TRAINS COLLIDE; ELEVEN VICTIMS.

FATAL COLLISION ON THE PERE MARQUETTE ROAD.

TWO DEAD AND NINE INJURED -- WRECK DUE TO FAILURE TO THROW SWITCH.

Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 17 -- Two passengers were killed and nine passengers and trainmen were injured in a rear end passenger train collision last night at Elmdale, on the Pere Marquette railroad.
The dead:
M. SIMON, New York City.
J. L. STRELITZKEY, Chicago.
The injured:
Baggageman BOTSFORD.
CHARLES ________, Cuba, N.Y.
______ DENEEN, Grand Rapids.
B. A. LANCHIC, Bay City, Mich.
ALLEN LEE, Chicago.
C. I. PICKETT, Boston.
R. C. SAVOYE, Grand Rapids.
J. L. SMITH, Grand Rapids.
Express Messenger WATKINS.

Collision on a "Y".
The collision occurred twenty-two miles east of Grand Rapids. Both trains were east bound, No. 6 for Detroit and No. 34 for Saginaw. The Saginaw train had preceded the Detroit train out of Grand Rapids by a few minutes and was standing on a "Y" at Elmdale, where the Saginaw division branches off from the Detroit division. Through some mistake the switch was not turned behind the Saginaw train and the Detroit train also turned upon the "Y," the engine of the Detroit train crashing into the rear of the parlor car of the Saginaw train.
The passengers injured were in the parlor car of the latter, and the trainmen who were hurt were on the Detroit train. The Pele Marquette officials at Detroit state that the Detroit train was running slowly, as it was approaching a station.
No explanation has been made as to where the responsibility lies for failure to throw the switch behind the Saginaw train when it had turned from the Detroit division. Ordinarily there is twenty minutes time between the two trains, but last night the Saginaw train was held at Grand Rapids to wait for passengers from a train on the Chicago division.
Through this arrangement the Detroit train was following close behind the Saginaw train as far as Elmdale.

Grand Rapids, Mich., No. 17. -- J. L. SMITH of Grand Rapids, who was injured last night in the Pere Marquette wreck near Elmdale, died today. He is the third victim of the wreck.

The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette Iowa 1904-11-17
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!