Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-02
FREIGHT CRASHES
INTO CAR LOADED
PASSENeE
One boy is dead another boy and man in
Ryburn hospital and seven suffered minor injur-
les at lll5 o'clock this morning when west

iICISIlt, tIdVCliilS dl dl-
most breakneck speed to
make a sharp curve with long
string of cars, crashed head on Into
a passenger car loaded with holiday
pleasure seekers. l#
The accident. one of the worst in
the history of the interurban, oc-
Cured in front of the station at Mar
seilles, just after the passenger train
had pulled out on its eastward bound
journey.
Waited On Siding.
The passenger left Ottawa at 9:55
arriving in Marseiles they waited foI
about twenty minutes on the siding ilE
the factory district and then proceeds
ed on to the station. where the express
and baggage was unloaded and loaded
up again.
The car had just pulled out of the
station and proceeded about $50 yards
east, when they saw the work train
rounding the curve ahead. coming. so
passengers declare at high rate of
speed
The onrushing freight car knocked
in the front of the passenger, and then
telescoped through the greater part
of the smoker. The platform of the
freight locomotive was lifted from the
trucks of the car, and pushed thru the
other car, settling down, as the train
stopped on the unfortunate victims OF
the other train.
Motorman Charles Werner, of La
Sale, who was in charge of the pass
enger car jumped when he saw the
wreck was unavoidable, escaping
from his cab uniniured Conductor
Howard Beeley was on the passenger
car. Motorman Ed. Joyce, of Ottawa.
was operating the freight train.
Young Schmidt, who was killed. was
seated directly behind the motorman's
cab, with his boy chum. Beady. Both
were buried beneath the wreckage Of
the motorman's cab and the floor OF
the freight locomotive.
Panic Grips Passengers.
The death train filled to standing
room with people. bent on a holiday
of pleasure, was transformed in an in
stant into scene of gripping terror.
Men became panick.strcken and wo-
men screamed, some nearly faiHting,
when with sickening roar fate in the
form of the rumblng freight bore
down the tracks and raced into them
with a deafening crash. There was a.
rush for the exits and in their hurry
to get out of the car to safety men
trampeled upon women and babes
while cries Of the women could be
heard for great distances from the
scsne of the tragedy.
Nothing could quell the fear with
which everybody in the ill-fated car
seemed possessed There were few
cooler heads among the passengers
who attempted to allay the fears of
their fellows, but without success.
The greatest panic prevailed in the
smoker where people, crowded out Of
seats in the main section were fore.
ed to mingle in place usually re-
served for men only. Many saw the
onrushing freight train and jumped
from their seats In a terrorized rush
to the rear of the car when in breath
ess awe they realized that death
was imminent and they must act to es-
cape That there was no greater toll
is considered one of the maryels of To-
cal railrOading in view of the panic
that prevailed just as the collision
was about to occur and after the two
cars were wrecked.
Beady was conscious when rescuers
dug him ont of the debris Schmidt
was dead before aid reached him 1t
is believed his death was instantane,
Gus.
Camping at State Park.
The boys with six other companions
had been camping at the Starved
Rock State park since Thursday. All
were members of the Evanston Y. NJ
G. A. Claude Stiehl, boys secretary
Of the Y, who had been in charge
of the camping trip, was in the rear
Of the car with the six other lads
One of the most pathetic witnesses
of the wreck. was Arno Schmidt, older
brother of Ernest, who was riding in
most uniniured. and watched with
solemn eyes as the rescuers dug out
his brothers. body
S r. Godstoin of Minreanolis wa9
riding in the smoker His knee was
struck by the debris ad was badly
bruised.
George Peterson. was in one of the
front seats in the smoker. His right
foot was caught under the debris and
was crushed.
DIR. Sterrett. of Marseilles. and Or.
F. p. Hathaway, of Ottawa, were sum-
moned to the scene of the wreck.
They removed the injured to Ottawa.
in taxis.
Philip Kohl, of Morris. brother
OF Henry Kohl. of Marseilles. was
seated directly behind the two Y M.
c. A. bows in the smoker He was
bruised on the forehead, the back OK