Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-11
4 INVESTIGATIONS
Of WRECK BEGUN;
TOLL IS NINE DEAD

FORSYTH, n. Y, Dec. 10.-Four
Investigations were launched today
into the wreck of the New York
Central "Twentieth Century Linn
ited'' near here yesterday, when nine
persons were killed and a number of
passengers injurai, five seriously.
The inquiries were instituted by the
authorities of ChautauQua county,
New York, and representatives of
the New York public service com
mission and interstate commerce
commission and the railroad com
pany.
Physicians attending the five per
s,ns who were seriously hurt, and
who were taken to a hospital at
Erie, Pa, said there was no change
iii their condition. The bodies of the
victims also were taken to Erie.
Among the dead was William e.
"Wild BilT' Donovan, veteran base
Ucill play CLy AiOW lIIclIINAS5GA VI IA'N ~ "
Haven baseball club, who, with a
number of other baseball notables,
including President John A. Heyd-
Ter, of the National league, were en-
route to Chicago to attend the base
ball conferences opening there to-
day.
The dead:
Ralph ParnelI, New York City,
Pullman porter.
William f. wild BilD Donovan.
2031 Arch street, Philadelphia, man.
ager of the New Haven baseball
club.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard M. Sullivan,
Springfield, III.
Mr.. and Mrs. Otto Sweet, sos
Windsor Boulevard, Los Angeles.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. B. Stureman, IA
East Washington street, Springfield.
Illinois.
Mrs, Carl D. Kinsey, 5649 Win
throp place, Chicago.
Auto Cause of Trouble
At Albany, the first of the three
sections of the train experienced en-
CINE trouble and the second section
was ordered to go on. The tlrst ana
the third pulled out fifteen minutes
late. train crews said.
Near Forsyth, the second section
then leading, struck an automopue
xhich had stalled on q grade cross
ing whose occupants. three Plus
hnr.r men, w. S. Strattford, {. ii.
Harnev and B., Maier, had jumped 10
safety. AS the next section pulleo
past the scene of the smaSh-up, us
crew noticed the flaming automoplIe
and brought the train to a stop 10
see if help could be rendered any Oh
the occupants of the automobile
While the train was stopped, the
third section come laundering on
through the binding rain and heaVy
Signals Seen Too Late
The red warning flares and q
brakeman frantically waving his
lantern, a train-lenGth away, were
seen too late by Engineer Charles
Patterson, of Cleveland, who was
plotting the onrushing engine
The brakes were applied and the
track sanded, but the terrific mo-
mentum carried the limited on the
rear car of the standing train with
such force that it overturned TWO
other Pullman sleepcrs. Their steel
construction saved the lives OF thelt
occupants, railroad officials said
Joltel out OF their berths by phe
impact. passengers of both trans
bent to the work of eXtricating the
dead and injured from the fated
sleeper. Soon these forces we've
aided by farmers from the country
side. who for time, With their Ian
terms, supplied the only light.
Cross bars and axes were used to
chop through the debris of the
wrecked car in an effort to reach
the stricken. A relief train sped on
from Erie, Pa, So miles west, fol-
lowed by a WreckinG train.
Donovan Among Last Found
Before all the dead or some OF
the more seriously injured could be
removed, it was necessary to hack
away the top of the telescoped car
Wild Bill Donovan was among the
last taken from the debris. His
body was discovered by Mr.. Heydler
The more seriously injured were
taken to Erie hospitals and the
dead 10 the Erie mor2ue, While
those less seriously hurt were car
ried on to their destinations.
| In statement to newspaper men,
ENGINEER Patterson said he had no.
ticed the yellow warning signals
along the block and accordingly had
cut his speed toss to so miles. The
red flares, discernible n limited dis
lance away because of the fog, did
not give him time to avert the col
lision, he said. He estimated his
train was making 20 miles an hour
| L.