River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-22
EIGHT KILLED.
Terrible Result of Railway Disaster In
Minnesota.

ALEXANDRIA, Mimi, Dec. ia
frightful accident occurred on the
Great Northern railroad Sunday morn
ing at Nelson station, miles east OF
here, in which eight men were killed
aud five were seriously injured
There had been a collision FIJI
day morning at Nelson and a number
of cans We're wrecked The wreck
train has been there two days clearing
up and was making up preparatory for
pulling out for the east At o'clock
Sunday morning the wreck train ca
boose was left standing on the main
track with mum Der of cars An east
bound freight was due about o'clock
and had orders to side-track for the
passenger train due here at leo.
The fireman of the freight tells the
story as follows: There is a heavy
grade west of the station. and as the
freight, with thirty-six loaded cars,
under charge of Conductor William
Mickey and Engineer James Ma
loney, approached the switch
the engine was shut off and
brakes called for. There was no per-
ceptible decrease of speed and Con-
ductor Mickey climbed out of the ca
boose where he was and began setting
brakes, but the speed was too great
to stop. When within a train length
of the caboose they saw the track was
full ahead and both engineer and fire.
man jumped.
The engine struck the wreck train,
threw the caboose on top of the next
car, setting both on fire. There were
fourteen men in the caboose. One
jumped off, five were hurt, three were
burned beyond recognition and four
were crushed TO death. One was total
ly burned up. not a sign of his remains
being found.
The names Of the killed are:
JNels O. Bokken, OF Nelson; Christ Martcn-
SON Of Osakis; Ole Martenson, OF Osaxis, broth
sr of the above; John Engstrand, OF Spruce
Hin; John Akerson, Of Spruce Hill Eng
strands nephew, name unknown; Con Brum-
ner, of Yankton, $ D.; one unknown
The in ured are:
A. NJ. Broseu OF ST Paul, back and head
serious; Thomas Welch, of Boston, Mass, bad
scalp cuts, ribs broken; Pat Harmon, of Boston,
Mass, shoulder dslocaIed; David Reed, OF
Nelson. slight injury TO head; Henry Ross, fire.
nan on east-bouad freight. shoulder dslocated.
This was the worst accident which
tidN ever ONCutACh Oh WIS Wv loiOh Va
the road, and was due TO the heavy
grade having a curve, ana perhaps care
lessness in leaving the caboose on the
main track or slowness in applying the
brakes.
1t is reported that the train was run
ming about II miles an hour when IT
collided with the wreck train. The
men killed were wreck-train hands
and were asleep in the caboose when
the engine struck it. o. Bergland, fore
man, was the only enc awake, and he
had barely time to call to his men and
Jump. thus saving himself, but the warn
ing cry came too late for the others,
who were all killed or badly injured.
CINCINNATI Dee. ia telegram
from Oanville, Ky, states that there
was a wreck or the Cincinnati, New
Orleans & Texas Pacific Cincinnati
Southern) railroad Saturday night,
miles from that place, and that
several persons were killed. the
railway mail service here has news
that one of the railway clerks has been
killed IN the wreck and others serious
ly wounded. Charles Fagin. baggage
master. and United States Express
Messe Bger Kinney were killed. Several
passengerS were injured.