Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-22
rhe Railroad Accident near Alton, Ill.


ton station, Ill.,, are taken from st. Louis
papers of the 9Th:
From the Missouri Republican,
The freight train No. T. conductor Ba-
ker and engineer Halpine, left East st.
Louis at 4 O'Clock yesterday morning, and
should have reached Upper Alton station
at 6:O6 in the morning. The freight
train must have been several minutes be-
hind time when it reached the Alton
Junction station, but Notwithstanding
this the conductor ordered the engineer
to proceed Mr.. Halpine, the engineer,
it appears, had only made one or two
trips over the road, and had taken in a
train on Tuesday night, reaching East ST.
Louis about midnight, having been on
the train about eighteen hours. He. it is
said. expressed some doubt about being
able to reach Upper Alton station, before
the passenger train would come down,
but at the suggestion OF the conductor,
he left the junction station and proceeded
toward Upper Alton, distant about two
miles. The road at the Junction runs in
st-northwestwardly direction, for
some little distance, and then curves
rather sharply to the north, in a cut about
sixteen feet deep. The conductor OF the
passenger train. on arriving at the Upper
Alton station, and hearing nothing OF the
north-bound freight train, supposed
it had taken the side track at the juno
ton, and he proceeded on his way to-
ward that place. About midway OF the
curves spoken of the two trains met. The
bank on either side of the road is very
nearly perpendicular, and about sixteen
feet above the track. From the peculiar
situation of the spot, it is evident that the
engineer on one train could not see the
other until they were within sixty or
eighty yards of each other. To avoid col
lision after they approached near enough
to be seen, was an utter impossibility,
since the combined velocity of the two
trains was certainly not less than thirty
two miles an hour.
The engines came together with terrible
force The front part of both were shiv-
ed to fragments. After they were still,
the smoke-stacks were not more than
three inches apart. One of the brakemen
who was on the passenger train states
that at the time of the collision he hap
pened to be looking out ahead, and saw
the engines strike, rear high up in the air
in the front, and descend to the track
again with terrific crash. The baggage
Car was torn to splinters, the stove broken,
and the wood fire mixed with the SILVER
ed material of the demolished car. The
passenger coach next behind the baggage
car was driven forward by its own and
the momentum Of the two cars behind it,
so that it was telescoped into the broken
baggage car, the front stove broken, the
seats torn from their fastenings, and, with
their occupants, hurled in heap to the
rear part of the car.
So sudden, so violent, and unexpected
a shock for the moment rendered the oc-
cupants of the car, who had escaped with
out very serious bodily injuries, totally
incapable of eXtricating themselves from
the debris of the cars destroyed. To add
to the horror of the scene an alarm of fire
was raised The fragments of the bag
gage car were already in light blaze, the
shattered timbers of the passenger car
were on fire, and the pinioned passengers,
unable to help themselves. were crying
piteOusly for assistance when there were
none to help. A few, who had escaped
without bodily harm, now returned, and
put forth almost superhuman efforts to
rescue their fellow travellers from the i'm
pending doom. To add to the terror of
the occasion, there was not an axe, or any
implement with which to cut away the
parts of the car which imprisoned the vic
Tins. Some were hauled out with broken
legs, some with hrolze arms ss, and Ole had
his collar bone and jaw dIeadfully frac-
tured, while others were pulled from the
burning wreck, with scorched limbs, and
covered with blood streaming from fright
fun WOUNDS. The fire bhZed up, and
spread with great rapidity. The cries of
the helpless persons still in the wreck be-
came heart-rending. One Of the persons
who was burned in the wreck was caught
across the thighs by some part of the car
Two OF the passengers who had escaped
went to his assistance and were endeav-
oring to relieve him, when the flames
leaped out, burning their hands and fore
ing them to abandon the unfortunate man
to his fate. Six of the passengers who
had suffered severe injuries were rescued
with considerable difficulty after the fire
had broken out some of them were lutte
severely burned.
The number OF those who received per-
sonal injuries is variously stated at from
thirteen to seventeen. 1t isprobable that
the former is more nearly correct than
the figures last given. Some of the
wounded were very seriously hurt. Mr..
Canman, of st. Louis, suffered COM
pound fracture of the leg, and was other
wise bruised Another gentleman had
his jaw broken, and was much bruised
about the head and shoulders. Some
were quite seriously burned. Others had
broken ankles and arms. Some were cut
about the head and face, and others re-
ceived injuries in the chest and about the
body.
The bodies, or what remained of them,
OF the four victims of the fire, were con.
veyed to Alton. The names of two of
them had not been fully ascertained.
The remains of these victims are so
much consumed that recognition is i'm
possible. Their limbs are entirely con-
sumed. OF three of them nothing is left
but the headless trunk; the fourth has no
legs left. These charred remains present
spectacle truly horrifying.
LIST OF KILLED AND INJURED.
The following is the list of killed and
injured as far as could be ascertained YES
terday.
death. '"i"oo w
Mrs Reuben Raines, Henry County, Iowa, burn
= Man, supposed to be Mr. Herman Newberser. of
Barry, Pike County, ILL.,, burned to death.
thRnown man, body not having been identified
burned to death.
IA I.