Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-28
SITS CHARGES
CRASH WAS DUE
TO NEGLIGENCE

O1GGAO41 w LGo II ~ H
TO NEGLIGENCE
CONTINUED From Page One)
Grand Rapids car not even being de-
rallied.
RETURNING HOME
FROM VISIT.
Mrs. Barney Kramer Of Michigan City,
killed in the wreck, was returning home
on the Michigan Central train after
visit to her husband. Relatives today
were afraid to notify Mr.. Kramer Of his
wife's death. as he Is suffering from
heart disease.
Among the women on the N. Y. c.
train was Frances Kennedy, vaudeville
star, and wife Of Thomas Johnson. Chi
caR0 attorney She was only bruised
and aided in the care Of the injured.
Jerome J. Crowley, also a Chicago at
torney. was among the rescued, unin-
jured
The list OF dead shows the names of
Mr.. and Mrs. A. H. Van Ripper, Michigan
City. Mr.. Van Ripper had been an en-
gineer on the Michigan Central for more
than fifty years and drove his last train
a few days ago. having been retired from
been to Chicago to celebrate the occa-
sion.
Another element was added to the con-
fusion here this morning when the scanty
food supply OF the town was exhausted
after feeding wreck victims and rescuers
all night. Supplies are being rushed
from Cary and other nearby towns.
William B. Engler, accountant for the
Michigan Central at Detroit was among
the killed. He was returning home from
a visit with his sister, Miss Daisy Engler
OF Chicago.
CRASH HEARD
FOR MILES.
The crash was heard for miles and soon
there began pouring in from the sur
rounding countryside scores OF farmers
and their wives and daughters. Two ply
sicians came from Chesterton, a mile
away
While women tore up their skirts to
make bandages for the injured, then
helped them to the homes Of residents.
where they were put to bed. the bodies
were removed first to the town hall and
then to undertaking rooms IN ChestertOn,
where an improyised morgue was set up.
The bodies were placed on the floor, on
table tops and chairs, while six embalm-
ers worked feverishly to prepare them
for inquest today. Some were so mutt
lated as to render identification almost
impossible Four relief trains arrived
here during the night from Chicago, Elk
hart and Michigan City.
The scene of desolation and death
which followed the crash was filed with
numerous dramatic incidents. There was
Father De Vile, chaplain In the late war,
who crawled amid the smoking debris
to administer the last sacraments to the
dying.
There was little e-year-old Pearl Cava-
naugh. whose lifeless body was dug from
the wreckage and who held In her tiny
hand a bag Of candy apparently just
purchased when the crash came.
Another strange fresk Of the wreck
was woman apparently IN her thirtles
who was found with her clothing torn
completely from her body.
Joseph Cook. towerman, declared the
New York Central train had the right
of-way, and that the block was get to
stop the Michigan Central flyer. In vivid
fashion he described how the crash oc-
CURED.
Under normal conditions" he ex-
planned, "the blocks are set against all
trains. The train hitting the buzzer first
the block which is set against them is
released and the train is permitted to
go on.
That is exactly what happened when
the buzzer sounded last night 1t showed
that the New York Central train was the
first to hit the buzzer by almost a
fun minute ahead Of the Michigan Cen
trail flyer. l released the block which
permitted the New York Central train
10 go through. Just as the train hit
the crossing I saw the Michigan Central
train coming around the curve at sixty
miles an hour. l saw right away what
was going to happen and thought the
tower would also be demolished. I called
to Charlie Whitehead, the telegraph op-
orator with me, and we made for the
steps which lead to the ground.
1.-THE Michigan Central train by this
time had hit the derail, which clearly
showed that the block had been set
against 1t, and ployed over the ties and
tracks, tearing them up as it went across
the New York Central right Of way.
When the third coach of the Michigan
Central train had passed over the New
York Central right Of way the New York
Central train cut through it. Its loco
motive toppled over and the coaches Of
Il cannot help but feel that the Michi-
gan Central engineer was asleep, for
there are two blocks that are visible al
most a mile ard a half before he reaches
the crossing"
Carl J. Blues, Detroit, was passenger
in the demolished wooden day coach Of
the Michigan Central train. He lighted
a cigar and was ordered by the conductor
to go to the smoking car.
Just as Blues stepped from the plat
form Of the day coach to the smoking
car, the New York Central flyer crashed
through the day coach where he had been
sitting. Blues was only slightly shaken
up.
II sure owe my life to that conduc-
tor" said Blues.
L. W. Keller, superintendent OF schools,
Michigan City, Ind, listed among the
dead in an early casualty list, was not