Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-07
OFF THE TRACK.
Serious Accident on the Northern Pacific
One Passenger Seriously Injured.

Serious Accident on the Northern Pacific.
One Passenger Seriously Injured.
The Northern Pacific passenger train from
the west is due in this city at 1905 o'clocl
A. NJ. Yesterday it was behind time, and
when noon arrived, yet no train, some little
uneasiness prevailed, which gave away tc
alarm when the announcement was made
that the train had been wrecked. This state
OF feeling was greatly increased when it be-
came generally known that DR.. Mur-
ply had been telegraphed fol-
and had been conveyed to
the scene of the disaster on a special loco
motive. Inquiry at the railroad offices elicit
ed next to nothing, as their information had
come by telegraph and was meagre of de-
tail. However, q special train was dispatched
to the wreck, returning at 7:3O O'Clock
yesterday with all the passengers. 1t was
ascertained that the catastrophe had been
magnitied by rumor.
A GLOBE reporter succeeded in getting
hold of Mr.. j. w. Morrow,
of Fargo, just before he had turned off the
gas for a good nights rest, and learned
from him full particulars of the accident.
The passenger train, consisting of a bag
gage car, two coaches and sleeping car,
flew the track at a point about one milo an d
half north of Sank Rapids. The accident
was caused by the wash out of a
culvert. Tho locomotive, tender an d
baggage car cleared the culvert, but as the
other cars struck it, it gave way, and the
trucks of the cars dropped from the body
of the cars, and thus without wheels the
cars were dragged across the chasm and
bumped along and off the track
for some distance. The floor of
the cars was lady ripped ur,
and the trucks being thrown against
the sleeper, it was made complete wreck,
the flooring being ripped up and the sides
demolished. There were about forty pass
engers on the train, and they were badly
shaken up, but all escaped injury except
one. He was seated near the rear end of
the Car just in front of tho sleeper, and
when the stir up came, he was
thrown violently forward, striking his left
side against the back of the seat, Just in
front of him.
After tho alarm Gained down, and the
passengers had time look around them, this
ono passenger was found to be unconscious.
He was carefully removed, taken to Sioux
Rapids, and medical assistance summoned.
Becoming hourly worse, DR.. Murphy was
dispatched for and responded as stated above.
Mr.. Morrow speaks highly of Conductor
w. P. Spaulding's conduct and kindness
throughout the disaster. In this he is cor
daily seconded by all the passengers.
The accident occurred about o'clock A. M.
and relief came at 3 o'clock P. NJ, in train to
carry away all from the wreck. Meanwhile
the passengers had secured teams, and were
driven to st. Cloud, where they braced up on
hearty dinner.
Mr. Morrow fairly marvels that great in
jury was not done, and that many lives were
not lost. The utmost confusion prevailed,
and the ride for q few rods was rough one,
intensified by the floors being ripped and
torn up by broken rail and part of the
air brake, which was broken and driven
through the car.
Mr.. Morrow was unable to give the name
of the one injured passenger. But Conduc-
tor Spaulding being encountered, after cor
roborating Mr.. Morrow's account of the &C
cident, stated that the injured passenger was
Augustus Charles, of Decatur, Michigan.
He was returning homo from an ex-
tended trading trip up the Yellow
stone river. Mr.. Soauldng believes
Charles injuries are very painful, but by no
manner of means likely to prove fatal.
Conductor Spaulding was seated imme-
diate]y behind Charles when the accident
happened, and was pretty badly shaken, be-
sides receiving a painful brulse on the knee
by being thrown against the side of the car.
1t is accounted wonderful that the acci-
dent was not attended with the injury of a
number of passengers, and all congratulate
themselves at their fortunate escape.
Every precaution was taken to prevent
any mishap; the train was going at slow
rate, and owing to the heavy rains, Conduc-
tor Spaulding had held his train back for
two hours at Brainerd, so that the Journey
might be made by daylight.