GRIM TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1938, Page 7

GRIM TRAGEDY

THE CUSTER CREEK TRAIN DISASTER ONE OF THE WORST IN U.S.A. HISTORY. DIFFICULTY IN IDENTIFYING BODIES. ’By Telegraph.—Press Association, Copyright. NEW YOIJK, June 20. When the waters of CuSter Creek receded, workers using acetylene torches cut through the steel walls of the wrecked cars of the train which crashed into the creek when a bridge collapsed and freed the bodies inside. There has now been revealed one of the worst train wrecks in American history. The rescuers have already recovered forty bodies. The fifth car is still submerged to the height of the window tops. Approximately 150 passengers were aboard. Of these 64 were injured and 30 are known to be unscathed. It is feared the remainder are dead. A positive count is impossible until the railway checks all the tickets sold. Many of the dead were clad in night clothing, making it difficult to identify them. Some were crushed to death, but most of them were drowned. The accident occurred at an isolated spot without, telephones or even roads. It was three hours before help arrived in the form of exploratory trains sent out from Miles City.