RAILROAD WRECK IN MICHIGAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 267, 10 November 1893, Page 3

RAILROAD WRECK IN MICHIGAN.

A DOZEN LIVES LOST.

A telegram from Jackson (Mich.), October 13bh cays : "The moat awful railroad disaster of the presenb year " ia bhe moeb that can be said of the terrible wreck which occurred this morning righb in front of the depob of the Michigan Central Railroad Company in thin city. A dozen of lives were wiped out and twice that number of people mangled and crushed. All were people who, happy and joyful, were on their way to Chicago, presumably to visit the World's Fair. The tiain in which the casualties occurred was an excursion train that iefc Waterbown, N.Y., yesterday for Chicago io two sections, heavily loaded. The first section reached Jackson at 8.50 thia morning, and stopped ab the depot to change engines. Many paseongers alighted during the wait to get a bite of breakfast. This in itself was a mosb forbunate occurrence, as, had it nob been for thie, the Hot of killed and injured would have been much greater. While the firsb section was standing in the station the second section came into bhe yard ab the rate of twenty milea an hour. The engineer saw the semaphore set, and tried to stop, but for some unaccountable reason the airbrake on his engine failed to work, and the heavy train crashed with terrific force into the cars standing in the depot. The two roar coaches of bhe first section were telescoped, and il< was in these that most oi the casualties occurred.

Every passenger in these cars was either killed or terribly injured. The third coach from the rear of the first section was thrown to one side, and four passengers in it killed and others injured.

With the exception of the engine and baggage-car, the rear section escaped serious harm. The engine was badly wrecked, and the pteam and hot water escaping from the sides of the punctured boiler added greatly to the suffering of the unfortunate victims.'

VVitbin a very ehorb time after the accident had occurred tho people of the city gathered at the ecene by hundreds and aided the railroad men in every possible way in succouring the nntortunnte3. President Ledyard and other high officials of the road came from Detroit on a special train as soon as they were advised of the awful affair, and directed the efforts of the rescuers.