New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-18
A RAILROAD DISASTER.
COLLISION ON THE CHICAGO AND ALTON


FREIGHT TRAIN DAsIIEs INTO THE SMOKING CAR
OF PASSENGER TRAIN NEAR LENoNr-ELEVEN
PERSONS KILLED AND Twenty-Five INJURED
cULPABIE NEGLIGENCE OF THE CONDUCTOR.
CHICAGO, Aug. ia terrible accident oc-
CURED past ten O'Clock last night near Lemont,
on the Chicago Alton Railroad An incoming reSht
train into collision with the south bound express
passenger train, almost entirely wrechng the ater'
killing six persons outright and fearfuly injuring some
s5 Others many of whom it Is said will die Although
Lemon Is only about miles south OF this city the accl
dent was not known here, except TO the railroad omc
until between IL and O'Clock this morning. and then
only who happened 10 ascertain that surgeons
had been sent for to go TO the wrecked train.
All the passengers killed or injured were IN the sec
ond-cass car which was also used smoking car,
and, with the exception Of the hrenen engineers ana
train men, the casualties were all caused by steam
None Of the regular passenger coaches seepers were
thrown from the track in any way injured NO per
son In any OF them hurt The following account OF
n accident is from the statement Of officers OF the
road:
The regular passenger for st. Louis left here at
p. and consisted Of baggage car, express car and
three day coaches. the head one second-class or
smoking car and two seepers. At 1920 D. % wheh three
miles north Of Lemon and about ~ miles south OF tDs
city, at in the road, suddenly appeared coal
train OF IS running at the rate OF about 40 miles an
hour The passenger train running at the rate OF
the others until it too late to reverse, fact
accounted for the the road and partly by the
| dense fog. The trains came together win
fearful force. Being the curve, however
each engine left the track ana passed
each other attached the coal train striking the
baggage few feet the end breaking the coup
ling between it and the smoking car, which the engine
struck square in the end and with such force as to
throw the forward end In the air. that the engine ran
under it, tearing the floor completely out and hurting
the 80 or 60 unfortunates who in the car In a
struggling to the lower end where there was no
chance for escape and then ensued scene OF horrors
which cannot adequately be described. The smoke
stack and dome OF the engine knocked off by the
| collision, and broken timbers OF the smoking car
penetrated the boiler letting loose dense volume OF
hot steam which poured into the car binding and scald
ing the helpless inmates who with shreks struggled
| yainy extrcate themselves. Meantime, Conductor
Russell OF the passenger train, who was unhurt, and
number Of passengers from the coaches came for
ward and endeavored to assist the poor victims, but
there little left TO do beyond taking from the wreck
the dying and wounded many Of whom were fearfully
scalded Seven died soon after they were taken out
| and four have since died.
The point where the accident occurred what is
| known the Sag, low marshy meadow. about hat
way between Lemont and Willow Springs Station. and
there not house in the negbborhood The nnhurt
passengers however the bedding from the sleepers
and ministered as much as possible under the cir
cumstances to the wounded, while Conductor Russell
| hurried to Lemont and teegraphed superintendent
| McMullen here for surgeons and aid. Mr.. MeMuHeh
hastily got together half dozen physicians and sup
plies Of such articles as were necessary ana started
about midnight with special train for the scene OF the
| disaster arriving there about 1880 a. m Everything
possible done the sufferers and at NJ the train
returned to the city, bringing the unInjured coaches
OF the wrecked train and all the dead and wounded
except TWO remen, who left at Lenont for burial
On the arrival OF the tFan those Of the wounded VINO
reside here we're taken to their homes ana the OTHERS
were taken the hospital with the exception OF capt
1 Smith and Mr.. Fleury who were taken to the "est
side Briggs House. Neither Of these gentlemen, 10 is
| feared can recover.
The cause OF the accident the criminal careless
less of the conductor and engineer Of the coal train
whose duty to wait at Lemont until the passen-
ger train had passed. unless they mad received positive
orders TO proceed This, the officers of the road say,
was not the case and that the coal train should have
STAYED AT Iemont The conductor OF the coal train,
named Bemand had been running the train for year
and was considered frstcass man. He has not been
seen since the disaster and il is thought he has escaped
and fed as last Of him he In the caooose OF
his train which uninjured. No blame is attached
the officers OF the passenger train which is sad 10
have been on time and had the right OF track The road
wav was cleared of the wreck and trains win run out
| from here tonight as usual.
The total number OF the killed and those who died
of their injuries up O'Clock p to-day, Is H. and OF
| wounded 49, The following is list furnished by the
officials OF the road and is doubtless correct:
RLed-John Mitzler engineer, belonging to the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad two reDen belonging 10
the c0llidpg trains, unknown; Frank Brldges
appareptly fireman; n. Divelbiss, jr OF Springfield
III. Thomas Martin porter AndersOns Hotel Cnlca-
90. r 7 Rross OF the firm Of j. " Farewell q Co.. CHI
eago. two men whose bodies yet unidentified
Iuur,d-Capt John A. Smith, Warden OF the lllnOls
Penitentary at Joliet. badly scalded-cannot recover
7 f. Fleury Purchasing Agent for the Penltentiary at
Joliet fatay-will scarcely live till night Anton FIN
kelman OF 81. Louis badly-probaby fatally; MI NC.
| Cantreli OF Chicago, badly bruised; VIM Mtcheil OF
Ducks Island Me-, badly scaded Alexander Montelth
| of Ducks Island, badly scalded; Thomas strong OF
| Muskegan Mich scalded Thomas Crowley OF chi
| cago scaded; William Currant or Conahty OF
Ducks Island scalded; j. Lemotte OF Philadelphia,
| badly scaded; John sherres OF Glasgow, Dady huLt
ruptred; Alexander Halsett OF Ducks Island scaiaed
A. Berden scalded: John Whaen OF Akron, ono, back
| aud hands soalded Henry Small OF AKRON scalded D.
4 f. Cunningham, baggage man. leg broken Ja in
| broken The engineer Of the coal train was badly
| bruised George Rent Of Chicago had ms BACK
and arms scaded; A. g. Hickman, an artist, 0, ScaeV
was badly scaded the head and hands ana ofuised
jacob Close fatally; Jacob Cardoyant OF OSHKOSH MIS-
will probably die Isaac Mills OF New YORK. was sgny
scalded: Martin Carleton Of Bloomington scaiue1 WIZ
Richardson OF Chicago. scalded; L. ~ Hamln OF Dwight
III slightly scalded; John OKeefe OF Akron, ONO and
James IT, Doyle, scalded; john spears OF Chlcago'
| scalded; NJ. ST. John Of Chicago, scslded