THE WRECK.

29

on its side and crushing it in through itswhole length, and landed on its forward end, withits rear end resting on the other two and highin air.

As the different cars fell, every person for theinstant was stunned, and the crashing of one caron another struck many dead in an instant, whilethe survivors waited in suspense, expecting deathwould also come to them at the next blow.

The work of death was owing mostly to thefall, and to the crashing of cars and heavytrucks on bodies and limbs, and even the veryhearts of many.

It was probably instantaneous to the largemajority of those who perished. But a few w r eretaken out of the wreck with any evidence ofhaving perished from the flames which soonbroke out. The wonder was that any escaped totell the manner of their escape.

As the cars struck, splinters flew in everydirection. The floor burst up from below. Theseats were crushed in front and behind. Theroofs were crushed from above. The sidesopened and yawned, and, as one expressed it, it