TOURISTS CREMATED

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2098, 5 June 1907, Page 1

TOURISTS CREMATED

EX-SOLDIER DASHES INTO

BURNING OAR

From tho American, continent comes news of another railway disaster, the scene on the present occasion being the Canadian-Pacific railway line, near Chapleau, Ontario. Fifteen tourists were killed, apd nearly a hundred people, mostly emigrants from tho British isles, were injured. Many of tho bodies of the dead were cremated in tho burning of the cars, which took place immediately after the disaster. So complete was the incineration in some cases that only a smouldering lump, among twisted iron fittings marked what was once a human body. The place where tho accident occurred was along a high embankment, and the train, which • was thrown from the line, nblled down tlio embankment, carrying death ai)d destruction with it. Five cars in all were thrown from the lino, and took fire while the victims were burned be-

neath the splintered coaches. The survivors immediately rendered such aid as was possible, and many of the injured were taken from the wreck. In the case of the tourist car, liowev.er, this was impossible,owing to the rapidly increasing fire, which rendered approach dangerous- Here the victims were chiefly women and children, and it is feared that 10, dead have been entirely cremated. There was no water to be obtained, and tho place was far from any medical or other aid. It is stated that the cries of the burning victims were most pitiful. Tlio accident is reported as the worst that lias ever occurred in Canada. Many deeds of gallantry arc reported. .James Gibson; formerly of the 12th Lancers, who had

retired and was going West to settle, is mentioned as one of the heroes of the disaster. He plunged into the midst of a burning car with 0 Wet handkerchief over his face and brought'out Mrs. champion, who was pinned underneath a seat. The wo-

man, however, was no sooner out than she discovered that her baby was missing, and, with an agonised cry, she plunged into the car, ur.d was never seen again. Another passenger, George Perce, of Bournemouth, England, is also credited with conspicuous gallantry, having rescued two persons from a car that was on fire from end to end. He was injured at the moment of the wreck, but took no notice of bis hurts, and in the

work of rescue he was further injured, receiving some bad cuts, and being badly burned. Of tlic injured a hundred had to go to the hospital at Fort 'William. The remainder proceeded West to Winnipeg.