Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1905 — TWENTY-ONE DIE IN TRAIN WRECK [ARTICLE]

TWENTY-ONE DIE IN TRAIN WRECK

Twentieth Century Limited Goes into an Open Switch. WAS RUNNING AT HIGH SPEED Superintendent Moon Aeeerte Switch Wat Opened by Wreckers. FIRE ADDS HORROR TO BCEHE Disaster Occurred at Mentor, 0.. a Few Mi lev East of Cleveland— Wo ret In Lake Shore Road's History. Cleveland. 0., June 22.—According to a statement made at the headquarters of the Lake Shore road here the number of dead as a result of the wreck of the Twentieth Century Limited at Mentor, 0.. is twenty-one. It is believed there will be no further deaths. I*. N. Eiriek, manager of Keith's theater here, who was a passenger on the wrecked train. Is misssing and It is feared that he may be among the unidentified dead. D. C. Moon, assistant general superintendent of the Lake Shore road, after investigating the cause of the wreck, made this statement: "I have made a careful and thorough examination. The switch was open. 1 am satisfied somebody, having a key, opened the switch with malicious intent. The train did not jump the track.” The Llat of Dead. Following Is a revised list of the dead: C. H. Wellman, general manager of the Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Engineering company of this city: Thomas R. Morgan, of the same company, burned to death: Archibald P. Head. London, Eng., prominent Engliah steel man: John R. Bennett, patent attorney, New York city, burned to death; A. L. Rodgers, Platt Iron company, New York, died at hospital: H. n. Wright, traveling man. Chicago, died at hospital; William B. Mickey, address unknown; F. J. Brandt. Toledo. died at hospital; 8. C. Beokith. New York, died at hospital: J. H. Gibson. Chicngo. traveling man; N. B. Waters, Hamburg, N. Y„ baggageniaster: Alien Tyler, engineer. Collinwood. crushed under engine: J. A. Itradley, Akron, died at hospltnl: Henry Trlnz, New York. barlw*r on buffet car: H. C. Neckling, manager of the Wheeling Corrugating company. New York. Seven unidentified dead, one of whom is supposed to be Arthur L. Johnson, of Comey & Johnson, Cleveland. Wreck Occurs at Mentor. O. The disaster occurred while the Twentieth Century Limited was trav cling nt the rate of seventy-five miles an hour. The train ran through an open switch nt the little town of Mentor. east of Cleveland, nt 9:20 o'clock at night, causing one of the most hor rlble wrecks in the history of the Lake Shore road. The engine was hurled into the ditch. A part of the train was crushed on top of It and the wreck was partly burned. Tlic train was crowded. It wns behind time and the greatest of speed was being made to make up lost time Practically all the Injured were burned and had to he extricated from the blazing wreckage by rescue parties. The wrecked combination car. which had la mini crushed and splintered on top of the engine, was nt once enveloped in blinding flames and scalding steam. The cries of .imprisoned .passengers were heard above the roar, but many were beyond all human aid. Passengers Burned Alive. There wns small water supply and the means at hand for fighting the flames were pitifully inadequate, hut the zeal of the rescuers wrought great things for the first few minutes. It wns known flint a number of injured were helpless in the wreck, but though the work was done with frantic haste flames gradually drove the rescuers hack, and after ten minutes of awful battle, the rescuers were driven away from the blazing combination coach and the Imprisoned passengere were Incinerated. Despite all their help the fire burned until after midnight, and the last corpse was not recovered from the funeral pyre until 1 o’clock. It was the belief of the men who were nt the scene that those whose bodies were burned in the wreck were unconscious after the crash OFFICIAL REPORT OF WRECK Operator Say* Switch Wai O. K. When He Saw It Laat. New York. June 22.—The following report of the wreck was telegraphed by Vice President W. C. Brown, or the New York Central lines, to President W. H. Newman, In this city: “Train No. 10, eastbound, passed Mentor at 8:35 p. m. p at which time the switches were all aet for the train line. No. 26 followed No. 10 fifty minutes behind her, and no trains passed Mentor In either direction between the time No. 10 passed there and the arrival of No. 26. The operator was on the platform, with two men, named James Collins and W. M. Leuders, both of whom live in Mentor, when No. 10 passed, after which the operator

went Into the office and remained until about the time No. 26 was due, when he' again went out on the platform and saw No. 26 coming two or there miles away. “The operator says that he looked at the swltchlights and they and the switches were properly set for the main track. He then returned to"the office. If this Is correct, between that time and the time No. 26 headed in on the side track, some one threw the switch for the side track and locked It In that position. “No. 26 headed In the full length of the train on the house track, the engine leaving the rails about four coach lengths from the switch, crashing into the freight house, setting it on tire, and turned the engine end for end, and telescoping the composite car. which took fire from the burning of the house. The conductor of No. 26 immediately examined the switch and called the attention of General passenger Agent W. J. Lynch, of the Big Four, who was on the train to the fact that it was set and locked for the side track and light extinguished. “The switch Is not damaged and worked perfectly after the accident. The composite car, which was telescoped by the engine, was burned. No other cars In No. 26’s train turned over. Every possible effort is being made to locate the party who misplaced the switch."