The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-03

Individ u ais.
Wednesday forenoon railroad &C
cident occurred on the branch line of
the St. Paul, Minneapolis l. Manitoba
railroad, about two miles north of
Itaska. Tom King, the Minneapolis
editor Of the Pioneer-Press was on
the car and here is his version of the
catastrophe:
cat this time neither the conductor
nor the brakeman were in the car.
and the rear end of the car commenced
bobbing up and down, as though the
back trucks had jumped the track,
and was running on the ties instead of
the rails. Two of the passengers
seized the bell cord to signal the en-
gineer, but pulled in vain. The bell
cord broke about midway of the
train, and none Of the train men were
cogniZant Of the trouble in the rear.
At this time the train was running ful-
ly twenty miles an hour, and one Of
the passengers pulled the bell rope,
and at this moment l was rushing out
Of the car into the car ahead. Just
as l stepped upon the platform the
car jumped the track and rolled down
an embankment, fully fifty feet dis
tant from the track; and, so rapidly
was the train going at this time, l was
thrown about thirty feet into the
snow. There were about fifteen pas
>engers in the coach at the time.
When I had sufficiently recovered
went into the car that had jumped
the track and detached itself from
both trucks, and. strange to say, was
right side up. although having rolled
over several times; and there I wit
messed a bloody SCENE. Nine of the
passengers received severe cuts and
bruises, and the car seats and floor
were covered with flood. Two of the
lady passengers received severe cuts
on their heads, and several Of the gen
tlemen passengers also received scalp
wounds, which bled profusely. The
remainder Of the train did not leave
the track, and Conductor McManus
and his helpers succeeded in carrying
the wounded into the smoking car and
proceeded to Elk River, where all the
available help was called in. About
Que fourth OF one of the wheels broke
off. and that is what threw the train
off the track. Had the bell.cord
siyntled the engineer. however, he
could easily stopped the train before
reaching the cmLaukment, and the
train might have kept the track with
this broken wheel. One or two of
the passengers were so tightly wedged
between the broken seats that it was
some little time before we could ex-
tricate them. The stoves were upset
and the car was set on fire. but owing
to the energy of the train men and
the snowdrift in which the car lay, it
was soon extinguished The passen.
gers in the Car were wild with excite.
ment as soon as the wheel was broken
and it was apparent that something
was wrong, and during the time few
of the male passengers succeeded in
passing into the smoking car ahead
and escaped unhurt. Conductor Me-
Manrs and his men did all in their
power to help the unfortuuates, and
much credit is due them for their good
Judgment and energy during the sad
disaster
Subjoined is list of the injured:
Albert Eggert, land examiner of
the road; seriously injured in the back
and spine.
D. NJ. Clough, of the lumber firm
Of Clough Bros, East Minneapolis;
bruised on the side of the face and left
shoulder hurt.
l.. &. Huddleston, of Sank Centre;
bruised on the side of the head.
w. j. Van Dyke, of Minneapolis;
hand badly hurt and face bruised.
H T. Clark, Of Minneapolis; injured
severely on the head.
F. Phelps. of Appleton. Wis; hurt
badly in the head and back.
Mrs, l.. NJ. Mann. St. Paul; bad
scalp wound.
Mrs. Case and two daughters, Kas-
|son, Mimi; ugly flesh wounds.
The Elk River people were unre.
hitting in their attention to the un-
fortunate sufferers; Drs. Whittemore
and Mitchell are deserving Of special
mention.