The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-26
IS KILLED AS
EXPRESS RAMS
HOLIDAY TRAIN
Faulty Switch Blamed for
Accident; 81 Are
Injured.
TEN REPORTED DYING
Speeding Flyer Leaves Main
Track; Two Cars
TeIeSCoped.
TEN REPORTED DYING
ByTnjf,dPrcs

BIZ nifcd Press
HAMILTON. Ont, Dec 26.-Ofh-
ciaIs Of the Canadian National Rail
way today sought to ascertain
whether the open switch which sent
the crack Maple Leaf Flyer plough
ing into the rear Of a Christmas day
excursion train. killing Is and in
juring 30, was faulty or did not
have time to close.
They pointed out that the flyer
may have approached so fast that
the switch. which is electrically OPP
Grated, may have not had time to
close. The excursion train, carrying
397 passengers. pulled onto the sid
ing Just before the limited, travelling
SIS miles an hour, approached.
It also was pointed out that the
switch may have been faulty and
remained partially open after the
excursion train passed.
The last two coaches of the excur-
,were wooden and crumpled like egg
Ahell Most of the dead and injured
kVere taken from the Wreckage. None
pf the Maple Leaf passengers was
hurt.
All But Three Identified
The death toll was definitely fixed
at Is by the two Hamilton hospitals
which received the victims. All but
three women we're quickly identified.
Many of the injured we're not ex-
pected to survive.
The wreck occurred at Dundas, a
village seven miles from here.
None of the passengers on the
Maple Leaf. or Chicago to Montreal
6O-hour train. was killed or injured.
The excursion train. filed with
persons who had spent Christmas
Day with parents, friends and
sweethearts, was returning to To-
ronto when it was signaled to go on
the siding TO let the Maple Leaf
pass.
Ten minutes later the Maple Leaf
came roaring down the track. Its
signal was green. indicating a clear
road ahead.
Engineer Describes Wreck
81 followed my instructions to
proceed straight ahead" Engineer
B. Burel Of the Maple Leaf, told
the United Press. L saw the spe-
cial waiting on the siding.
L drove straight through, as my
instructions called. Suddenly my
train swerved violently and crashed
into the rear of the special.
That's all know The cause Will
have 10 be determined"
The officials refused to comment
on reports that the switch was
faulty and that it was not properly
closed after being used to allow the
excursion train to run on the SD
ing
The crash of the wreck was heard
throughout the town and residents
went to the scene Immediately and
began rescue operations.
Rescue work was slow because OF
the lack of light. Christmas pres
entS we're Strewn along the tracks.
There were broken toys. wearing
apparel and packages of food scat
tered along the coaches of the
excursion train.
Ten Expected to Die
w. A. Kingsland. vice president
and general manager of tine central
division of the railway, announced
after a preliminary investigation
that an open switch caused the
wreck.
At least ten of the injured were
in such serious condition that ply
sicians gave up hope for their
recovery.
A long line of persons formed at
the two Hamilton hospitals search
ing for relatives and friends. Both
hospitals called all available nurses
and physicians for duty.
All of the passengers in the third
coach from the end we're badly
shaken up. The force of the crash
tossed the car up on its end and 1t
remained IN that position at the top
of the 150-foot cliff on which the
tracks are situated. The cliff
borders DundaS.
The identified dead:
r. F. SiSe. son of c. F. SiSe. preSi-
dent of the Bell Telephone Co. Of
Canada.
DR.. C. H. McGufin. Cooksville,
Ontario.
o. H. Burlach. Toronto.
Mary Parker. Toronto.
F. Green. Pullman porter.
j. Smith, porter. address I'M
known
- Smith. Toronto.
H. s. Jones. London.
Harold Tryce Sr.. Toronto.
Harold TTyCe Jr.. Toronto.
TRIPIETS ARE BORN TO
PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN
Lusty Youngsters Are Belated
Christmas Gifts for Father.
81 nifcd Pres
TARTNTTTM Pa Dec 26-MrS