West Liberty, OH train wreck, Nov 1920

23 HURT IN TRAIN WRECK.

Detroit-Bound Big Four Coaches Hit Freight on Siding.

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio, Nov. 25. - Twenty-three persons were injured, two probably fatally, late today when Big Four passenger train No. 10, northbound from Cincinnati for Toledo and Detroit, ran into an open switch at West Liberty, near here, and crashed into a freight train on a siding. The express car and combination baggage car and smoker of the pasenger train turned over.

The most seriously injured were tanken to the Bellefontaine Hospital in ambulances while others were brought here in automobiles. C.P. Collins of Bellefontaine, engineer of the passenger train, and F.A. Schultz of Bellefontaine, fireman of the freight, may die.

The New York Times, New York, NY 26 Nov 1920

BRAKEMAN ADMITS HE CAUSED RAIL WRECK

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, Nov. 26 - Horace Johnson, brakeman, today admitted responsibility for the wreck of Big Four passenger train No. 10 yesterday at West Liberty in which 23 persons were injured, railroad officials announced here tonight. The wreck occurred when the passenger train ran into an open switch and crashed into a freight train on a siding.

Johnson, who disappeared after the wreck and was located by railroad detectives today, said he understood his orders, but gave no reason why he opened the switch before the oncoming passenger train.

Tulsa Daily World, Tulsa, OK 27 Nov 1920
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!