The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-17
COLLISION AT A CROSSING.
Passenger Train Runs Into Freight-0ne
Man Fatally and Several Seriously Hurt.

CHICAGO, Aug. l6-About o'clock the Gin
clnnad passenger train OF the Illinois Central,
Cue here at 645 A. NJ, ran into freight train
on the Grand Trunk at South Lawn. about fifteen
miles from the city. AS soon as intelligence OK
the disaster reached the city the master me-
ehsnic OF the railroad started for the scene on .
special wrscking train. The engine, tender.
baggage car and coach Of the express were
piled up in confusion and were thrown from the
track When the debris was cleared sufficient
ly it Was found that seven people were injured
more or less. though none are fatally hurt The
list Is a. follows:
ANDERSON COBB, porter of the sleeper.
THOMAS sPLANN, baggage man.
MRS SPLANN. his wife.
JOHN CRONS, fireman.
J.H sullivan porter.
JOHN FRAZIER, porter.
Arrangements were Immediately made to send
In the wounded on special train and have the
injured cared for. Dr. Owens. physician of the
Illinois Central road. sent word that he did not
believe the injuries were serious in any case.
The injured passengers were immediately trans-
fsrred 10 another train The engine was badly
damaged and the mail and baggage cars lay
piled ia confusion across the track Three or
four freight cars filed with coal were dsmol-
ished. There were over 200 passengers on the
Illinois Central train. and their escape wss al
most miraculous. At the scene of the wreck
demolished freight and passenger cars are piled
mp on every side. Relief trains have been
sent down by both roads. The wounded re-
csivsd medical care by the surgeons sent down
by both roads. snd they, together with the up-
injured passengers. were brought to CHICAGO By
u ~
enger train, John Devine. escaped by jumping
hsadlong into deep ditch. To an Associated
Press reporter hs said: Coming down the
grade toward South Lawn, something happened
20 the lower machiuery of the engine. Sne be-
gan acting badly and throwing stones. think
stone struck the handle OF the air cock and
threw the air from the train to the engine. Be-
fore reaching South Lawn crossing saw the
Grand Trunk freight trair crossing and whistled
for the daneer-brakes. 1t was too late. My
fireman, John Crones. jumped and was badly
hurt"
The Illinois Central crew was John Devine,
engineer, John Crcnes, fireman. and j. c. Smith
conductor. The Grand Trunk freight crew was
John Dunhsm. engineer, j. j. James. fireman.
aud W. w. Mitchell. conductor. Mono OF the
Grand Trunk men were injured witness Of
the accident declares that although the Grand
Trunk freight had the right-of-way and was full
~ entitled TO the crossing. the freight engineer
heard the passenger trains danger signals aud
had sn abundance OF time to stop his train be-
fore the crossing was reached.
The only man whose injuries the doctors fear
viii prove fatal is John c. Cones, the fireman.
He jumped from the engine. and aliehted on his
head. fracturing his skull His scalp was al
most entirely torn of. The chair-car on the Il
lipois Central was used hospital until the
tracks were cleared. when the wounded were
brought to the city ana placed in a hospital.
Thomas Splann, of Cincinnati. baegageman. re-
ceived severe scalp wounds. and his wife had q
shoulder dislocated. J. II. Sullivan. Of No. 46
Msrven street. Cincinnati, had foot crushed.