The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-08-21
TERRIBLE RAILROAD DlSAS-

~
Chicago and Alton Railroad. The
south bound express train from Chi
cago came in collision with a coal
train 1920 a. m. the saddening re-
suit being the death of seventeen,
and dangerous injuries to many
others,-total number of killed and
wounded being ffty-one.c From a
statement by the officers of the road
we learn that the regular passenger
train left Chicago for st. Louis at
8 p. M, land consisted If baggage
express car, three day coaches, the
2 head one a second class or smoking
car, and two sleeping cars. a At1O:3O
P. M, when three miles north of
Lemont,and % miles south of Chicago
at a curve In the road, suddenly ap,
peared coal-train of 30 cars running
at about the rate Of twenty miles an
hour. The passenger-train was run
ming at the rate Of thirty miles an
hour, and, neither of the engineers
saw the other engine until 1t was too
late to reverse, a fact partly accounted
{ for by curve in the roau and partly
by dense fog. The two came to-
{ gether with fearful force, Being on
curve however, each. engine lett the
track and passed each other, that
attached to the coal-train striking the
baggage-car a few feet from the end
and showing it off the track, break
ing the coupling betweensit and the
smoking-car, which. the engine struck
square in the end, and with such
force as to throw the forward end, and
into the air, so that the engine ran
cunder it, tearing the floor simply out
and hurting the fifty or. sixty unfor-
tunates who We're in the car in a strug-
Cling maSA to the lower end, whence
there was no chance of escape, and
now ensued a scense of horror which
cannot be adequs tely described. The
smoke-stack and dome Of the engine
mas knocked of by collision. and the
e. broken timbers of the smoking-car
penetrated the boiler, letting loose a
dense volume of hot steam. which
poured into the car, binding and
scalding the helpless inmates, who,
with hesrtrending shrieks, struggled
yainly to extricate themselves Mean
time, Conductor Russell, of the pas
senger-train who was unhurt, and
number of passengers from the rear
coaches, came forward and endeavor-
ed to assist the poor victims, but
there was little left to do beyond tax
ing from the wreck the dying and
wounded, many of whom were fear
fully scalded. a
The point where the accident oc
CURED is near what is known as the
"sag," low, marshy meadow about
halt way between Lemon and Will
low Springs, and not a house in the
neighborhood. The passengers,
however took the bedding from the
sleeping cars, and ministered as
much as was possible. underline cir,
cumstances, to the wounded while
Conductor Russell hurried back on
foot to Lemout, and telegraphed Su |
perintendent McMullin Chicago for
surgeons and aid. Mr.. McMullin
hastily got together half dozen
physicians, and a supply of such ar
ticles as were necessary and started
about midnight, with special train,
for the scene of the disaster arriving
there about 1880 Sunday morning.
Everything possible WAS done for the
sufferers, and at six O'Clock Sunday
morning the train returned to the city
bringing the uninjured, and coaches
Of the wrecked train, and all the dead
and wounded, except the two firemen.
who we're left at Lemont for burial.
On arrival at Chicago those Of the
wounded who reside here were taken
to their home, sand the others were
taken to the hospital with the excep-
ton Of Capt. Smith and Nj. Fleury,
who were taken to the West Side
Briggs House. Both these gentle
men have since died.
The cause of the accident was