Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-11
THE DISASTER on THE CHICAGO
& NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY.

WOODSTOCK, ILL.,, February o.
About six miles beyond Woodstock,
ffty-one miles from Chicago, on the
Wisconsin Division of the Northwestern
Railroad, the landscape is broken by
abrupt declivities and cavernous gullies.
This point, this morning at nearly 5
o'clock, was the scene OF a m 'st dis
tressing accident and the miraculous
escape Of some yenty odd persons
from death or serious injury. At that
hour the Green Bay express, Conductor
Ryan, due in Chica4o at 6 AS in the
morning, came laundering along at
the rate of forty miles an hour, and
had reached steep embankment few
rods west Of Kishwaukee creek. The
train had proceeded on the route but
a short distance, when it met broken
rail, striking which, six cars were pre-
cipitated from the track to the gully
below, distance Of full 80 feet. The
engine and tender, followed by two ex-
press cars, passed the broken rail in
safety, but the baggage car on reach
ing that point was thrown from the
track, and followed by the rest of the
train, The train, moving at the high
rate Of speed which had been attained
trembled moment on the sleepers
previous to taking the final plunge,
but before it was possible for any one
of the passengers to realize what had
occurred, the cars were tumbling pell-
nell down the proc'ptous steep. Toe
baggage car was the first to go over.
1t landed bottom-side up. wreck, and
was given over to the flames. The
baggage master, when the car first left
the track, became wedged in between
some boxes. which the shock of the
car by striking the ground released
him from and he escaped with scarce
ly a bruise. This was followed by
three coaches: a sleeper, and caboose,
which was attached to The train. AL
most simultaneously with the fall a
fire broke out in the wrecked train,
which lit up the scene and added to
the horrors of the calamity.
The passengers recovered from the
almost paralzng effect Of the accident
Immediately, and set about releasing
those Of their fellows who were yet
confined in the debris Of the ruins.
In the absence Of implements that
would facilitate their efforts they be-
gan the undertaking with little pros
pect Of realizing their hopes. But
they seemed to be inspired, and, over
coming every difficulty, theJ only rest
ed from their .labors when it became
apparent that ali had been rescued
BY this time the cars were mass of
seething, cracking, roaring flames, and
the late occupants who had escaped
with their lives, or at best with some
bruises Of minor Importance, contem-
plated the prospect with anxious hearts
lest some one had been unable to es-
cape.
The engineer instantly became con-
scious that an accident had occurred,
and, shutting off steam, brought his
engine to halt, and returned to the
ruins. AS soon as the passengers we're
recovered, the wounded were placed in
the remaining cars attached to the loco
motive, and taken to Woodstock, where
physicians were in attendance, and all
that was possible was done to alleviate
their agony. The rest of the passen-
gers were conveyed to hospitable quart
ers in that town, and those who were
uninjured continued their journey to
the city on the train, arriving at 10
o'clock this morning, or returned to
their homes.
| The smoking car turned complete
somersault, tearing the fence at the
base of the embankment, and landed
on it's side. This car contained three
passengers, two Of whom were slight
ly, and third dangerously, injured.
Mr.. VIM. Stewart, Of Watseka, ILL.,,
was sitting by the stove warming him
self when he felt the car strike the
obstruction. He sprang from his seat
and endeavored to seek an escape, but
| UC1OtO IC A0N uiOFGu d lew StCDS tuC
car waslover the embankment, and he
was caught by the falling stove and
pinned to the floor. The unfortunate
man was rescued as soon as possible,
but not before he had been severely
burned, in addition to receiving a seri-
Gus wound on the head above the right
eye. He was removed to Woodstock,
where he lay all day in semi-comatose
state, and his recovery is only possible.
The next coach contained small
number of passengers, all of whom, ex-
cept gentleman from New York, es-
capped serious injury. This exception
had his coilar-bone broken, but, after
it had been dressed by Drs. Davis &
Northrop, he proceeded on his journey
East. The next car had the usual
complement of passengers, all of whom
were more or less injured. A. Fl. Mil
Ter, of Laporte, Ind, was on the point
of moving his seat in this car when