The Rock Island Argus., 1882-06-27
STORM DAMAGES
Washouts on Several of the
Railroads.
An Engineer Badly Scalded
near Geneseo.

The rain which commenced about sever
o'clock continued with slight intermissiol
until two o'clock Sunday morning.
was accompanied by a severe wind, an,
the most vivid and prolonged flashes o
lightning ever exhibited. The electrical
display was remarkably, but fortunatel,
did not result in any material damage t.
| life or property. The railroads centerint
in this city were generally injured b.
washouts. and as consequence trains OF
several of the lines were abandoned yes
terday. The construction trains and large
forces of men were generally employed
and the track placed in condition thai
will allow traffic to be resumed this morn
ing
The washout at Geneseo on the c., r
|. & p caused the ditehing of an engine
| and two coaches, and resulted in the serious
injury of the engineer, who was badly
sealded by the escaping steam.
THE c., r. I. & p.
suffered severely from the storm which
washed out the track in several places and
necessitated the abandonment of the reg.
ular trains yesterday. The first defect in
the track was discovered this side of Gen
eseo, where the water had washed away
the earth from the rail and ties.
The east bound express left this city at
12 o'clock Saturday night. The train
was running very slowly as the condition
of the track and the heavy rainfall caused
the trainmen to exert every effort to pre-
vent an accident. It passed over the sta
tions this side of Geneseo in safety: and
when within a few miles of that station
the looked for mishap took place.
The earth had been washed away
from the track but the ties and rails were
still in position. The locomotive in pass
ing over the weak spot overturned, and
was thrown on its side to the left of the
track. The fireman, John Long, managed
to jump from the cab without injury, but
the engineer, John Murray, in attempting
to jump from the engine got his feet en-
tangled between the tool box and the lever,
and was held. The steam escaping from
the engine scalded him terribly. His head,
shoulders and all the upper portion of his
body including his hands were fearfully
burned His injuries are not believed to
be of fatal nature, but it will require the
best of nursing and care to the bring him
back to health.
TWO CARS,
consisting of the baggage and mail cars,
were also derailed, and were partially
overturned. The occupants of these two
cars escaped without the. slightest injury,
although rail which had been curved by
the accident to the locomotive, was forced
through the side of the mail car, and Just
missed the head of C. E. Case, who was
employed in his regular duties of asserting
mail.
The passenger coaches, three in number
and sleeper, were not disturbed in the
least, and the occupants were not aware
time afterwards. The passenger coaches
were taken back to Davenport, and will be
sent east early that morning, when it is
expected that the track viii be placed in
good condition.
OTHER wAsHOUTS
on this line were discovered at Seneca,
Sheffield, Geneseo, and at different
plac es as far east as Joliet. None
of them are of a serious character, as they
mostly consist in washing away of earth
and in the damage to culverts. No bridges
the repairs were accomplished during yes
terday.
The track was not damaged west of
Davenport, as while the rain was as severe
and continuous it did not result in any
washouts.
The officers of the road were in receipt
yesterday of dispatches from different sta
tions along the line from Des Moines to
Joliet. The purport of this photographic
information was that in most of the places
the rain was still in progress, while at 9th
ers the weather was sultry and a severe
storm was anticipated
A large force of men was employed
along the line between this city and Joliet,
and it is fully expected that trains will be
run this morning as usual.
C. NJ. & ST. p.
suffered somewhat from the storms as a
bridge and part of the track were washed
out near Port Byron. and another wash
out is reported to have occurred near
Savannah.
Trains on this line were suspended on
Sunday for safety and a gang ofmen were
sent out over the track for the purpose of
making an investigation. The line, with
the above noted exception, was found to
be in fair order, and yesterday the regular
trains were started out Transfers were
made at Port Byron and viii continue for
several days until the track and bridge at
that point can be repaired.
The storm is reported to have been most
severe along the route of the road as far
north as Savannah, and the road escaped
with little damage considering the amount
of water which fell, and the swoolen streams
over which it crosses.
The trains will be run on the line to-day