D. & M. SMASH UP.
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WORST WRECK IN HISTORY OF ROAD
OCCURRED FRIDAY NEAR METZ.
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Engineer John Murphy is Dead. Five Others Badly Injured.
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From the Alpena Echo:
The most serious wreck in the history of the D. & M. railroad took place Friday evening shortly after 5 o'clock just north of Nowicki siding, a few miles south of Metz, when No. 3, the fast train which left Alpena at 4:20, met in a head-on collision with engine Nor. 4, running light.
The collision took place on a curve and the light engine and flyer were both running at a speed exceeding 35 miles an hour. The impact was terrific and the engines were so badly wrecked that they will be of little further use.
John Murphy, the engineer on the flyer, was so badly scalded, cut and bruised that he died at 3:45 this morning at the Republic hotel. He inhaled steam and was frightfully used up.
Barney Hennessy, fireman on the flyer, was badly scalded, cut and bruised. His condition is very serious.
Michael Hogan, baggageman, was crushed by trunks, his hands cut, face bruised, chest injured and spine hurt.
Fred Markey, engineer, and Douglass Larry, fireman, both on the light engine, were cut and bruised, but their condition is not serious. They are at the Globe hotel. The other injured are at the Republic.
The scene at the wreck last night and this morning was a sorry sight. One engine now lies in the ditch with the other partially over it. The baggage car and tender on the flyer were telescoped. The baggage car rolled into the ditch. The track was torn up over a hundred feet.
Neither engineer had thought of danger until they came into sight on the curve. All brakes were set, but too late to stop the catastrophe. The two engines came together with a crash but the light engine was beginning to slow up.
Engineer Markey and Fireman Larry stuck and Engineer Murphy and Fireman Hennessy on the fast train were penned in the cab, had no chance to jump and were buried under the engines.
Baggageman Hogan was in the front end of the baggage car. He was buried under a mass of trunks. When he was dug out over an hour after the wreck, a huge trunk was lying across his chest.
Express Messenger Stovel was also in the baggage car. Something sharp, possibly a splinter of steel, ripped the flesh on his left arm nearly the entire length. The wound is a frightful one. The arm is also broken. His eyes are blackened, face bruised and he was otherwise badly used up.
As soon as word of the wreck was received here a special was dispatched to the scene with Drs. Cameron and Bell, Rev. C. M. Fraser and several trainmen. The injured were taken care of at the wreck as well as possible. The special returned about midnight.
None of the passengers on the flyer were hurt and none of the cars, except the baggage car left the track. The passengers lent all the aid possible. The wrecking train was sent to the scene about 8 o'clock.
Engineer Murphy was 42 years old and leaves a widow and two sons, aged 14 and 17 respectively. He was an old employe of the road. For a year the family has lived in Cheboygan. Their household goods were all packed ready for shipment to East Tawas. Today would have been Engineer Murphy's last day on the north run, as he was to have been transferred to a south run. The remains were taken to Tawas this afternoon.
There is but one explanation given as the cause of the wreck. It is alleged that the watch of Engineer Markey was slow.
The two passenger trains meet at Hawks. The light engine was at Metz. The engineer apparently had 20 minutes to make Norwicki siding, which could be done in less than ten minutes. Engineer Markey pulled out from Metz, believing he had plenty of time. When watches were compared after the wreck it is alleged that his watch was 19 minutes slow.
An investigation will be made. If this statement is proven true, and the watch had been properly inspected, no one can be blamed for the wreck.
Engineer Markey feels keenly the frightful effect of the accident. He was only recently promoted to engineer. Fireman Larry has only been employed in that capacity a short time.
The railroad boys deeply mourn the death of John Murphy, who was a general favorite.
The engine which hauled the flyer was No. 22, said to be the same engine which pulled the excursion train wrecked at Black River June 8, 1901.
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The funeral of Engineer Murphy was held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Tawas City, under the auspices of the Masonic order. Mr. Murphy was also a member of the Odd Fellows, Maccabees and Brotherhood of Railway Engineers.
Mr. Murphy was born in Ontario 42 years ago, and just half his life had been spent in driving an engine. He was the fourth oldest in point of service on the D. & M. railroad. He formerly lived in Tawas, but when transferred to the northern division last year, went to Cheboygan to live. He was to commence running on the southern division next week, and had already shipped his goods to East Tawas, where he would resume living in a few days.