The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-05
CRUSHED IN A COLLISION.
Five Men Instantly Killed, and Thirty
or Forty Others Badly Wounded.
The Accident Caused by the Breaking of a
Coupling While the Train Was Ascend
ing a Heavy Grade-List of Killed.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Oct. A terrible accident
happened on the Fergus Falls branch of the
Northern Pacific railroad, seven miles west of
here, this morning by which five men lost their
lives, and thirty or forty more were more or less
injured. John Robinsons show left Wahpeton
d. T., for this place, in two sections. When
within seven mines of Fergus Falls, at small
place named French, the head or baggage sec
tion broke in two while going up heavy grade,
and ten or twelve cars went flying back at ter
rife speed. On the rear of the train were three
sleeping cars, occupied by workmen, 200 in num-
Der, all of whom were sound asleep and not
aware of impending danger. The cars
which had broken loose increased their
speed as they approached the second
or cage section, and probably had run mile
before they struck it. The engineer of the rear
section saw the cars approaching, but only had
time to stop his train before it struck him. The
brakemen on the loose cars tried to put on the
brakes, but they had difficulty in running from
car to car, on account of the wagons. which
impeded their progress. Had the engineer OF
the rear section had moments more time he
could have backed his train and avoided the
calamity, but it was too late and the cars struck
his engine with tremendous force throwing the
three sleepers from the track, and smashing
them beyond recognition. The result was soon
apparent, as more than a hundred men were
buried in the debris. The scene can hardly be
described. The night was fearfully dark.
The people in the rear section at once began
the work of removing the victims, FIVE Of whom
were found dead, and many others wounded and
bleeding. Word was at once dispatched to this
city, and train in charge Of Superintendent
Vining at once hastened to the scene and the
dead and wounded were brought here. The
work Of removing the men from the debris was
a sorry task. A man, alive and uninjured, was
taken from under two dead ones, and it was
simply miracle that he escaped. The follow
ing is list of the dead:
George Krause, said to have brother in the
hardware business at No AZ Main street, Gin
cinnati.
- Roberts first name unknown) hired out
at Wadena, Friday night, and wanted to 60 to
Cincinnati
Charles Wallace. joined at Portland, Ore,
Rntecedents unknown.
James Wilson. train watchman, lived at Hum
mel House, Cincinnati, and formerly on the po-
lice force at that city
Samuel Blair joined at Colfax. W. T., an
tecedents unknown.
Wounded-Wilam Winfield, of Appomattox
Va, not expected to live; James Eccles. Nova
Scotia, boss hostler shoulder disocated
and injured internally; E. Zeig,er Gin
cinnati, leg hurt badly; James Coleman, colored
injured internally; P. Jenkins, boss canvasman
Cincinnati, jaw and shoulder hurt; Henry Royse
Norwich N. Y, slightly injured; Joe Brown,
feet mashed; VIM. Murray, head jammed.
A long list are also more or less injured. A
hospitalcar is expected from Branerd to re
move the wounded to that place. The coroner
will hold an inquest tomorrow morning but it
is evident that no one is to blame, and that it
was an unavoidable accident.