Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-08-07
'By The Associated Prcssl

StLPIIi'R SPRINGS. Mo-. Aug. T..
Eye witnesses Of the collision Saturday
night were today summoned before tho
coroncr's jury at De Soto. Mo. 10 re-
count details Of collisioi. wherein ~
are known to have been killed and 1:jS
injured.
Corona Elders has promised thor
ouglI investigation Of the circumstances
causing the collision. which j. the worst
train wreck in the history of this part
"f the cuu-try. Matt Glenn. engineer
Of the fast train which plowed through
four coaches of the local train. who was
instantly killed. il blamed for the ac-
ri'irnt. according to the version of John
Cannon. manager Of the road.
Relatives If the dead and injured
have demanded thorough invcstiga-
tion. which has been promised by the
authorities of Jefferson county. Such
members If the crews Of both trains
as were not killed or injured in the dts
aster have been summoned by the cor
onrr Ia give their versions of the acci-
dent. Officials Of the road. including
Manager Cannon, declare that the block
signals were found 10 bc in perfect or
der after the crash. All were urani-
nous in their assertion that Glenn had
not needed the warning signal. Tales
of many miraculous escapes. coupled
with stories "f pathos and horrors. were
toll by survivors.
According Ia Cannon. Matt Ginger"
tilcnn of -. Louis. engineer of the fast
passenger. failed to heed block signal
warning him that the track was not
clear ahead. Glenn. - years old. an
engineer for ~ years without black
mark against his record. was killed
when he jumped from his cab just be-
fore the crash. Edward TinSlcy. al<o
Of - Louis. fireman of No. 4. remain
Ell at his post and was seriously iu-
jured.
Engineer Glenn shortly before arriv-
Ing in sulphur Springs. received orders
on the run" to pull over on "a siding
at Cliff Cave. 10 miles north OF here,
TO allow Sunshine Special No. 4. en-
route from IT. Louis TO Texas points.
10 pass and Cannon explained the en-
sin"cr had failed 10 heed the block sig
nal because he apparently was reading
these orders when he passed the block.
Ghouls appeared on the scene shortly
after the crash and robbed the dead and
diving of whatever they could. Only one
was arrested. Several. pieces of wear
ing apparel taken from the unfortunates
were found on his person and Bible
was in his waist. The Bible. it was said
had been property Of the Rev. %. v.
Pcr~lry of De Soto. one ~ those killed.
The dead and injured were spread over
an area Of several city blocks and chick
en- crates. automobile cushions. baggage
and the railroad tracks constituted their
couchcS This little village Of 40 in
habitantS was unable To undertake the
task of caring for the injured and they
along with the dead were taken TO -.
Louis and De Soto. Dr. w. W. Hull
Of this village wa the only physiciRn
administering to the injured for several
hours until relief trains arrived
Had had some assistance We might
have saved some of the DYING Dr.
liull told a representative Of the AsSo-
ciatcd Press. AT one time was Try
ing 70 treat ~ persons simultaneously
The pitiful cries Of the injured could
he heard for blocks. Mothers begged
for news of their babies and children
cried for their parents. One IL months
old child, who was unable TO tell her
name. was found mile from the scene
of tn" disaster asking for mamma"
woman from It. Louis took her In
charge.
- -" Sadlcst scenes was that
~ the DcGonia family of St Louis.
-Four of the family of six were killed and
the father j. reported dying in 81.
Louis hospital. Three Of the DeC;onia
children. Ralph II: Melvin. :. and Rob
'rt ~ months old. lav dead 10 the right
~ their father and Mrs. DeGonia lay
dead 10 bis left. Mildred. Z years old.
law unconscious. Detionia. in his semi
driirium. reached over and grasping his
infant son 10 his breast repeated be-
tween groans of pain, thank God. Bob
hy. we're all alive