Evening star., 1947-04-04
Two Killed, "a Hurt
As Burlington Zephyr
pIows Into Station
BY III. A.soeio,.d Press

CHICAGO, April 1.-TWO per-
sons were killed and approxi-
mately. "a persons injured
when the Burlington Railroads S
streamlined Twin City Zephyr
jumped the tracks after being
derailed by tractor at suburban
Downers Grove last night.
Edith Holland of Minneapolis died
today at Hinsdale Sanitarium, where
she had been taken after the wreck
with both legs fractured. a frac-
tured rib and internal injuries.
L. w. Wright of suburban Oak
Park was instantly killed in the de-
railing. Mr.. Wright, about SO, a
passenger, was trapped In a coach
after the speeding train crashed into
the Downers Grove railroad station
= when the Zephyr jumped the track
Carl Krohl of the railroads claims
department said seven passengers
and the engineer and fireman still
were hospitalized. Approximately Is
other persons were treated for minor
injuries and released, he said.
The tractor had fallen of a west
bound freight train that had just
passed on an adjoining track and
into the path of the stainless steel
streamliner, eastbound from Min
neapolis to Chicago.
The crash in a flash of flame
and shower of falling bricks ripped
up three sets of tracks nine miles
east of Napierville, H., where 45
persons died last April Is in col
rsion Of two Burlington passenger
trains.
Several eyewitnesses said they
saw "a tremendous ball Of fire" as
the Zephyr left the rails.
Going IS Miles an Hour.
The train, which the Burlington
said was travelling at its usual Is
miles an hour clip through the
suburb 81 miles west Of Chicago,
smashed into the side Of the un-
occupied brick depot, partially
wrecking it,
The Diesel engine was thrown on
It's side but the seven derailed
coaches remained upright and were
not badly damaged. thus holding
down the number of casualties In
the crowded train.
Two coaches behind the engine
wedged in a V-shape into the one
story station. Flying bricks and
mortar poured onto some of the
passengers through hole ripped In
the side of one coach.
Police said the crash occurred at
1914 pm. The Zephyr was due In
Chicago at ii pm. 1t left Mime
apolis at 4:1o pm.
The Zephyr's engineer, Clarence
Thurston, 81, of Aurora, was trapped.
in the Diesel's cab, which lay on
its side 100 feet ahead of the coaches.
He was reported in serious condition
at hospital after being cut out OF
the cab.
Damage Is $4,000.
An estimate >of $50,000 was made
by John p Falk, Chicago, Burlington
division superintendent. who said
SOIIlC WdS CdA AAy oCAoy
through the wreck site.
Witnesses told of brief flash Of
flame, apparently caused by ignition
of spilled Diesel oil. There was little
fire damage.
Inside the coaches most passengers
remained calm and were removed
in orderly fashion through windows
and doors.
"We felt an awful crash and the
car shook ana filled with smoke"
Hanna Wall, st. Paul, MINI, a
passenger, said.
James Anderson, "a, student at
st. Olaf's College, Northfield, Mimi,
and a passenger on a coach which
hit the depot, related:
THE baggage just seemed to dis
appear from the racks and pile
Of bricks suddenly fell into the aisle"
Flash of Flame.
Lowell Hendrickson, 21, of Monte
video, MINI, a freshman at Bethel
College, st. Paul, said there was a
severe jolt and a flash of flame that
sounded like a fuel tank on the
engine exploding"
Daniel Trygg, "a, ofsMinneapolis,
student at the University of Min
nesota. said bricks fell through the
roof of his coach. as it rammed into
the depot. Mr.. Trygg, who was un-
hurt, said: -
"The man sitting in the seat right
In front of me was killed. He was
buried under bricks Most people
were pretty calm, and most of those
I saw hurt had only cuts and
bruises. We were lucky"
John Owen of Chicago, a Zephyr
porter, said, Il was in the aisle and
suddenly-in comes the station"
Anruou