CANADIAN OUTRAGE

Evening Star, Issue 18810, 8 December 1924, Page 2

CANADIAN OUTRAGE

DAY TRAIN WRECKED. A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION, Further details of the wrecking of a day coach on the Canadian Pacific Railway Nettle Valley train near Fsrron, British Columbia, whan nine persons were killed, including Peter Vercghi, Donkhobor leader, and John Mackie, member of ♦he Legislative Assembly for Frank Forks, were received in Vancouver from Grand Forks, where the special train bearing the remains of Mr Mackie and Mr Veregin arrived (writes the Vancouver correspondent of the Auckland ‘ Star,’ under date November 5). There were twenty-six persons in the coach at the time, and all except two were either killed or injured. So terrific, was the explosion that more than half the passengers were blown dean out of tho carriage, and left a gruesome spectacle of mutilated humanity and wreckage for nearly 100 ft. Tire body of John Mackie was found 60ft away, with severe wounds abort the head, but otherwise not mutilated.

' That of Veregin was found close to him, with one leg torn from the trunk. They had been sitting in adjoining seats close to where the explosion occurred. Tho remains of art unidentified person believed to bo a Hindu, were mutilated beyond recognition, while tho charred remains of another person taken from the burned coach were also thought to be a Hindu. .

Tire others taken from the wreck were rushed back to Nelson in a special tram, but died on the way. They were Neil Murray, W. B. Armstrong, and Mary Surenoil. H. K. Fawcett, train news agent, died in the hospital latex. The Kettle Valley train, consisting of the cars that were not damaged by the explosion, reached Vancouver thirty minutes late. The passengers were terror-stricken at the disaster. Patrick Scanlon and James Wolfe, who were the only uninjured passengers In the wrecked car, were detained by the Canadian Pacific Railway Investigation Department and placed in the city gaol for tho night, to be retained as material witnesses for the inquiry. They were former employees of the East Kootenay Company, coming to the coast for the wmtsr, and stated they knew little about the cause of tho explosion. They had lost their luggage.

STORIES OF SURVIVORS. A graphic description of the explosion was given by Scanlon and Wolfe, the only occupants of the car to escape injury. Wolfe said he heard a roar and was lifted completely out of his seat and thrown 10ft into the air. “ When I recovered,” ho said, ‘‘ I saw the sides and roof of the car had been blown to pieces and the centre had caught fire. Scanlon and O’Shanghnessy (in the same seat with Wolfe) were lying nearby, and several other persons were lying on the right of way. In a few minutes Scanlon recovered consciousness, and we found that O’Shaugbnessy had been seriously hurt. He was able to stand up, and we helped him clear of the fire. By that time other passengers had arrived, and the work of rescue was started. The injured were carried into other coaches and first aid rendered.”

Thomas Uphill, member of the Legislative Assembly for Fernie, was in the parlor car. He said the explosion was followed by several popping sounds. When he dashed out he found the coach practically demolished, flames licking the wrecked framework. Human forms littered the embankment, and the air was filled with groans and screams. “ Stretchers and blankets were obtained, and passengers and members of the train crew worked feverishly, bringing in injured and rendering first aid. Some were found at the foot of the bank, 50ft below the right of way, which shows the terrific force of the explosion.” HIGH EXPLOSIVES USED. Mr Uphill spoke in praise of the work of the train crew and passengers. Respecting the report that the aim of the person placing the bomb was to kill Peter Veregin, head of the Doukhobor Colony, Mr Murphy, general manager of the Western lines, stated: “Investigation would go to show that Vcrcgin was silting on the north side of the car, near the centre, and that was the part of the car that took the force of the explosion. I cannot think any person wishing merely to injure the C.P.R. would do it in a way to jeopardise innocent lives. There is no reason whatever, so far as we know, why such a thing should be done at all. Never in the history of the railway have wo had a case where the perpetrator took the risk of great loss of life to kill an individual, and never in the history of the company have we had property bombed or otherwise destroyed, as far as we know.” With bomb experts of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial detectives under Inspector William Dunwoodie, and members of the Canadian Pacific Railway Investigation Department on the ground, every effort was made to clear up the mystery of the explosion. That the blast was caused by a bomb or package or high explosives within the car close to where Peter Veregin was seated, was the belief expressed by those investigating the affair. Provincial police later arrested Sam Komenschcoff, a Doukhobor zealot, whom his captors said was seen near the explosion spot. Tim prisoner had previously made threats relative to Peter veregin.