Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-02-28

was believed that they numpere'
not more than score.
Flames Are Checked.
The engine of the New York Cen
trail train burst through the Wooo,
en- coaches with such force tnat II
whirled half around and started
blaze in the wreckage, Porter citi-
zens dragged out hose and quick
Nv extinguished the fire.
Within a short time lights IN the
upright coaches of both trains were
turned on again from an emergeh-
CIV connection and any semblance OF
panic among the uninjured was al
layed, while the unhurt ministereu
to those hurled from their seats
but still living.
Bodies of Engineer Claude John
son of Elkhart, Ind, and Fireman
George Deland of Elkhart, engine
crew on the New York Central tram
were recovered from beneath tneiI
smashed locomotive.
One Engine Grew Saved.
Engineer w. f. Long of Jackson
Mich, and Fireman George BlocE
of Michigan City, were able to saw
themselves, their engine being fal
beyond the point of the collision.
II was not to blame" TowermaI
Cook told an Associated Press rep
resentative at his home in Chester
Iton today. 81 threw the blocl
against the Michigan Central trail
while it was two miles back from
the crossing. 1 do not know VIII!
they failed to catch the signal"
An official statement issued from
the office of the chief dispatcher o
the Michigan Central at Chicag
also declared the Michigan Centra
engine crew apparently failed t
observe that the crossing signal wa
set against them.
i Edward w. Fiedrke of Gram
Rapids. Michigan, who stood on IN
platform of the day coach just
J few feet from the point where tn
} New York Central engine hit il
and who saw the passengers tryin
} to escape as the headlight Dor
J down on them, told his story today
"The car swayed suddenly an
left the tracks," he said. "W
bumped along the ties for a fey
feet at full speed. From one side
heard a blast of a whistle, locke
out. There was another train bear
ing down on us at fun speed.
II couldn't move. My tongu
stuck up in the roof of my moutf
! | tried to open the door into tn
day coach to shout TO the peopl
inside. My hand refused to func
ton.
Woman Protects Child.
"It. perhaps, wasn't over thirt
seconds between the time 1 say
that train and the moment it hi
Jus. 1t was ten years to me.
THE light from the headlight Q
the approaching train made every
, thing as bright as day where
, stood. l thought l was surely sc
} ing to be killed.
As l stood l could see into tn
day coach. on the side the Ne'
York Central train was approach
, ing / could see that other passen
gers nau seen IL a MoAhAu luftht
.iup from her seat, She held a littl
girl to her breast. Men Jumped u
one started for the door.
VIII "NeVcr Forget"
Then suddenly the side OF tn
car buckled in. remember hear
, ing a scream that III never forge
d. And then came darkness.
81 was thrown from that plat
/ form nearly fifty feet. lit on tn
, ground-the breath knocked out q
3 me. when I sat up, the whole mid
die Of our train had gone. Il wa
J little hell there for a few min
3 utes.
Il wish I could accurately des
vribe the senations of that mOmen
, that I awaited death. When
could get to my knees. l staye
; there and gave up a prayer. An
: I'm glad Of IT,
F1edrke Not injured.
/ "I'il never forget the expressio