Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-15
Halloween Party Ends In
Crash; IS Persons Dead

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 15.-(R
Sixteen persons, five Of them wom-
en-, were killed last night when the
automobile trailer in which they
were riding to a pre-Halloween barn
dance was smashed to pieces by n
Muncie TO indianapolis interurban
car at the edge Of the city. Five
others were SO seriously hurt they
may die.
The traiier, drawn by a truck, car
ried the drill team Of the Mystic Or
der Of Virgin Prophets Of Enchanted
Realm. There were only five pas
sengers aboard the interurban and
none were hurt.
Motorman and conductor OF the
interurban car, however were in
jured.
Harry Stewart, driver Of the motor
truck, and Mr.. and Mrs. c. E. Pauley
who were riding with him, escaped,
the truck having cleared the tracks
when the crash came. Stewart said
he neither saw nor heard Of the ap-
proach Of the electric car.
Fourteen Of those in the trailer
were killed outright. Two others died
soon afterward.
The Dead
Charles q. Poisel.
Robert Parker.
Lee Merriman.
Miss Opal Merriman.
William NJ. Hodges.
Mrs. Rowland p. Rhodes.
Won Weber Glascock.
Frank Meridith.
Mrs. Mabel Meridith.
Carl Jones.
Mrs. Ada Jones.
John G.. Watson.
Mrs. Robert w. Dallas.
Robert W. Dallas.
can Of the foregoing resided ut
Indianapolis).
Earl Wolford. Southport. Ind,
suburb.
Charles Virgil Wheeler. Engewood,
suburb.
These probably fatally injured
were: Mrs. Ethel Merriman.
Mrs. Mary Berling.
Charles L. Kempner.
Margaret Pauley.
Mrs. Pearl Wheeler. Edgewood.
Were Singing
Songs on the lips Of the revelers
changed TO shrieks Of horror as the
speeding train bore down on the
trailer, smashing and hurling bodies
in all directions. Five persons were
caught in the crushed-in vestibule Of
the interurban car, and their bodies
carried several blocks.
Only few who had started on the
party just n few minutes before es-
capped death or injury.
W. ". Merrill. motorman OF the
lnteruroan said he sounded his
whistle as he approached the crcs.-
.ng. Ills statement was substantiated
by Hal Titus, conductor. Merrilrs
leg was broken when he was thrown
back into the baggage compartment.
Despite his injuries. Merrill dragged
himself 20 the controls and stopped
the car. The stove in the vestibule
~as sent flying and struck Titus
burning him about the face.
Stewart. driver of the motor truck.
said the first indication he had that
anything was wrong was when his
leaped forward as che
.railer was cut from il.
This was not the first fatal aeci-
lent that has occurred az this cross
ng. Two small white crosses stand
Is silent reminders that two other
,ersons had lost their lives there.
The view 10 the crossing is not OBJ
trueted but IL is necessary to climb
small grade to approach the tracks.
Chaos After Crash
SO violent was the crash that
lodies were hurled many feet. The
'oise aroused the sparsely settled
leighborhood and first aid was
quickly administered.
Automobile lights played on the
lead and dying as an effort was
made to establish order out Of
'haos. Husbands and wives and other
clatives went frantically among the
'rostrate dead and injured seeking
heir loved ones.
At one place a man stood silently
'eside a blanket-shrouded figure.
rhe picture hardly needed an ex-
1T is my wife, he said
imply. stunned almost beyond COM
Continued On page four.l