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Show 15 Killed When Fast Train Hits Kei r Special Open Switch Held Cause of Tragedy; Many Injured Given No Chance To Recover; Some Bodies Still Unidentified By ROBERT I. OWEN United Press Staff Correspondent HAMILTON, Out., Doc. 26 (UP) Excessive speed of tin- Canadian National Railway's crack flier, the Maple Leaf, was blamed today for the train wreck that killed at least Hi Christmas day excursionists. At least 31 other passengers were injured, some of them so seriously they are not expected to live. Coaches Telescoped Survivors estimated the flier was going approximately y55 miles an hour when it failed to take an open switch passing through the town of Dundas, and ploughed into the rear of a London-Toronto excursion train, motionless mo-tionless on a siding. Two of the seven wooden coaches coach-es of the excursion train were telescoped. Most of the dead and injured were taken from them. None of the passengers on the Chicago to Montreal train was killed or injured. Onlv five of the dead have been identified. The excursion train, filled witli persons who had spent Christmas day with parents, friends and sweethearts, was returning to Toronto when it was signalled to go on the siding to let the Maple Leaf pass. Signal Is Clear Track Ten minutes later the Maple Leaf came roaring down the track. Its signal was green, indicating indi-cating a clear road ahead. "I followed my instructions to proceed straight ahead," Engineer R. Burwell of the Maple Leaf told the United Press. "I saw the special waiting on the siding. "I drove straight through as my instructions called. Suddenly my train swerved violently into the rear of the special. "That's all I know. The cause will have to be determined." Officials of the railroad went to Dundas, six miles" from here, to start an investigation. One official who refused to allow al-low his name to be used, said the Maple Leaf was going so fast it failed to take the open switch and as a result went on the siding instead of continuing on the main line. Hint Faulty Switch The officials refused to comment com-ment on reports that the switch was faulty, and that it was not properly closed after being used to allow the excursion train to run onto the siding. At least ten of the injured were in such serious condition that physicians gave up hope for their recovery. All of the passengers in the third coach from the end were badly shaken. The force of tho crash tossed the car on Its end and it remained in that position at the top of the 150-foot cliff on which the tracks are situated. The cliff borders Dundas. By dawn, crews of workmen had cleared the tracks und Canadian Canad-ian National trains were running on schedule. HAMILTON, Ont.,. Dec. 26 iii.hi Officials of the Canndian National Na-tional Railway today sought to ascertain whether the open switch which sent the crack Maple Leal' flier ploughing into the rear of a Christmas day excursion train, killing 15 -and injuring 32, was faulty or did not have time to close. They pointed out that the flier may have approached so fast that the electrically operated switch may have not had lime to close. The excursion train, carrying 3!I7 passengers, pulled onto the siding just before the limited, traveling travel-ing 55 miles an hour approached. It also punned out that the switch may have been faulty and remained partially open after the excursion train passed. The death toll was definitely fixed at 15 by the two Hfimilton hospitals which received the victims. vic-tims. Early reports said 10 were killed. |