Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1907 — CATASTROPHE ON INTERURBAN. [ARTICLE]

CATASTROPHE ON INTERURBAN.

Cara Meet In Head-On Colltalon Near Charleston, 111.

Thirteen persons were killed and sev-enty-six injured so Jjadly that their recovery is not expected, in’ a head-on collision between a train, consisting of a motor car and trailer, and an empty express car on the Charleston and Mattoon interurban line at 10:30 o’clock Friday morning one mile west of Charleston. 111. Both cars were running at high speed and met aa they were rounding a sharp curve. The Impact was deafening. The train was telescoped by the express car and both were reduced to a tangled mass Of wood and iron. The passengers had not a moment’s warning of danger and were killed or injured without opportunity to save themselves. The scene of suffering and death that followed was appalling. The dead and dying were jammed together in a mass, while many less seriously injured l*y near by. A confusion of orders received over the telephone is said to be responsibly for the catastrophe.