The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-03-03
THIRTY SEVEN IN WRECK.
First Announcement Made by COro-
ner Found to be Incorrect Some
Bodies Having Been Counted Twice
on Duty Tells of Crash
of Two Trains.

Bodies Having Been Counted Twice
Photographer on Duty Tells of Crash
OF Two Trains.
! Porter, Ind. Feb. 28-A complete
check up by railroad officials and the
coroner of the bodies in the Chester
ton morgue at 8 o'clock tonight re-
vealed that there were not more than
81 known dead in the Michigan CEN
tral and New York Central wreck
last night.
| The discrepancy between this
count and the one of more than 40
previously announced by Coroner E.
0. Seipel was found to be due to the
multilated condition of some of the
dead. In some cases a body badly
mangled had been counted as two.
Some seven or eight OF the bodies.
however, may never be identified.
The wreck left them in such a con-
dltlon they could not be recognized.
only one part Of the debris remained
to be searched tomorrow-the twist
ed broken hulk of the New York Cen
trail engine which tore through the
wooden Michigan passenger coach
/ with such force that it was hurled
several feet in the soft earth.
This had been partly undermined,
however, and 1t was thought that all
OF the bodies had been recovered. To-
night IL of the dead had been taken
to the little furniture store mOrgue
In Chesterton, one mile away, and the
other two had been removed to Mich
igan City, Ind.
Only half a dozen of the bodies
I had been taken from the Chestcrton
morgue the slow Identification prob
ably being responsible for the failure
OF relatives to call for them. No
statement has been made public by
the engineer and firemen of the Mich
igan=Central train. They escaped seri-
Gus injury and went to Niles, Mich.
4 where they related their stor-
les to operating officials of the road.
The engineer later went to his home
lii Jackson, Mich, it was said.
Charles Whitehead telegrapher IN
the signal tower which regulates the
passage OF the trains over the cross
ing where New York Central train
last night smashed into the side of a
Michigan Central train, killing more
than 40, tonight for the first time
gave his version of the events pre-
cedlng and during the collision.
He substantiated the statement of
Joe Cook, operator of the SO levers in
the towers, that the signals were set
against the Michigan Central train,
and exonerated Cook of any blame
for the disaster.
| While he had been too unstrung
to falk connectedly last night, to-
night was back at his job, outwardly
calm.
Il send and receive all messages
telling when various trains will ar
rive" he said. II have nothing to do
with the operation of the signals and
am not considered in any way respon-
3ible for them.
Ordinarily man named Piering
runs the levers. but he wanted to
take a night off and hired Joe Cook,
who is substitute operator, to work
for him.
Because of the mass Of switches
detours. and the intersection, both Of
us must be on our toes all the time,
and we were last night. Far down
each track is an appliance which
rings a bell in the tower when n
train hits it. Last night when we
heard the bell we saw it was the New
York Central. About 80 seconds later
the Michigan Central bell rang, Joe
set the signals against the Michigan
Central and opening the track for
the New York Central. We sat peer
ing down the New York Central
racks, watching the headlight grad
ually grow larger and larger. We
hadn't noticed the Michigan Central.
The New York Central engine
gradually grew larger and larger and
finally its outlines were plainly Wis
lble. Suddenly 1 heard Joe shout:
My God, Charley, the NJ. c. is
coming through the block"
Il can still hear that shouted warn
ing. l turned quickly to the right and
there, not $50 feet away, was the
Michigan Central, No. 20, crashing
down at 60 miles an hour. 1t was so
close l could see the spaces between
the fender bars. Joe jumped for the
door and l jumped after him.
Sound of Smash.
I'VE heard terrific grinding
smash. There was hiss of steam, a
brilliant, red glare lighted up the
over and our little building shook
III over. The crashing of glass the
lower windows breaking-lingered in
ny ears and the tower continued to
Iock. We lay against the door for
moment and then collapsed to the
floor. Later, few seconds later, |
uppose, Joe got up and dashed down
stairs. / followed HIM.
when 1 reached the ground Joe
was running full speed up the road
to Chesterton, two miles away. l am
iold that he never stopped until he
reached there although several per-
snnc triad In bol, hin,