Columbian Train is Struck by Silk Special.

DISASTER AT ODESSA, MINN.

Second Sections Runs into First, Which Consists of All Steel Cars, and Smashes Rear Sleepers – No Signals Are Set.

Odessa, Minn., Dec. 19. – Ten persons were killed in a wreck on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul railroad and ten of more were seriously hut when the second section of train No. 18, the Columbian from Seattle, ran into the first section, which had been stopped on signal.

The train which was wrecked consists of steel cars exclusively. It has no regular stop at Odessa and was due to pass that point at 3 45 a m It was due in Chicago at 10 15 p m. The Columbian was running in two sections because of heavy traffic.

Among the dead are MRS J M RICHARDS, wife of the superintendent of the Missouri Slope division of the St Paul road MISS RICHARDS, daughter of J M Richards, Morbridge, S D, MRS R C MYERS, Newcastle Ind, MRS W C. BARBER, Ferry Mont; --- MCCONE, sleeping car conductor, DR R WHETSTONE, Minneapolis, Minn, MISS PETERSON, Green Bay, Wis; --- ALEXANDER, second cook on diner; one unidentified man
The accident occurred a short distance from the signal tower at Odessa. The first section had been stopped by the towerman because of a freight in the block ahead of it. The second section is what is known as a “silk” train, carrying merchandise.
Railway officials attribute the accident to the failure of the operator to set the signal against the second section. They also believe the brakeman of the first sections failed to run back and flag the second section.

Because of the darkness the engineer of the second section did not see the rear lights of the train in front of him in time to stop.

The rear car of the first section was telescoped and the car next to it was shattered. The dead were occupants of the last car, as were most of the injured persons.
The wreck tore down the telegraph wires and there was a delay in getting word to the headquarters of the road. The seriously injured were taken to a hospital at Ortonville, Minn

Heroic work was done by those on board the train in assisting the wounded and aiding those not injured to escape from the wrecked cars.

Sheboygan Press, Sheboygan, WI 19 Dec 1911