The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-11-02
WRECK AT SENECA.
THE WRECK.

The elegant vestibule express trains,
popularity known as the st. Joseph
Cannonball train and the Denver Ex-
press, were partially wrecked at SEN
eca at seven o'clock Tuesday evening.
The first train, the Denver Express,
left Chicago at 4:45 o'clock and ran
along with incident until Joliet was
reached, when hot box delayed 1t
several minutes, but was soon under
controls; when nearing Seneca the
box again became red, and 1t was
found necessary to pack it with ice.
The delay was from twelve to fifteen
minutes, and the conductor, knowing
that the st. Joseph train was then
running on his time, having left Chi
cagO fifteen minutes later than his
train, went back with lantern to
signal it, and later sent brakeman
back to perform the same service. His
train was crowded with passengers,
among whom were Maj. Gibson, +. S.
Enyart and Chas. Beckwith, Of Otta-
wa. When the conductor started
back to signal, Mr.. Enyart went into
one of the coaches and sat down,
when Mr.. Beckwith remarked that he
thought there might be something
| lOT Hill Ill lilC uCpOU anu WCuU ouO'
When Mr.. Beckwith reached the
platform he heard the rumble OF the
second train and, looking up the track,
discovered it approaching, but too
late to give alarm, as it was coming at
a high rate of speed and crashed into
the first train before he could speak.
Fortunately, the engineer of the ex-
press had also heard the approaching
danger and started his engine, thus
lessening the shock.
The engine of the cannon ball
showed its nose into the dining car Of
the Denver Express, and lifted the
train cars length ahead, wrecking
the dining car, its own tender and
baggage car, and tearing its face to
pieces. Coal, baggage and dining car
furniture were scattered about for
rods.
When the shock came the engineer
of the cannon ball train reversed his
lever, put on his air brakes, and
Jumped for his life, accompanied by
his fireman. The latter escaped I'M
injured, but the engineer struck on
the ground upon his head, and was
knocked insensible. He was carried
into the station, and after cOnsidera-
BILE work revived sufficiently to sit up.
The entire right side of his face was
bruised and scratched in painful
manner.
Mai. Gibson had heard the second
train approaching, and arose to run
out Of the car just as the engine
struck, and was thrown against the
door jam, sustaining very painful in
ljuries about the chest and abdomen.
Mr. Enyart had gone out of the car,
and was just about to step upon the
platform when he was thrown against
the side of the car, bruising his thigh.
A negro porter in the dining car,
frightened nearly to death by the en-
trance of the engine, jumped through
a plate glass window after the shock
had passed, and was quite painfully
cut about the arms.
An unknown lady was also painfully
injured.
i Every one got off both trains, and
all who desired were transferred to
the Peru accommodation.
Mr.. Enyart says from what he heard,
he judged that the st. Joseph train
was running at about thirty miles an
hour, and had not both trains been
vestibuled, having heavy rubber cush-
ions between the vestibules, the
smashup would have resulted much
more seriously. He attributed the &C
cident to the fact that freight train
stood on the siding, and it's headlight
probably dimmed the lantern held by
the brakeman, so as to make it undlS-
|tinguishable to the engineer Of train
number two. There was short curve
Iabout quarter mile above the sta
ton, which assisted as a consequent
tial cause.
Both the trains were merged into
one, arriving in Ottawa at about ten
o'clock.