The Seattle Post Intelligencer

Bad Wreck on the Union Pacific.

OMAHA, Nov. 22-One of the worst wrecks on the Union Pacific in several years occurred this morning at Ada, Neb. The east-bound overland flyer struck a freight train on a sidetrack. Both engines and the postal and baggage cars were wrecked, while the freight cars were piled in a heap. The collision was due to the criminal negligence of a switch tender. The freight had been doing some switching, and had backed in on the siding to await the passage of the fast express train. It was supposed the switch had been set for the main track, but the opposite was the case, and the passenger train, coming on at the rate of forty-five miles per hour, crashed into the freight with terrible force. The killed are: J. W. Keller, conductor of the freight; Barney McDonald, passenger engineer; Gus Barrett, freight engineer; Ira Owens, freight fireman. The injured are: William Costello, passenger fireman; A. M. Lyons, mail agent; William Sutherland, freight brakeman. The first two will die. No passengers were hurt. Fireman Costello and Brakeman Sutherland died this evening. The coroner's inquest developed the fact that Conductor Keller was responsible for the open switch.