Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-08-22
RAN into A FREIGHT.
Disastrous Collision Fifty Miles
South of Chicago.
WRECK OF A FAST EXPRESS TRAIN.
Plunging Through Grand Trunk Engine
Mt South Lawn Junction-Coaches
Reduced to Sp1inters-Haf
Dozen Persons
Mang1ed.


lision occurred on the Illinois Central
Railroad at South Lawn, fifty miles
south of this city, about Z :45 O'Clock this
morning. An Illinois Central passenger
train bound for Chicago came in coils
ion with freight train. 1t is reported
that many persons were killed ana in
lured. Physicians have been called for
from Chicago and relief train is being
sent to the scene of the disaster.
At the offices of the Illinois Central
the assistant superintendent said there
was no loss of life SO far as he had been
advised by the train men at the wreck,
though he believed there were some
persons seriously injured. The accident,
he said, occurred at o'clock, when the
Cincinnati passenger train of the Hi
nois Central, due here at 6:45 A. NJ, ran
into a freight train of the Grand Trunk
at South Lawn about fifty miles from
the city.
The engine, tender, baggage car and
one coach of the express were piled up
in confusion and were thrown from the
track. When the debris was cleared
sufficiently it was found that seven
people were injured more or less,
though none are fatally hurt. The vic
TINS are as follows: Anderson Cobb,
porter of the sleeper; Thomas Splane,
baggageman; Mrs. Splane. his wife;
John Crons, fireman; w. B. Land,
passenger; j. II. Sullivan, porter; John
Frazer, porter.
Arrangements were Immediately made
to send in the wounded on a 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 i'm
mediately transferred to another
train. The engine was badly
damaged and the mail and baggage cars
lay piled in confusion across the track.
Three or four freight cars filled with
coal were demolished. 1t twas rumored
that the express agent was killed, but it
lacks veriication.
the Illinois Central train and their es-
cape was simply miracle. For rods
around the scene of the wreck. de-
molished freight and passenger
cars are piled upon every side.
Relief corps have been sent
down by both the. Illinois Central
and Grand Trunk Railroads. A dozen
engines and wrecking crews are at
work clearing up the wrecks. The
wounded have received medical care
by the surgeons sent down by both
roads and they, together with the unin-
iured passengers, have been taken to
Chicago by a special relief car.
The engineer of the passenger train,
John Devine, escaped by jumping head
long into deep ditch. He says: Com
ing down the grade toward
South Lawn something happened
to the lower machinery of the
engine. She began acting badly and
throwing stones. | think a stone struck
the handle of the air cock and threw
the air from the train to the engine.
Before reaching the South Lawn cross
ing [ saw the Grand Trunk freight
train crossing and whistled for the
danger brakes 1t was too late"
A witness of the accident declares that
although the Grand Trunk freight had
the right OF way and was fully entitled
to the crossing, that the freight engi-
neer heard the passenger train danger
signal and had abundance of time to
stop his train before the crossing was
reached.