St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-17
A Bad Railway Accident on the Albert
Lea Fortunately Injuries but
Two Men.
8. e. Woods, the Commission Man, Is De-
MED His Habeas Corpus, and
Goes East.
The Annual Meetings of the Ancient
Orders of HibernianS and
of Druids.
Paving Trouble Settled-Run Over by
the Cars-A Thfeving Police
mans Flight,
ARAILROAD SMAsHUP.
A Delinquent watch Causes n Col
lision--Two Nlem Injured.


lision-.Two Mem Injured.
A terrible railroad smashup almost mi
raculous in its results, occurred on the Min
neapolis & St. Louis road yesterday after
noon, half mile this side of Park juno
ton. Two engines, one passenger coacn
and three freight cars were dasned 10
splinters and two train men severely IN
lured. this comparatively light result oelng
only fortuitous. Had the collision oc-
Cured later in the season, when the m-com-
ing trains are crowded with passen-
gers. the loss of life must have
been terrible. AS it was, the
passenger coach was empty ana
only ten men were on the entire train. The
particulars of the accident are as follows:
The regular train left Lake Park IN charge
of Conductor Dan Thompson, and con-
sisted of the locomotive, two passenger
coaches and a combination smoker and bag
gage car. Its schedule time was go p. m,
and if left precisely at that minute. The
Morton accommodation, consisting of
twelve freight cars and one passenger
coach. left Minneapolis at 500 p. M, in
charge Of Conductor Anderson, with Engin-
eer Bates. Its instructions were to make
Park junction and then sidetrack for
the passenger train. The latter
ran through the junction and
turned the curve half mile to the east and
the trains rushed together, both running at
q good rate of speed. The engineers and
fremen, seeing the impending catastrophe,
leaped off and escaped with few bruises
and scratches leaving the trains to come
together with terrific crash. The engines
reared up on each other and settled down
in ruined confusion. The first passenger
coach was driven upon the engine leading
it and was riyen to splinters, while three
freight cars, following the other engine,
were badly wrecked. 1t so happened that
the passenger coach was empty. which
accounts for the escape OF every
passenger, for any occupant it might nave
had must have been dashed to pieces. The
injured were Baggageman j. E. Mitchell OF
Minneapolis, who was caught and severely
bruised, and Brakeman George thompson,
also of Minneapolis, who had his ankle
broken. MitchelFS hurts are principally
about the head and stomach, and their ex-
tent is not definitely determined. Thomp-
son was caught between some flying timbers
and suffered the injury named. Dr.. Per
kins of Excelsior was brought to attend the
wounded men, who were taken to Excel
sior.
The passengers on the train upon their
arrival at Minneapolis gave some interest
ing details of the smashup. Col. William
Tanner was one of them. He was sitting
about the center of the second coach and
when the shock came was precipitated vio-
lently into the air, alighting on the third seat
in advance. but without more than shaking
him I'D A man whose name is not known
was sitting near the forward door. The
shock lifted him up and hurled him
bodily through the glass, but, strange
to say, doing him no injury. Other pas
sengers were knocked about more or less
and all were terribly frightened. On the
mixed train the passenger coach was so Tar
back that the shock was severe, but not
1urtful. News of the collision was tele-
yraphed at once to Minneapolis and a
vrecking train was sent to the scene, with
coach to bring in the passengers. The
latter reached here about 9 o'clock. The
news was soon spread over the
city, creating an excitement that sub
sded when the real facts were
Known. Officials of the Minneapolis & st.
Louis road freely communicated all of the
details and laid the blame jointly on Con-
iuctor Anderson and Engineer Bates of the
mixed train. Anderson's watch was five
minutes slow and Bates, singularly enough,
was in the same condition. Both supposed
they had an abundance of time to run to the
switch and pass the regular train. A full
investigation of the affair will be made to-
day and the blame placed where it belongs.
Mitchell, the injured baggageman, is a
married man and lives at 214 north Twenty
Third street, His wife was informed ofhis
accident about o'clock and was assured
4bo+ his iDiTriac wore Slioht ThOmncOn
the brakeman, is unmarried and boards in