerous bruises injured
The platform which he $,cod was smashed into
fragments
ing agent for the H. & NJ. Body company among the
victims suffering from minor injuries who arrived here
late last night She sustained slightly spraned knee
The Pitners were passengers the New York Central
train
Pitner Tells Story
I'VE seated in the paror car MIR. Pitner said
travelling fifty miles hour when without warming
there terrific crash My wife thrown across the
table and sprawled out over my lap The injuries would
have been had the impact brought the to stand
STILL But after tic crash rode through for fully 400
Feet before stopped.
! When sufficiently collected to survey the
scene that every the train had left the rails
with the exception of the ore in. 4
"Hurrying to the track intersection witnessed the
most horrible sight have beheld Our train hadE
crashed right through Of the coaches of the Michigan
crash had left that coach He said every seat was occ,
pied There have been fully sixty persons that one
car, which was shattered to bits. :
Il dragged three mangled victims from the wreckage
and helped to place them in cabs. z sSSS . .s I
I*S&s tconinued a.