Huntsville gazette., 1884-03-29
CRIMINAL NEGLECT.
ABrakeman's Neglect to Flag an Approach.
ing Train Brings Disaster to Standing
EShgrant Train-A Car With it's Living
Load Smashed to Pieces-A Number of

ing Train Brings Disaster to Standing
Hshigrant Train-A Car With its Living
Load Smashed to Pieces-A Number of
the Occupants Injured.
ST. PAUL, MINI. March "a.
On Saturday, the west-bound train,
Jerry Coughlin, conductor, on the Chi
ago, Milwaukee & st. Paul Railroad, tele-
scoped special west-bound freight and
emigrant train standing on the main
track at Red Wing, just opposite the
steamboat freight-shed. The special
freight train consisted of about twenty
freight cars, with stock and house
hold goods, and two coaches filed with
emigrants from Durham County, On
tario, bound for Winnipeg, and Ca
boose. The caboose was entirely demol-
ished and thrown from the track, and
the rear end of the hind coach, contain
ing some fifty emigrants, was dashed
against the steamboat freight shed, some
fifty feet distant, thrown upon its side
and completely smashed. The pilot and
bulkhead OF the engine of the passenger
train were smashed to pieces, but the To-
comotive remained right side up The
rest of the train received but slight in
jures. George b. Mason, Assistant
Superintendent Of the River Division,
was on the passenger train and took
charge of the work of clearing the track.
The injured, only two of whomare con-
sdered in q dangerous condition, were inn
mediately taken to the offices Of physi-
clans, where they received every atten-
ton that could be rendered. The names
of the injured, all of whom had previously
lived at Middlebrook, Ont, are as fol-
lows:
Alexander Payner, arm hurt.
Mrs. Alexander Payner, serious scalp
wound and internal I'M uries.
Emma Payner, face wound.
Minnie Payner, cut over eyes.
Matilda Payner, deep scalp wound
William Ruddy, bad scalp wound.
Mr.. VIM. Ruddy, severe cut in head.
Maggie Ruddv, slight face wound.
NJ. Ruddy, scalp wound. Mr.. Ruddy's
infant child, conclusion of the brains in
sensible.
John Doker, sprained ankle and cut il,
the head.
w. G. McBain, cut in the face and
head.
There were some others slightly hurt.
The wreck was cleared in about two
and Il half hours, i'll time for the fast mail
to pass.
jerry COughlin, conductor of No. 3,
the regular passenger train, due in st.
Paul at 2:25 p. m, says his train arrived
at Red Wing at 1925 p m, its. schedule
ssme. AYter the -usuut ehnrt stnn the
tram moved on, and in a few moments
was moving at the rate of about twenty
miles an hour. Just at the edge of the
town, and before reaching LaGrange
Mill, there is q small bridge, crossing
which the track makes short curve, rem
dering it impossible for the engineer to
see more than a few feet ahead of him.
No. crossed the bridge and went around
the curve without slackening its speed.
When the engine was well around john
son, the engineer, noticed the emf
grant train ahead, and, reversing
his brakes, endeavored to stop his engine.
This was impossible, and the regular pas
senger train run into the special, throw
ing the caboose and passenger coach
from the track The accident occurred
through the carelessness of the brakeman
of the emigrant train, who failed to flag
No. g. Shortly after the emgrant special
left Red Wing it broke in two. As soon
as the break was discovered the fore part
went back to unite with the rear and it
was Just as the two pieces were about to
come together that the accident occurred.
All the passengers of the regular train
were more or less shaken up, but no ono
was injured.