Godfrey, KS Train Derailment, Dec 1905

A FAST TRAIN WRECKED

THE METEOR FROM TEXAS JUMPS THE TRACK IN KANSAS.

Nine People Were Killed, Five of Whom Were Riding in the Smoker.
Passengers in the Sleeper Unhurt -- Work of Train Wreckers.

Fort Scott, Kan., Dec. 21 -- The Firsco's fast train "the Meteor," from Texas for Kansas City, was wrecked six miles south of here this morning. Several persons are reported killed. A wreck train darrying physicians has left for the scene.
Work of Wreckers.
Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 21 -- The local offices of the Frisco railway are without information regarding the wreck of their fast north bound train near Fort Scott. The train, which left Fort Worth yesterday afternoon, was one of the finest and fastest in the service. It was made up of two baggage and one small car, a smoker, two chair cars and a sleeper.
A telephone message from Fort Scott says the wreck occurred at Godfrey, 15 miles south of there, and was apparently the work of wreckers. The switch, it is said,had been opened and the train, which was behind and making up time, was entirely derailed. Engineer B. A. DeWEES, of Fort Scott, and three or four passengers are reported killed. The railway officials at Fort Scott say they have no details.
Nine People Killed.
The train ran into a switch, and all except the sleeper was derailed and turned over. Nine persons were killed and over twenty injured. The dead and injured were taken to Fort Scott and arrived in that city at 11 o'clock. When the train reached Godfrey it was behind and running at full speed to make up time. The crew of the freight train that preceeded the Meteor left the switch open and the passenger train jumped the track and rolled down a slight embankment.
All save the sleeper turned over, and so fast was the train running that the engine and forward baggage car went nearly sixty feet off the roadbed before it was stopped. The sleeper remained upright and none of the passengers in this car was injured. The baggage cars were completely wrecked and the smoker was badly damaged.
Among those killed.
Five of those killed were in the forward end of the smoker.
The news agent, who was badly mangled, died on the relief train which carried the dead and injured to Fort Scott.
Engineer B. A. DeWEES, of Fort Scoot, Conductor ROY of Topeka and Fireman BISHARD, of Fort Scott, were all instantly killed and the express messenger, JOHN BELL, of Kansas City, was seriously injured.
Others of the crew and almost every passenger on the entire train, except those in the sleeper who escaped with a severe shaking up, were injured, some of them seriously.
It was still dark when the wreck occurred, and the utmost confusion followed.
It was some time before those of the crew who escaped injury were able with the help of passengers who were unhurt, to aid the injured.
The wrecking train carrying the physicians did not leave Fort Scott for the scene until several hours after the wreck occurred and it was 11 o'clock before the dead and injured were brought to Fort Scott.
The Dead:
GEO. HOYT, conductor, Sapulpa, I. T.
B. A. DeWEES, engineer, Fort Scott, Kansas.
THEODORE BISHARD, fireman, Fort Scott, Kansas.
JAS. H. TWYMAN, colored, Fleming, Kansas.
ASAS MORELAND, Ienza, Kas.
LON CORBIN, Bessie, O. T.
JOS. CORBIN, Bessie, O. T.
JOHN BRUBAKER, news agent, Kansas City, Mo.
One unidentified man, whose body was thrown sixty feet into a corn field.
Fatally Injured:
SHERIDAN KANIBLE, Hooperton, O. T.
B. F. GARROWAY, Jonesboro, Ark.
Seriously Injured:
MRS. E. E. CALIA, Hobart, O. T.
HENRY McKINLEY, Shider, O. T.
THOMAS KENT, Mountain View, O. T.
J. W. GUILL, Ottumwa, Iowa.
HENRY M. McDONNELL, Lodi, Ohio.
L. HOWARD LEE, Oklahoma City, O. T.
JOSEPH H. DONOGUE, Franklin, Ill.
WALTER GOLDSBY, Kansas City, Mo.
J. D. BRYANT, Davenport, Iowa.
W. R. FARMER, Blackwell, O. T.
ELMER CORBIN, Bessie, O. T.
JACOB ROSSELLER, Parker, O. T.
C. J. DONOVAN, Snider, O. T.
J. W. ADAMSON, mail clerk, Kansas City, Mo.
H. B. DARLINGTON, mail clerk, Kansas City, Mo.
Fifteen others hurt slightly.
Most of the injured were badly burned as well as being maimed.
The responsibility of the wreck is laid at the door of the brakeman of the freight crew, who failed to flag the passenger train. He has disappeared.
In the crash the baggage car telescoped the engine and landed in a cornfield, while the smoker and two chair cars were piled in a mass on top of the engine.
Most of the injured were in the chair cars, which took fire soon after the wreck occurred.
Express Messenger BELL died later, making the total number of dead ten.

San Antonio Daily Light Texas 1905-12-21
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!