LAKE SHORE TRAIN WRECK.

Flier Derailed at Wickliffe, Ohio---One Reported Killed.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Saturday, Dec. 13.---Passenger train No. 16 of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad was derailed by a split rail at Wickliffe, about eighteen miles east of here, just before midnight. Three relief trains have been dispatched to the scene from here.

A member of the train crew is reported killed and several others are said to be injured.

Train No. 16 had five coaches and left Cleveland at 10:51 P.M.

Lake Shore train, No. 16, is known as the New York and New England Express on the Hudson Division of the New York Central. It is a fast train running between Chicago and New York, making but one stop on the Hudson Division. It usually carries six or seven coaches.

The New York Times, New York, NY 13 Dec 1913

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Say Train Wreck Was Planned.

Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 13.--- That the partial derailment near Wickliffe of Lake Shore train No. 16, to which was attached the private car of Alfred H. Smith, president-elect of the New York Central Lines, was the result of a deliberate attempt at train wrecking, was the opinion expressed by road officials here today. They assert that spikes had been removed from the rails.

The fireman of the locomotive was killed. Mr. Smith's car was not derailed, and he immediately began an investigation.

Rumors shortly after the wreck that the attempted wrecking of the train was with the intention of killing the president-elect were laughed at by Mr. Smith.

Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 14 Dec 1913

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SEEK TRAIN ROBBERS.

Detectives Suspect Them of Causing Lake Shore Wreck.

Cleveland, O., Dec. 13.---Train robbers tonight are suspected of responsibility for the derailing last night of passenger train No. 16, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, at Wickliffe, 18 miles east of here. Acting on this theory, a score of detectives, aided by bloodhounds, followed trails this afternoon and tonight that possibly will lead to arrest tomorrow. It is thought that the heavy load of registered mail led to the attempted robbery. The theory that the derailment was caused in an attempt to kill Alfred H. Smith, newly elected president of the New York Central lines, has been discredited. It is regarded as impossible that any one could have known of his presence on the train.

The State, Columbia, SC 14 Dec 1913
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!