Evening star., 1927-10-15

CONTINUED from First Page.l
witnessed the accident. Bodies ana
fragments of the trailer were tossed
high into the air, he said. Selling a
fiashlight, he leaped into the mass OF
mangled forms and it was through
his assistance that early Identification
OF most of the victims was established.
That's Lee Merriman," he cried as
he hovered over one body. And, my
God, there's Won Glascock. Vonnie!
Vonnie! He was playing the accordion.
All my boys. every one of them. Just
out for a good time, and now look. "
Jack Watson. business manager OF
the Bricklayers, Masons and Tile
Settlers Union was among those killed.
1t was announced that the Grotto
would cancel all social functions for
the remainder of the year.
Didn't See Car.
Harry Stewart, driver OF the truck
TO which the trailer was attached. said
he was looking straight ahead" at
the time of the accident. He added
that he did not see or hear the traction
car and only knew something had
happened when the load seemed
lighter" He was riding in an Enclosed
cabin compartment.
A survey of records shows that in
no other automobile accident In In
diana has there been as many deaths
as in last nights crash.
The automobile trailer was en- route
to a reHalloween barn dance and
was smashed to pieces by the Muncie.
to-Indianapolis interurban car at the
edge Of the city. Five others were so
seriously hurt they may die.
The trailer, drawn by truck. car
ried the drill team of the Mystic Order
of Yelled Prophets of the Enchanted
Realm and relatives. There were only
FIVE passengers aboard the interurban
and all were unhurt. The motorman
and conductor Of the interurban car,
however, were injured.
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.
Fourteen Of those in the trailer were
killed outright. Two others died soon
afterward.
Songs and SErieks.
Songs on the lips Of the reveler'
changed to shrieks of horror. as the
traction car bore down on the trailer
smashing 1t and hurting bodies in al
directions. Five persons were caught
in the crushed-in vestibule of the in.
terurban car, and their bodies carried
several blocks.
Only a few who had started on the
party just a few minutes before
escaped death or injury.
Three sons-in.law, a daughter and a
nephew Of Mr.. and Mrs Pauley were
killed. Another daughter is not ex'
pected to live, while a third daughter
is in the hospital with a fair chance
for recovery.
w. w. Merrill, motorman Of the in
terurban. said he sounded his whistle
as he approached the crossing. His
statement was substantiated by Hal
Titus, conductor. Merrills leg was
broken when he was thrown back into
the baggage compartment. Despite his
injuries, Merrill dragged himself to the
controls and stopped the car. The
stove in the vestibule was sent flying
and struck Titus, burning him about
the face.
Stewart said the first indication he
had that anything was wrong was
when his machine leaped forward as
the trailer was cut from it.
Auto Lights Assist.
This was not the first fatal acci
dent that has occurred at that cross
ing. Two small white crosses STAN
as silent reminders that two other
persons had lost their lives there
The view to the crossing is not OBJ
structed, but it is necessary to clint
small grade to approach the tracks
n fnln 8 he ,I&
were hurled for many feet. The
noise aroused the sparsely settled
neighborhood and first aid was quickly
administered. Several of the dead and
injured had been rushed to homes
nearby and from there to indianapolis
hospitals and mortuaries. resulting ir
considerable confusion in locating and
Identifying the dead and injured.
Automobile lights played on the
dead and dying as an effort was made
to establish order out of chaos. Hus
bands and wives and other relatives
went frantically among the PROSTATE
dead and injured seeking their loved
ones.
Members of the drill team as they
piled into the truck half an hour be
fore took their musical instruments
with them, and 1t was to the merry
tune of an accordion that the crash
came as a tragic finale.
Police took the driver of the motor
truck to headquarters for questioning
The scene Of the disaster was or
Emerson avenue, at the crossing OF
the indianapolis & Newcastle Honey
Bee) interburban line, I miles directly
northeast Of the 'fn'sF Of Indianapolis