New-York tribune., 1922-08-07
L allure to Heed
Block Signals
Costs 38 Lives
Flyer Crashed Into Local at
Sulphur Springs, Mo-,
When Engineer Ignored
Signs, Says Rail Official
Chouls Plumber Bodies
Child Expires Whispering
''Our Father as Mother
Lies Dead at Her Side
Special Dispatch to Tie qr.bane


ST. LOUIS, Aug. e.-Thirty-eight dead
and 1877 injured, twenty five critically,
was the toll taken by the rear-end colli-
sion Of two Missouri Pacific trains at
Sulphur Springs Saturday night, g
check-up revealed to-day. Most of the
dead and injured were brought TO ST..
Louis.
Failure Of the engineer Of train No.
4, the fast passenger steel train which
crashed into No. 80, the local standing
on the track, TO heed a block signal
vas the cause of the disaster, accord
ing to John Cannon, assistant general
manager of the road.
The block signal, warning that the
track was not clear ahead, was unno-
ticed by Matt Engel Glenn, Of St.
Louis, engineer of the FAST train, ac-
cording to Cannon. Glenn, fifty-seven
years old, an engineer For thirty-three
years without black mark against his
record, jumped from his cabin just be-
fore the crash and was killed. Edward
Tinsley, also of ST. Louis, fireman of
No. 4, remained at his post and was
seriously injured.
Block Signals Working
Officials of the road declared that the
block signals were working properly
and were set against the approaching
No. a. The inference is that Engineer
Glenn of the limited should have
brought his train to halt.
From the front of the engine of No a
was pulled one of the two coaches Of
the accomm odation, which was little
damaged. Next came compressed bali
of cn1irforc 1yoHe,o1
of the engine, which had once been q
railway car. AS the wreckage was un-
loosened the sticks Of wood and tan
gled steel beams of the frame dropped
down.
The four coaches Of the accommoda-
ton train which had been knocked
from che trestle and the embanknent
we're picked up. The baggage car Of
the limited train, whose steel sides had
bulged from the compression of the
blow, was drawn from it's perch on the
trestle over Glaize Greek and prac-
tically fell TO pieces as it was pulled
away
The division local with Saturday
Mo-, and other points was running
about two hours behind the schedule
On board were many coming TO ST.
Louis for the week end.
SULPHUR SPRINGS. Mo-, aug. 6
(By The Associated Press). Ghouls
appeared on the scene of the Missouri
Pacific train wreck shortly after the
crash here Saturday night and robbed
the dead and dying. Only one was arr
rested, and he said he was William
Hall, of st. Louis. Several pieces of
wearing apparel taken from the un-
fortunates were found on his person
and Bible was in his waist. The
Bible, it was said, had been the prop
erty of the Rev. v. O. Pensley, Of
Desoto, one of those killed.
The dead and injured were spread
over en- area Of several city blocks
and chicken crates and automobile
cushions constituted their couches.
This little village of $50 inhabitants
was unable to care for the injured
and they were taken to ST. Louis and
Desoto.
Had had some assistance we might
have saved some of the dying DIR. w.
w. Hull told representative of the
Associated Press. ''At one time was
trying to treat twenty-five persons
simultaneously"
One OF the saddest scenes reported
was that of the Degania family, of ST.
LOUIS. I've OF tne lamliy or SIX were
killed and the father is reported dying
in a st. Louis hospital. Four Of the
Degania children, Mildred, seven years
old; Ralph, six; Melvin, Ave, and Rob-
ert, fourteen months old, lay dead to
the right of their father before he
could be removed, and Mrs. Degania
lay dead to his left.
Mildred had been mumbling audibly
the Lords prayer and lust IA she re-
cited sThy will be done" death sealed
her lips. Mr.. Degania in his delirium
cIasped his infant son to his breast,
repeating between groans of pain.
THANK God, Bobby, we're all alive =
not knowing the hearts Of his wife and
children were stiIled.