Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-04-05
From Our Corresponding Editor.

From Our Corresponding Editor.
CHICAGO, March %, '82.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT TO COL. BARsTow's
THIRD WISCONSIN CAVALRY.
A terrible railroad accident occurred |
in the transit of Col. Barstow's Caval-
ry Regiment on the Chicago e North
western Railroad at half past ten
O'Clock night before last which proves
to be lamentable and destructive
catastrophe. The people Of your vi
cinity are perhaps, by this time, advis-
ed Of the occurrence, but I have
thought proper 20 send you a brief
statement Of the facts.
THE TRIP TOWARDS CHICAGO.
At 5 O'Clock "Wednesday evening the
regiment left GAINESVILLE, i'll two trains,
over the Chicago and Northwestern
railroad, bound for the seat Of war.-
The foremost train was made up Of
eleven freight cars and eight passen-
ger coaches, nineteen cars in all, be-
sides the locomotive. The second
train was smaller in size. Many Of
the officers, and some Of the privates,
were accompanied by their wives or
sisters, and the trip passed gaily by
until the trains neared Chicago.
THE ACCIDENT.
About half past 10 o'clock, at point
distant nearly five miles from the city,
while the foremost train was moving
at almost lightning speed down slop-
ing grade, the axle of the forward
truck of the first passenger coach sud
denly broke. The unusually high rate
of speed, added to the great weight in
the coaches, created powerful mo-
mcntum, which hurled five Of the pas
senger cars from the track, and pro
duoed a complete wreck. The loco
motive, with the baggage cars, was
detached from the rest of the train,
and moved swiftly down the track un
harmed. The other cars were tum-
bleo together promisIcously, here one
car resting on another, and there a
solitary coach crushed into thousand
splinters The scene that ensued was
terribly heant-rerding- The groans of
the dying, the sumnoniny cali of a sol
der to his missing comrade, the sob
bing of wife or sister over the loss
of loved companion,-al contrasted
strangely with the joyous and merry
crowd that might have been witnessed
In the same wrecked cars q few min
u,es before. 1t was apparent that a
terrible loss Of life had been produced.
No time was lost, and the surgeons,
assisted by the officers, instantly set
about extricating the killed and allie
Waiting the sufferings of the wounded.
The uninjured locomotive, with the
freight cars was first dispatched to the
city to give the alarm, ard return to
the scene Of the accident with 81 gang
of men to assist in clearing the wreck.
at the same time the soldiers who
were unhurt were set to work, and in
a short time the ruins were partly
cleared away, and the bodies Of ten
dead soldiers removed from the resting
places where death had overt aiken
them In short time the engine OF
the disabled train, that had been dis
patched to the city, returned with a
force of men, leaving behind, however,
the corps of surgeons that had been
rallied in this city to visit the spot
BY superhuman efforts the wreck was
cleared from the track in short time,
and, this having been accomplished
the first detachment Of the regiment
consisting Of companies e, c. and l.
staftedfor Chicago, arriving here short
~ after O'Clock yesterday morning
It was nearly 7 o'clock, however, be
fore the remaining companies Of the
regiment reached the city, bringing
with them the killed and wounded
The latter are to be takon to the mill
tary hospital at Camp Douglas, in this
city, where it is needless to say they
will receive the best of treatment
The following comprises q list 0
casualties: