The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-17
A Stationary Passenger Train Run Into
from the Rear by Heavy and Rap
idly-Moving Freight Train.
The Engine Crashes Into a Crowded
Passenger Coach and Explodes.
Seven Persons Killed and Eleven Wounded
--FataI Accident the Rock Island
--List of Other Accidents.
KILLED IN A COLLISION.
A Burlington Freight Engine Telescopes a
Passenger Coach.

A Burlington Freight Engine Telescopes q
Passenger Coach.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
STREAroR, ILL.,, Nov. 16.-The IL O'Clock pas
senger train on the Fox River branch of the
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy railroad, was
telescoped by heavy freight train. at Otter
Creek, two and a half miles north of streator,
to-day. The passenger train had been tagged
by an extra train that was unable to move on a
heavy grade south of the creek. The train
stopped north of the bridge. Another freight
was following close behind the passenger. A
fiagman went back, but did Iot get very far
when the train came in sight. The grade was SO
heavy that the freight could not stop in
time and suddenly appeared around the curve.
1t crashed into the rear coach of the passenger,
crushing it into fragments and instantly killing
seven of the unfortunate passengers and injuring
twelve more. The following is list of the
killed:
L. G. Pearre, an attorney at Dwight, ILL.,, head
crushed.
Mrs. Alex. Henderson, of Wedron, Ill.
Miss Henderson, of Wedron, III.
Mr.. Humison, gentleman his way to at
tend the funeral of his brother at Pontiac, III.
Rev. Samuel Diekover presiding elder of the
German Evan gelical Church.
Louis Greener, of Otter Creek.
DR.. j. H. Finley, of Streator.
The wounded are John Henderson, of Otto
wa cut ON the head Smith, the fireman of
the freight, had one leg crushed. He was also
cut on the head. 1t is doubtful If he will re-
cover Hank Young, engineer Of the freight
train, was badly crushed. Conductor Doyle, of
the extra, received cut in the Rnee not serious.
James Sullivan, from Garfield, was cut
about the head and both hands were hurt. J. t.
MIRrd hod IA laft hmm .lr
swartz, of Otter Creek, was scalded on the back,
hips and right arm. His injuries are serious.
AS soon as the word reached town
an extra train was sent with
DR.. Smith; and a relief corps of all those about
the depot that could go. They gathered up the
dead and dying and put them in the baggage
and smoking-cars and came to this place with
I'LL nen. Carriages ware brou ght and the wounded
were carefully transferred TO them, and taken
home or to the hotels to be cared for.
Attorney Murdoch, who was one of those
slightly injured, says the accident happened so
quickly that he could not realize what 1t was.
There was o crash and the car was filled with
steam. He did not hear any cry or call from
anyone. The two women that were killed were
on the seat in front of him, and when he could
see he saw them struggling in the last
agonies of DEATH Pearre, one of the men who
was killed, was sitting behind him.
The tender of the freight engine and the first
car renamed on the track, while the succeeding
two were thrown off, Pieces of the smoke-stack
and boiler-head were thrown distance of at
least one hundred feet. It appears that the col
lision was followed by an immediate explosion
of the boiler, the steam filling the coach instant
ly, scalding the victims. Everything within a
radius of ten feet from the boiler was blown to
atoms. The track is blocked and impossible,
holding all trains on the road. The wrecking.
train arrived from Aurora at O'Clock and is at
work clearing away the wreck. The Burlington
road has ordered special train from Galesburg
and-Burlington with special surgeons,