The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-29
THE WRECK AT ALBAN I
A Curious and Lucky Accident'-'No
One Injured.
The Experience Of a Rochester. n. y,
Travelling Man.-NariONS
Rail Topics.


on Wednesday morning. Passenger tram
No. 3 leaves Milwaukee at f15 p. m,
and is due here at $40 Il. m. The
wrecked train was in charge of Conductor
"Biily" Roe, and when Engineer Chas.
Mepzie whistled for Albany, she was
RIGHT on the dot. Tie lever was
pushed back and the air brakes slightly
applied, when the engine reached the
switch and loud cracking noise was
heard. Menzie knew in a minute that he
was off the track, and he instantly put the
air brakes on to their fullest tension.
Meanwhile the baggage car took a shoot
at right angles and started for the river.
Baggageman Larry Lyons found himself
tumbling around with the trunks. and be
did not get on his feet 2ntil the car
stopped, out on the
FROZEN SURFACE OF THE RIVER.
The whole train was found TO be of
the track, but the engine and coaches did
not get so unruly as the baggage car.
The men at once commenced the work
of clearing the wreck. 1t was four o'clock
in the morning, and the air was intensely
cold, the thermometer registering 80 be
low. \ freight train came along about s
o'clock, and the baggage and passengers
were brought to this city, arriv~
ing here about one o'clock. The
men at the wreck suffered Sc
verely from the cold, and Engineer Men
zie had his feet frostbitten. He took his
engine back to Savanna as soon as it was
placed or the track. The trucks and
wheels of the coaches were badly dam.
aged, and considerable work will be nee.
essary to repair them. Although the
accident was a most fortunate one, it viii
occasion considerable expense to the com,
pany.
An ARGUS reporter, hearing that q gen
tlcman was on the wrecked train, who
was q passenger on Conductor Tom FUl'
Ier's train that went dows in the Dosia
about three years ago, when Engineer
West and several passengers lost their
lives, made his way to the Harper honsc
last evening, in quest Of information
There he met a fine appearing elderly
gentleman, who being approached, said
''l'es, I was on the fatal train that went
through the bridge at Albany, and was
also on board last night when it jumped
the track
Quite strange said the reporter
Yes, there was something remarkable
about the matter My name is H. W,
Gordon, of Rochester n Y, and Irep-
resent a large leather establishment.
Three years ago I was in Frecport, and
Qavc a customer there named J, b. Tag
lor.0
Il know him well, " said the reporter
che keeps fine store, operates tannery,
and owns the finest driving park west of
Chicago
The identical person" proceeded Tic
narrator 1T was at the time of the
floods, three years ago, and took the
night tram for Rock Island, Mr.. Taylor
tried to persuade me not to 90, as it was
very dangerous travelling. But | went
and you know the result. Tuesday night
I saw Mr.. Taylor again, 1t was bitterly
cold. and he advised me not to travel
But his advice was unheeded, and again
have | been wrecked on the same train.
and at the same place that l was three
years ago, and this is my first trip over
the road since
The reporter venturcd to ask if there
were no more similitudcs between the
TWO accidents.
Yes; it was the same sleeping Cal, the
same porter (his name is Billy Thom>
as) and We had just passed
the engine that went in the
river, A sort of fatality seems to pursue
me, but have escaped injury so far A
week ago Sunday, train was on, on
tie Missouri Pacific road, was completely
ditched. told Thomas, the porter on
the Milwaukee train, that never wanted
to ride with him again, and he said he was
rs equally DESTROYS Of stunning me.
will take my friend Taylor's advice after
this, too"