Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1921-03-03
DIE in
PASSENGER WRECK
NEAR PORTER, ind.
New York Central Train Trav-
cling Fifty Miles an Hour
Plows Through Derailed
Michigan Central Train at
Crossing.

Porter, Ind. Feb. 2S.---FOrty-two
bodies had been collected early this
forenoon from the wreck last night
when the Canadian Limited on the
Michigan Central and the Inter
State Limited OF the New York Gem
trail lines crashed at crossing. 1t
was diamond shape crossing per-
hitting the New York Central Tain,
which struck as the othcr sprawl
ed, derailed, across the intersection,
to rack MichigahsG ears 'in-
stead of cutting them 1t right
angles.
The forward coaches of the New
York Central train, which was west
bound lay upon the two splintered
coaches of the Michigan Central
train, which was east bound, threw
which it had plowed, while travelling
nearly so miles All hour.
A statement by towerman J. c..
Cook, on duty at the crossing, de-
clared the block 2 miles away was
set against the Michigan Central
train, while the track was left clear
for the New York Central train.
Railroad officials at the scene Of
wreck said Engineer w. +. Long, Of
Michigan Central train, who escaped
unhurt, declared he had received a
his fireman.
When the Michigan Central train
struck the derail 600 feet from the
crossing it was the first indication
he had of the impending crash, Long
is said to have stated From that
point the S coaches of the Michigan
Central train bumped along the ties
coming to stand still with the Bird
and 4th coaches at the intersection
Of the track and an instant later the
New York Central train burst thru.
All except the two baggage and
mail cars of the New York Central
train remained upright, altho bits
OF the wooden coaches of the Michi-
gan Central train were scattered for
SO yards. Passengers in the four
coaches of the Michigan Central
train behind the death cars, were
unhurt except for the shake up. All
the passengers on the New York
Central train escaped.
Many Wounded In Head
For. no reason that railroad Of
ficials could assign almost all of the
dead taken to the little morgue at
'ostertown, near here, received
their fatal wounds in the head. Some
we're decapitated. accounting for the
failure to identify 9 of the 25 which
had been brot here.
Hospitals and private homes at
Michigan City, Ind, and Gary. re-
ceived the injured, according to the
character of the injury.
The speed of the New York train.
while fatal to passengers in the two
death cars, saved the passengers in
tho rear coaches of both trains from
worse htan severe jolting.
Signal Set Against VI. G. Train
An official statement issued from
the office. of the chief dispatcher Of
the Michigan Central at Chicago al
so declared the, Michigan Central en-
gine crew apparently failed to OBJ
serve that the crossing signal was
stral train burst thru. the wooden
set against them.
!. The engine of the New York Cen
coaches with such force that it whirl-
ed half around far down the track
The small blaze which started in
the wreckage was quickly subdued 4
.ss Officials of the New York Central
said the automatic recording device
in the crossing tower showed the
New York Ceptrsl train. hit tho gu
,towpr bill !. signal /, station
.thrse. miles back from the crossing
!ou each line. inst 20 seconds ahead,