Canadian Transport Sourcebook

Twenty-five Killed in a Grand Trunk R.R. Smash-Up

Frightful Collision at Wanstead, Ont., Through an Operator's Blunder.

TORONTO, Dec.27.—The Mail and Empire, in an extra issue this morning, publishes the following despatch:"London, Ont. Dec. 26.—A head-on collision between train No. 5, G.T.R. Pacific Express for Chicago, which left here an hour late at 9 p.m., and an eastbound freight train, occurred at or near Wanstead to-night. From the meagre particulars to hand, it is learned that five people were killed and fifteen or sixteen injured. The engineer of the freight and the fireman of the express are among the killed. The others killed were passengers on the ill-fated express. A special has left London with about fifteen doctors for the scene of the accident.

FRIGHTFUL SMASH UP.

LONDON, Ont., Dec. 27.—An awful accident occurred at 10.10 last night at Wanstead, a station on the Sarnia branch of the G.T.R. It was a head-on collision between the Pacific Express No. 5, and an eastbound freight. The express was proceeding west at its usual rate of speed. The freight was under slow headway, and was to have taken the switch at Wanstead to allow the passenger to pass. Apparently neither engineer saw the danger ahead in time to avoid the accident, for the two engines came together near the west switch with a frightful crash, overturning into the ditch. The baggage and express cars telescoped into the smoker with appalling results. The wreck was complete, and it is thought that hardly a single passenger in the smoker car escaped injury. The other cars of the passenger train remained on the track. As soon as the accident occurred, word was sent to this city and doctors were soon on the scene. The work of removing the dead and injured was then proceeded with, Engineer Gillies, of Sarnia Tunnel, and the fireman on engine 988 on the express are among the killed. The remainder are passengers. Later reports give the figures as twenty-four killed and eighteen wounded.

LOSS OF LIFE GREAT.

WATFORD, Ont., Dec. 27.—Twenty-four dead and eighteen wounded has been taken out of the wreck at 4 o'clock this morning. Among the dead was H. P. Lawrence, of this place. The night operator, Mr. Lamonte, of Wyoming, and Dr. Basil Harvey, formerly of Watford were among the injured. The injured were taken to the hospital at London early this morning. More bodies will likely be recovered.

THE INJURED.

LONDON, Ont., Dec. 27.—Following is the list of wounded at Victoria Hospital, London:—

A. M. Stewart, Chicago, formerly of Wingham.

Robert Jackson Petrolea.

M. Morse, Sarnia, fractured arm and injured chest, cuts on hands and face.

Frank E. Baker, Ridout street, London, dislocated shoulder, laceration on face and legs.

Thos. Coote, Chicago, injured on hip.

James A. Ramplin, Toronto, bruised and shaken up.

Earl Stewart, Oshkosh, Wis., fractured hip.

Hobart Stewart, Oshkosh, Wis, broken arm.

Mrs. J. M. Stewart of Oshkosh, Wis., fractured jaw and laceration.

Russell Quinn, Chicago, bruises and burns on both hands, scalp wounds.

Mrs. J. J. Cuthbertson, Port Huron, Mich., wounds on face, head, hands, internal injuries.

Flossie Cuthbertson, Port Huron, bruises.

Mrs. J. J. Cuthbertson, Port Hu­tured jaw, lacerated and bruised face, and bruised face.

Lottie Lynch, Port Huron, internal injuries and shock, serious.

Mrs. Thos. Coote, Chicago, bruises and internal injuries.

Mrs. Samuel Cummings, Port Huron bruises on head and face.

Mrs. Hattie Northey, Young's Point, Peterboro, bruises.

James Northey, Young's Point, Peterboro, lacerations, wounds on face and shoulders.

Jas Barnes, Woodstock, Ont., injured leg and hip.

Dr. Basil Harvey, Chicago, lacerated wound on head and bruises; mother in Watford.

Edward Bebeau, died since coming to hospital.

John Bird, Chicago, Canal street, fractured arm, injured back, scalp wounds.

J. A. Lamonte, Wyoming, Ont., fractured leg, lacerations.

Mamia Morse, Sarnia, fractured leg.

PARTIAL LIST OF KILLED.

The following is a partial list of the killed:—Mr. Nicholas Jefferies, London, commercial traveller for W. E. Sander & Co.; L. R. Burwell, and Engineer Gillies, Sarnia Tunnell and the firemen of both engines; Edward Debeau, of Brockville, died in the hospital here. Miss Geddes and Miss Beatrice Geddes, Sarnia; Mrs. J. S. Barnes, Woodstock; H. P. Lawrence, Watford; Geo. Stairy, Wanstead. The official list will be issued by the Grand Trunk at noon.

THE OPERATOR BLUNDERED.

MONTREAL, Dec. 27.—Superintendent McGuigan, of G.T.R. says he is not in a position to give out the list of killed and injured in the accident at Wanstead. his information is that about twenty-five were killed and thirty injured, but a reliable list has not reached him. He says he cannot understand how the operator at Wanstead, who is charged with the mistake resulting in the accident, made such a blunder. He is one of the oldest and most reliable telegraphers on the system, having entered the service of the Great Western in 1871. It appears he failed to signal and give the passenger train orders to cross the freight at the station. Everything is being done for injured.

MORE NAMES OF VICTIMS.

LONDON, Dec. 27.—The following list of the killed is authentic: Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Stewart, of Petrolea, Ont.; Mr. A. Ricketts, Sarnia Tunnel; Mr. J. Gillies, Sarnia Tunnel; Mrs. Trottier, Petrolea; Mr. Lawrence, Watford, Ont.; Mr. E. S. Freeman, Oil Springs, or Hensall; Mr. Jeffrey, London; Mr. Glen Roaley, Port Huron, Mich.; Guy Depenir, ticketed Lacrosse, Wash.; Dr. Penwarden, ticketed Petrolea, and lady, supposed to be Dr. Penwarden's wife; J. H. Brock, Bruce-Field; O. T. Burwell, Port Huron, Mich.; Wilson Morten, Chicago; Miss Geddes, Sarnia; Mr. Cameron, Petrolea; several bodies still unidentified.