Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-08-28
AWFUL TRAGEDY,
Collision ON the Chicago and Alton Rail-
road-Forty-three Persons Killed and
Wounded.


lFrom the Chicago Tribune, Aug. 1871
Another of those railroad horrors which
periodically thrill the country occurred Satur-
day night on the Chicago and Alton railroad,
between Willow Station and Lemont, about %
miles from this city. The lightning express
which leaves at o'clock every evening for st.
Louis started at the usual hour, and, without
any premonition of disaster, flew on at the
usual rate of speed-twenty-f miles an hour
1t was Saturday night, and many persons were
going to the country to spend Sunday, and
many others who had been in the city on bust
ness were returning to their homes along the
line. The train consisted of locomotive. a
baggage-car, o smoking-car two coaches, and
two sleeping-cars. The cars were well filled.
particularly the smoking-car. The train was
due at Willow Station at 9:55, and was on
time 1t is notusual for this train to stop at
that station, but on this occasion it was neces-
sary, III order to take on a sleeping-car which
was brought from st. Louis by the train which
left that city in the morning.
The train started from Willow Station. ac-
cording to the best evidence. ten minutes
behind, and, as it is customary on this road to
make up lost time, undoubtedly the rate of
4
ductor and engineer knew they were to pass a
coal train at Lemont, seven miles distant, but
unhappily that train did not wait. as it should
have done, but came Oh toward the passenger
train, expecting TO make Willow Station. 1t
was a race for life. The conductor and ell
gineer of the coal train knew that the passen-
ger train, laden with precious lives was in
front, and if they did not reach switch by a
certain time, a collision was inevitable Both
trains were rushing toward destruction. On
they flew over the iron way through the dark
ness, the speed increasing at every revolution
of the wheels. The passengers in the
sleeping-cars were preparing to retire or had
already done so. Those i'll the coaches were
looking forward to reaching their destination.
where expectant families awaited their
coming. The suspicion of danger never
crossed the minds of any. when suddenly,
without moments warning, not even a
whistle, the two trains were locked in an en-
brace of death, and in one moment wives
were made widows, children became father
less, mourning was sent to the threshold of
many happy homes, and sorrow that can never
be eradicated pierced many hearts. There
were three concussions.-first,w when the en-
CINE, met and were destroyed: second, when
the bagSage-car struck and was smashed into
fragments: and third, when the smoking-car
collided and leaped in the air, alighting on
the fractured boiler of the freight engine
The remains of the psssenger-train engine
were thrown from the track. toward the east
and so were the ruins of the baggage-car.
Then came the smoking-car on the top of the
boiler. The fore part of the car was burst
open by the force with which it struck, the
hind wheels remaining on the track and there
it stood at an angle of thirty degrees. the
passengers imprisoned in the broken iron and
wood. while the deadly steam came up with
terrific force from the boiler below, scaldng
those whom it touched, instantly peeling off
the skin. and causing the most excruciating
agony. One moment was sufficient to cause
death, but many were there several minutes
before being extricated. They breathed the
burning atmosphere. One breath was fatal
the inner surface of the chest and lungs being
fearfully scorched.
AS soon as they recovered from the first
shock the passengers in the two coaches aud
in the sleeping-cars, who were uninjured. did
all they could to rescue the sufferers. This
humane work was superintendent by Mr. 3. X.
Hawley, of Normal who was the first to
mount the smoking-car and begin.
With him was Texan named Magee. who
worked molly. They lifted out the sufferers
in the rear of the car first, and then placed
plank on which those in the elevated end were
Sid down. All were handled as gently as pos
sible, and laid tenderly OH the grass. While
this was being done, others lighted fire,
taking for fuel the broken timber, and the
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 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 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 focihardiness of the conductor of the
freight train in leaving Lemont when he knew
that it a matter of life and death-that it
was mere chance if he could reach switch
i'm time-that i. was his duiy 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.
aud so uneasy was MIR. 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 |
difference, however. With the same reckless |
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 |
Rafferty, there, by deed of herosm to tighten |
this gloomy tale. 80
The intelligence of the accident reached the !
city about 1890 o'clock Saturday evening by |
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 o'clock the train |
started, the most of the passengers having |
only an indistinct idea of their mission, there |
being only dread presentiInent that some,
thing awful was ahead. The relief reached |
the wreck soon after o'clock; additional |
comforts were given to the wounded, the |
track was claara6 and anon after da vliob< L