The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-14
AT LAFAYETTE.

Costly Railway Wrecks Caused by Washouts
the City Almost in q Panic.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LAFAYETTE, Ind, May13. Yesterdays storm
struck this city four distinct times and did it's
share of damage each time. In addition to the
damage noted yesterday, the Roman Catholic
Church, the largest in the city, was struck by
the evening storm, and large number of streets
in the eastern part of the city were washed out
Reports from all points in the vicinity show that
the damage was great An overhanging bank
on the Kankakee line, just west of the city, was
precipitated across the track and narrowly
escaped wrecking night passenger train. The
Monon road, however. suffered most. Juss this
side Of Taylor's Station, on Little Wea creek,
about six miles south of the city, the track was
washed out for about 200 yards to depth of
over six feet The washout was just at the foot Of
the heavy grade When the watchman noticed the
washout freight train, consisting of an engine
and forty three cars was already on the grade.
To make matters worse, the train had broken in
two, and the engine was running at high rate
of speed to avoid being struck on the down grade
by the rear section. When the danger signal
was displayed, however, he reversed the engine
The collision which ensued forced the draw-bars
of the train, without derailing it. The engine
could not be stopped until it projected over the
wash out several feet All Monon trains were
delayed tiu noon.
On the Wabash the crossing at Wea creek was
washed out for several yards, leaving the rails
suspended over the chasm The fast midnight
train struck it at full speed, and the engine
passed over safely The tender was turned on
end, and the express car was jarnmed crosswise
against it. The mail car slid from
the trucks, and, without wheels under it,
slid about two hundred feet down the track
The baggage and emigrant cars were thrown
completely from the track and piled up in a
heap. The ladies' coach left the track but did
not turn over, and the sleepers remained on the
rails. Express Messenger W. j. Luck was i'm
prisoned in the wrecked express car and injured
slightly but no one else was injured.
The worst of the cyclone seems to have passed
between this city and Wiliamsport The dam
age in this region cannot be estimated. A large
amount Of stock was killed On the Lake Erie
& Western railroad, east Of the city, large tree
was hurled on the track with such force that the
rails and ties were sunk in the ground over
foot A brakeman was blown from a moving
freight on the Wabash, east of here, and
seriously injured
The city authorities of Attica have sent an ap-
peal for aid to this city, and pitiful stories
from the country east Of here, where many peo-
pie are said to be injured and unable to procure
proper medical assistance. Reports from Upton
say hotel was unroofed, all the buildings in
the fair grounds blown down, and eight farm
houses near the city totally destroyed, besides
much lesser damage
Heavy clouds nave been gathering over this
city all afternoon, and the oppressive atmos-
phere gives promise of another storm.
The Wabash left its banks this afternoon, and
another rain will send it above hish-water mark
1t is raising rapidly, and will do great damage to
crops The people Of the town are almost panic
stricken, and greatly in dread of the storm which
now seems imminent
Another storm, similar to those of yesterday
broke over the city at 10 tonight. Rain CODED
the streets in a few minutes. and lightning
played almost necessarily. The air seems
highly overcharged with electrity. and several
bolts have descended in different parts of the
city, but no damage is reported yet. The storm
is still raging. A food in the Wabash is cow
certain.