Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-06-23
From the Daily of the j7th.
TELESC0pED
A Terrible Rail Road Acci-
dent at Charlton.
Four Men Instantly Killed =
Two Have Died since, and
Four severely Injured.
A Sickening Scene.

A Sickening Scene.
Early this morning rumors wero
rife that a terrible rsi!road accident
had occurred q. Charlton, and that
several persons had been killed, while
several others were seriously, If not
fatally injured.
1t appears that train 70. IL from The
West was running in sections
In one, two, three order, and that Sec
ton of No. II was Standing on the
main track at Charlton taking on coal.
Section No. 8 was following, ana when
about three miles the other side of
Charlton coming up the grade q severe
storm struck the train from the rear.
and tho wind was blowing a perfect
hurricane in the same direction, in fact
80 hard that the wind was almost suf-
ticient to carry the train without the
aid OF steam.
This section was composed princi-
pally Of empty coaches which were
returning from the west, where they
had been sent on an excursion several
days ago, tho particulars of which we
published at the time. We did not
see the engineer of action 3, but un-
derstand that when he got on top Of
the grade tho wind was such as to car
~ the train, almost, and he run along
with but little steam on. When he
came to the city limits no whistled for
breaks, and We understand the breaks
wero set, but not sufficient to stop
the train. In an instant, or such a
matter, he discovered the lights on the
caboose ahead Of him and sounded the
alarm, reversed his engine, but too
late to avert tho sickening catastrophe.
From parties who were at Charlton at
the time, and who helped remove the
dead and wounded from the wreck
we have the statement that .the
scene was perfectly awful. The
incoming engine struck the caboosc,
and knocked It against the next car
ahead, which was loaded. with hogs,
with such force as to pile the hogs into
tho cab0ose, and almost demolish both
the way car and the first hog car
They tell us that 1t was most terrible
sight. Dead and wounded men, dead
and wounded hogs piled in one pro-
'niseuous heap, Willie the storm out
side was howling-in terrific fury, and
the wind bfowinga hurricane. Both
cars were wrecked completely.
There were twelve persons in the
way car ut the time of the accident,
four of whom were killed outright,
seven others were Injured Two or
whom We understand have since died,
and ono escaped urhnrt. Several OF
the parties were terribly msngied.
One man was found on top of the
wreck, iinpaled on an iron rod, which
ran clear through his body, with one
leg torn of, stone dead, and in such a
position that it was some time before
the body could be recovered from the
wreck. Another had his head COM
pletely cut of, leaving only the lower
jaw attached to the body,
The c. b. Il Q. railroad has been
noted for its freedom from acci-
dents, and only one before this has
happened for several years that
amounted TO anything, and this can
only be explained on account of the
storm.
The dead were removed and we un-
derstand sent to their homes, while
every attention in the power of man
WAS given to the wounded.
DR.. Ransom the Company Surgeon
passed through here at o'clock this
morning by special train on his way
to the scene Of the accident, in com.
pany with 4. j. Potter, Supt. Of the
road, who are now at Charlton doing
what they can for the suilerings of the
wounded.
Since writing the above we received
the following dispatch from Charlton
CHARLTON, Juno II, 1875.
Third Section No. II ran into ID
Section at Charlton at ii :55 last night
Four men were killed outright. J
Eckhard, of Council Bluffs Il. Sever
in, Illinois Cty;J, w. Huston, Marys
vile, Mo. and another man not ye
identified. Seven other stock mer
were injured, two Of them serious
The accident was caused by heavy
rain and wind storm that was prevail
ing at the time.
One of the two seriously injured
has since died--Mr. Evans, of Russell
| A car with the brake set. run out o
the Charlton yard about the Same tim,
of tho accident and run five miles
l will give further details as soon a
possible. ***
1t is to be hoped wo will have nj
more accidents of this character t,
chronicle for some time to come, i
over.