The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-16
A FATAL MIDNIGHT RIDE.
THREE NEW sPAPERMEN AND AN
ENGINEER KILLED.

The Newspaper Men Riding on the
Locomotive to Write Up the Flight
by Night of Fast Train-An Open
Switch the Cause of the Wreck-A
Round-house in Ruins.
CHICAGO, Oct ia horrible accident
resulting in the death Of three members of
the Inter Ocean staff and the serious injury
Of several other passengers occurred on the
Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad this
morning at II O'Clock. at Crete, I'll. The
dead are:
LEONARD WAsHBURNE, sporting reporter
for the Inter Ocean.
FRED W. HENRY. q reporter who came
here recently from Louisville.
j. j. MCCAFFERTY, an artist, recently
from st. Louis.
JAMES CLARK, the engineer.
RAN INTO AN OPEN SWITCH.
The train left Evansville early this MORN
ing and proceeded safely to Crete, where it
ran into an open switch. The newspaper
men who were killed were on the engine.
Henry and McCafferty having gone out for
the purpose OF writing up and illustrating a
midnight ride on a fast train, and Wash
burne, who was returning to Chicago from
an Indiana trip, having Joined his friends
on the engine. When the accident came
plunged from the track the four men were
caught and completely buried beneath the
wreck.
BURIED UNDER THE ENGINE.
The remains of McCaffery and Henry
have not been recovered from the wreck
and are supposed to be under the engine.
Immediately upon receipt OF the telegram
telling of the incident President Hall Of the
Eastern Illinois railway started with a
special train for the scene Of the wreck.
Medical aid accompanied the president and
everything possible was done for the in
jured.
The engine and baggage car were COM
pletely destroyed. Two passenger coaches
and sleeping car were more or less dam
aged.
THE RoUND-HoUsE DESTROYED.
The round-house at the switch was
destroyed and fell upon the wrecked engine.
Fireman Lafferty jumped from the engine
and is slightly injured about the breast and
stomach.
Leonard D. Washburne, sporting editor
Of the Inter Ocean, was especially known
in base bail circles. He Travelled with the
Chicago club on their journeys, and his
articles attracted widespread attention.
James McCafferty came to Chicago about
two weeks ago from St. Louis, where he
had been employed on the Dispatch
for a number OF years. Previous to going
to st. Louis he worked on the Philadelphia
Press.
Fred Henry was 81 years old aud had
been employed on the Inter Ocean for about
two weeks, having come here from Louis
vile.
WAITING FOR THE CoRPsES.
Tonight assad scene was witnessed at the
Chicago depot of the railroad. The msngled
corpses of the trio of newspaper men were
being patiently waited for by large
number Of their co-workers. When at
last the train bearing the bodies arrived, all
silently lent assistance in removing the re-
mains to an undertakers. At the Inter
Ocean Office tonight, conversation seemed
somehow restricted to monosYllables and
the lights of three Of the desks we're out.
Wdshburne was to have been the best
man tonight at a wedding OF enc of his as
sociates, Thomas r. Weddell. assistant city
editor of the Intert Ocean. News of his
tragic end was kept from Mr.. Weddell and
his bride. and the ceremony took place
shortly after poor Washburne's body
reached the CITY