The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-18
A Coal Train Of Thirty Cars Crashes
Into the Passenger Express.
Sky Persons Almost Steamed
to Death.
CRIMINAL CARELEssMEss.
The Officials Neglect Their Duty and
Cause the Loss Of Life.

x
CHICAGO, August II, 1878.
terrible accident occurred as half-past ten
O'Clock last night, near Lemont on the Chicago
| and Alton Railroad. an incoming freight train col
| liding with the South bound express passenger
tram, almost entirely wreckng the latter, killing
six persons outright and feariully inJuring some
thirtyseven others, many OF whom, it Is said, will
die. The cars were enveloped in steam, and num-
bers of the injured are scalded badly while others
ers. Although Lemont is only about twenty miles
south of this city the accident was not known here
except to the railroad officials, until between
twelve and one O'Clock this morning, and then only
to parties who happened to ascertain that sur
geons had been sent for to 20 to the wrecked
train.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
The total number Of the killed and those who
died OF there Injuries by the collision 49, up to three
O'Clock p NJ. to-day, eleven, and OF wounded,
thirty-hve. The following is list furnished by tho
officials Of the road and Is doubtless correct:-
KILLED.
John Mitzler. an engineer belonging to the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Two nremen belonging to the colliding trains,
names unknown.
Frank Bridges. apparently fireman.
N. Divelbiss, Jr., Of Springfield, Ill
Thomas Morton, porter In Anderson's Hotel
Chicago
r. J. Gross, OF the firm of J. v. Farwen Co..
Chicago.
Two men whose bodies are yet unidentified.
INJURED:
Captain John A. Smith, Warden OF the Illinois
Penitentiary at Joliet badly scalded; cannot re-
cover.
J. F.. Fleury, purchasing agent for the peniten.
tary at Joliet; fatally; Will scarcely live till night.
Anton Fnkelman, Of St. Louis; badly; probably
fatally.
Mr.. McCantrell, OF Chicago; badly bruised.
VIM. Mitchell OF Ducks Island, Maine: badly
scalded.
Alexander Monteith, Of Ducks Island; badly
scalded
Thomas Strong, OF Muskegan, Michigan; scaldcd.
Thomas Crowley, OF Chicago scalded.
William Currant, or Conant, OF Ducks Island;
sca.ded.
]. Lemotte, Of Philadelphia; badly scalded.
John sherries, OF Glasgow. Scotland; badly hurt;
ruptured.
Alexander Hallsett. Of Ducks Island; scaldcd.
A. Borden, scalded.
NH ha1a MI kpnn hoc onA hon IL
scalded.
Henry Small, of Akron; scalded
J. E. Cunningham, baggage man; leg broken.
James O'Neil, engineer Of the passenger train !;
both legs broken.
The Engineer OF the coal train was badly bruised
George Rentil, of Chicago, had his back and arms
scalded.
A. G. Hickman, an artist, OF Chicago, was badly
scalded on the head and bands and bruised.
Jacob Closet fatally.
Jacob Cordovant, Of Oshkosh, Wis.,, will probably
die.
Isaac Mills, of New York, was slightly scaded.
Martin Carleton, OF Bloomington; scaded.
william Richardson or Chicago; scalded.
John o. Keefe, OF Akron, ONO, and James T.
Doyle; scaded.
John Spears, Of Chicago; scalded.
M. st. John, Of Chicago; scalded.
DREADFUL EFFECT OF THE STEAM
The train did not take fire, as was previously re-
ported, and all the passengers Killed or injured
were In the second class car, which was also used
as smoking car, and, with the exception OF the
nremen, engineers and trainmen, the casualties
were all caused by steam. None Of the regular
the track or In any way injured. No person in any
OF them was hurt. The following account Of the
accident Is from the
STATEMENTS OF OFFICERS OF THE ROAD:-
The regular passenger train for St. Louis left here
at nine p NJ, and consisted Of baggage car, ex.
press car and three day coaches-the head one o
second class, or smoking car, and two sleepers. At
tweHty minutes past ten p. NJ, when three miles
north Of Lemont and about twenty-five miles south
of this city, at curve in the road, suddenly ap-
peared coal train Of thirty-nve cars running at
the rate Of about twenty miles an hour. The pas
senger train was running at the rate Of probably
thirty miles an hour, and neither engineer saw the
others engine until 1t was too late to reverse,
fact accounted for by the curve in the road and
partly by the dense fog. The two trains came to.
gether with fearful force. Being on the curve,
however, each engine left the track and passed
each other that attached to the coal train striking
the baggage car few feet from the end, breaking
the coupling between It and the smoking car,