Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Toledo Bee 15 August 1900 NINE LIVES WERE LOST IN A WRECK G.R. & I. Passenger Trains in a Head End Collision NEAR GRAND RAPIDS Engineers and Firemen of Both Were Killed South Bound Train Tried to Run By the Regular Meeting Place - Many Resorters Were Injured. Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 15 - The most terrible wreck in the history of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad occurred about 5 a.m. today, at Pierson, 29 miles north of Grand Rapids. The north bound Northland express, which left this city at 4:05, collided head-on with passen- ger train No. 2, due here at 6 a.m. Nine lives were lost and many passengers were injured, some severly. Both engines and the baggage cars were nearly demolished. When the trains met, day was just dawning and the fog was so thick the engineers could not see more than 100 yards ahead. The trains were to have passed at Sand Lake, two miles south of Pierson at 4:52. No. 2 was evidently late, and was trying to make the siding at Pierson. The Northland express had the right of way, and was scurrying along at nearly full speed. Either the engineers blundered in their orders or were not able to see signals on account of the fog. A telephone message from Pierson says that the engineers and firemen of both trains were killed as well as five other passengers. The express train was made up largely of Pullman cars. It was the finest train on the road. It carried the Grand Rapids coach, a day coach, several sleepers from Cincinnati and the south, and buffet breakfast car, and the baggage cars. LETTS, CHARLES M., Grand Rapids, conductor northbound train No. 3. GROETVELD, GILBERT, Grand Rapids, engineer No. 5 FISH, WILLIAM H., Grand Rapids, engineer No. 2 WOODHOUSE, EARL D., Grand Rapids, fireman No. 5 BOYLE, LOUIS G., Grand Rapids, fireman No. 2 PIERSON, C., passenger, of Franklin, Ind. LEVAN, RALPH, son of Baggageman LEVAN, of Grand Rapids, who was in the car with his father. Fatally injured: BLOSSOM, MARK, Grand Rapids, news agent, base of skull fractured. The injured: DENNIS, H. A., Grand Rapids, passenger, cut on head, legs, jammed, left shoulder hurt. GRAVES, WILLIAM, Grand Rapids, colored, waiter on No. 5, compound fracture of right arm and badly cut; FORD, C. M., Grand Rapids, colored, porter No. 5, injured about legs and chest. POWERS, DAVID C., Grand Rapids, baggageman of No. 2, scalp wound, throat cut, contusions on limbs, both eyes closed. POROFF, FRANK, Traverse City, trainman, head badly cut. BARNES, WILLIAM, Grand Rapids, dining car con- ductor, left of chest hurt, head cut. TAYLOR, HARVEY, Grand Rapids, colored waiter, both hands lacerated, arms cut. HARTSAW, W. G., passenger, badly hurt about face and chest. The firemen of both engines are supposed to be dead. Six bodies have been taken from the wreck, and it is believed that the bodies of several others are still buried in the mass of broken iron and wood. Eight persons, supposedly to be fatally injured, were taken to the hotel at Pierson. Men are at work endeavoring to reach the dead and injured who are still imprisoned. Several physicians accompanied the wrecking train to the scene. ===========================================================================