Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-08-28

in the sleeping-cars, who we're unln1ured. did
all they could to rescue the sufferers This
humane work was superintended by MIR. B. r.
Hawley, of Normal, who was the first to
mount the smoking-car and begin.
With him was a Texan named Magee, who
worked nobly. They lifted out the sufferers
plank on which those in the elevated end were
slid down. All were handled as gently as pos
sible, and laid tenderly on the grass: While
this was being done, others lighted a fire,
light shone luridly on the sufferers, who were
moaning in their agony. The sleeping-cars
were emptied of passengers, and one. by one
the wounded were placed in the berths, and
received such attention as could be given
them in the absence of medical
attendance. Soon an engine came
from Lemont, bringing four physicians;
but when they came they could do little or
nothing. Surprising they would be called
upon to give surgical aid, they came equipped
with surgical instruments, which were not re-
quired, and the liniment and oil which were
so badly needed were still three miles away at
Lemont.
There was but little murmuring among the
passengers. A few broke out in words of in
dignation against the officers of the road for
what they conceived to be the unreasonable
delay in the arrival of assistance, but gen.
orally those who escaped were too much con-
cerned about the wounded, and too busy in
attending to their wants, to think of anything
else.
The cause of the accident was the %inexcusa-
BILE foolhardiness of the conductor of the
freight train in leaving Lemont when he knew
that it was a matter of life and death-that it
was a mere chance if he could reach a switch
in time-that it was his duty to remain there
until the passenger train, which had the right
of way, was safely by, and that any way he
had no right to run any risk or take any
chances. Mr.. Huston, station-agent at Lee
mont, entreated him not to leave the station,
and SO uneasy was Mr.. Huston when he did
leave, that he listened until he heard the
conclusion, and then he went to work to Sc
cure the necessary aid.
The night was dark. the sky cloudy, the
waning moon shed no light, the stars were
visible overhead. but a thick fog covered the
surface of the earth, and lights could not be
seen for any great distance; That made no
management of the freight train the accident
might have occurred in the full blaze of noon
day. There would be nothing to prevent it.
A curve in the road hid the trains from each
other, and the engineers could do nothing to
stop their engines. In this case nothing
seems to have been attempted. There was no
Raffertythere, by a deed of heroism to tighten
this gloomy tale.
TIL intelligence of the accident reached the
city about 1890 o'clock Saturday evening by a
dispatch from Lemont, and was conveyed to
Mr.. McMullen. Superintendent of the road.
He Immediately sent messengers in every
direction for surgeons and medical supplies,
and ordered an ambulance and wrecking train
made up Immediately. At 1 o'clock the train
started, the most of the passengers having
only an indistinct idea of their mission, there
being only a dread pIesentiment that some.
thing awful was ahead. The relief reached
the wreck soon after 2 o'clock; additional
comforts were given to the wounded, the
track was cleared, and soon after daylight
the caravan of death was homeward bound
Six were dead, and the number of the wound
ed was more than forty some were grooming
others were gasping for air and crying fol
water. On the journey home two men died
and eight dead bodies were born to the
Morgue. Most of the wounded we're taken tc
the County Hospital, some to the West Sid
Briggs House, and others to the Gault House
while several whose injuries were of a sigh
nature went to their homes or selected sucl
hotels as they thought fit. During Sunda,
and Monday other deaths were reported, ant
on Monday evening the total number o
deaths had reached thirteen. Five more are
reported SO badly injured as to be beyond al
hopes of recovery, and no doubt the list o.
killed will reach twenty before the middle O.
the week.
particulars of the disaster. The number o
dead has been swelled to seventeen, and vii
probably be increased to a still higher figure
as several of the wounded, it is thought, can
killed and wounded is fifty-one. The follow
ing is a complete list of the killed
Capt. John w. Smith, Warden of the Illinoi
State P~enitentiary.
J. W. Fleury, Purchasing Agent of the Hi
nois State Penitentiary.
Capt. William Lettle, Springfield, Ill.
Roger J. Brass, Chicago.
Thomas Morton, Chicago.
James O'Neill, Joliet, merchant.
Theodore Steng, Texas.
Jacob Cundet, Oshkosh, Wis.
George Trendel, Chicago.
George Reuter-, Chicago.
N. Divelbliss, Springfield, Ill.
Conrad Webber, Chicago.
Jacob Lauser, Joliet, Ill.
William Davis, fireman of coal train.
Joseph B.. Niche, jackson, Tenn.
John Metzler, Joliet, brakeman of coal train
Thomas E. Pollard.
The engineer of the coal train has beer
arrested and imprisoned. The conductor
Became, has fled, but efforts are being made II