Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-01
Death Claims AZ
When Fast 7 rains
Have Fatal Crash

PORTER. Ind, Feb. 2S.-Forty
two bodies had been taken from the
wreckage today, of the New York
Central Interstate Express and the
Michigan Central Canadian flyer
near here
Although mangled limbs and 9TH
er bits of human anatomy were still
scattered through the wreckage, res
cue workers believed these were
parts of bodies already recovered
and did not believe the death toll
would run higher.
Investigation into the cause of
the wreck was started by state and
local authorities today.
According to information gather
ed by railroad and police authorities
today blame for the wreck lay be-
tween the engineer of the Michigan
Central train and the tower man at
the Diamond Crossing where the
wreck occurred.
The Michigan Central train at
p. m. Sunday. coming down on the
dangerous crossing at a speed of
fifty-five miles an hour, init the
derail set against it. The engine
and jail of the cars left the rails.
TIE train was still plunging along
half way across the Michigan Cen
trail tracks which intersect the New
York Central rails, when the In
terstate Express, at speed of sixty
to sixty-five miles an hour, crashed
into the fore part of the Canadian
flyer.
James f. Cook, tower man at the
Diamond Crossing, said that besides
having the derail set against the
Michigan Central train, he also had
the signals set to stop the train.
Engineer William Long, of the
Michigan Central train, claimed the
signals gave him the right of way.
Most of the dead were from Michi-
gan City and this vicinity. The In
terstate Express was running from
Boston to Chicago and the Canadian
Flyer had left Chicago for Toronto
and othear Canadian points, about an
hour before the crash.
The engine Of the Interstate Ex-
press plowed through two day
coaches of the derailed train. The
coaches were picked up like paper
boxes by the big mogul engine and
stacked up in piles Of debris fifty
feet high.
After going through the train, the
locomotive with parts of human
bodies still hanging to the pilot.
spun entirely around and then roll
Il MI
and fireman were instantly killed,
Passengers aboard the Interstate
Express described their Sensations
as the train plowed through.
1--WE heard a terrible sound as bits
of wreckage struck the windows and
the car began to jar, said John Gel
| hart, Chicago.
1--WE heard rending steel and wood
crashes of glass, kissing steam and
mounting Shrek from the dying
and injured
The work of rescue began immedi-
ately, although it was not until two
hours after the crash occurred that
a wrecking train arrived from Michi-
gan City. rs
-Four rescue and wrecking trains
reached the scene shortly after p.
m. and began clearing away the
debris.
y
Ind, led the rescue party until the
physicians and nurses arrived.
Frances Kennedy, vaudeville star
whose nose was broken when she
was dashed against the wall of a
car. described the work of the priest
Three persons were pinioned I'M
der the wreckage and dying from
scalds," she said. Their screaming
was terrible. [ started to- crawl in
and try to help them, but some man
pulled me back. We realized there
was nothing we could do but pray
for quick ending of their agony.
Father Deville crawled into the
steaming and smoking debris and
comforted them until finally their
cries were stilled by DEATH
Fire broke out. The volunteer fire
department of Porter strung hose
several blocks and soon had the
flames under control.
The rescuers were working only by
the red glow Of the fire from the en-
CINE boxes.
Only a few lanterns could be found
on either train and there was prac-
tically no rescue equipment. A few
axes and two stretcherS were all that
could be found in the rescue work.
Most of the bodies were taken to
Chesterton, while others were re-
moved to Laporte, Michigan City,
Gibson and other nearby points in au-
tomobiles. Six bodies were taken
from under the engine of the New
York Central train.
Only few were injured in the
crash. Practically all in the two daY
coaches were killed outright.