Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-16
Three Trains Wrecked on the
Northwestern Raila0ad.
Seven Persons killed and Others
Injured.
Three CuIverts Swept Away
Within a Distance OF TWEEN
ty Miles.
PASSENGER AND TWO FREIGHT,
TRAINS PLUNGE INTO THE
CHASMS.
From the Chicago Post and Mail


HARVARD, Sept. 9.--The heavy
rain storm which swept over this sec
ton OF the country at an carly hour
this morning, was one of the most
desatrous in its effect that has been
known for years. and scenes to have
visited its greatest fury on the North
western railroads, no less than three
serious accidents, each being attended
with loss of life, having occurred on
the Wisconsin Division of the road last
night.
THE FIRST ACCIDENT,
in order of prominence, took place at
Lawrence, small station GA miles from
Chicago. While the storm was at it's
height, passenger train No. 3, which
left Chicago at 9:45 O'Clock last even
ing, came dashing through the dark
ness at speed of over twenty miles an
hour. Near the station at Lawrence
is culvert, the sides of which had
been washed out by the rain. when
the engine reached the place it was at
once thrown from the track, and turned
over on its side
The baggage, express, and one Sec
ondclass passenger coach followed, all
being piled together in the ditch.
When the afrighted passengers in
the other cars, which remained Oh the
track, reached the place,
A HORRIBLE SCENE
met their eyes. Entangled in the debris
of the wrecked cars were the bodies of
the engineer, baggageman, and one
passenger.
THE KILLED.
AS soon as possible, the bodies were
removed and properly cared for The
engineer was Henry Morris, trusted
employer of the road. who died at the
post Of duty; and the fireman, James
Duty. The name of the passenger who
was killed is not known; but he is
supposed to be a resident of Chicago.
THE NEWS OF THE DISASTER
was promptly telegraphed to the officers
of the road at Chicago by Conductor
James RanOuse, who was in charge Of
the wrecked train, and was at once res
ponded to by the arrival of special
train from Chicago, on which were the
officials of the road and the necessary
surgical attendants.
-Four passengers in the second-class
coach were injured, two seriously.
Their names cannot be learned.
The newsboy on the train IS also IN
doubtIy killed, as he is missing, but
thus far has body has not been found.
THE SECOND ACCIDENT,
which was caused by the same storm,
occurred near Harvard, which is but
two miles from Lawrence, in the direc-
ton of Chicago. Here, as at Law
renee, the cause of the disaster wasa
culvert, which had been washed out by
the same storm that destroyed the one
at Lawrence. In this instance the vic
tim of the storm king wrath was
freight train, the conductor of which
was W. B. Woolford. The engine was
thrown from the track, and brakeman,
whose name cannot be ascertained, was
instantly killed.
THE THIRD ACCIDENT
occurred about two miles from Shop
rere, which is Is miles north Of Law
renee. Here, as at the other places,
the deadly culverts did it's work. and,
as at Harvard, freight train was
wrecked. The conductor of the train
was Ell. Smith. The engine plunged
into the wash-out, the engineer, P.
Dolan, and the fireman, whose name is
unknown,
BEING INSTANTLY KILLED.
The storm, as above stated, was one
IF great violence, and to this fact alone
he disasters are attributable, as the
;ulverts were safe against any ordinary
storm. There is but one wire from
his place to Chicago in working order,
md it is so crowded with messages to
he railroad officials, that further par
iculars cannot be sent.
Continued from first page.)