The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-24
LOST IN 4 WRECK.
AN APPALLING RAILROAD AO-
CIDENT IN INDIANA.

The Air Brakes Wouldn't Work, and
the Train Was Going Sixty Miles
an Hour-It Left the Track and
Plunged Into the Station-People
Killed on the Platform.
A terrible accident occurred on the Big
-Four Road In Lafayette, Ind, at lis a few
mornings ago, as result Of which ten men
were killed and many more injured. The
train was the east-bound passenger leaving
Chicago at p. m. The accident was caused
by the failure Of the a1rbrake to work.
The engineer undoubtedly discovered this
before reaching the cut beyond the Wabash
River, as the vigorous whistling Of the
engine for brakes could be heard when the
train was still q mile west Of the city. The
engineers desperate efforts to stop the train
were shown by the large amount Of sand
thrown by him on the bridge through which
the train came Just before the fatal crash.
The engine dashed out of the bridge over
the Wabash River at speed Of not less than
sixty miles an hour, crashing into the depot
building, tearing of portion OF the depot
and train sheds, and carrying them several
hundred feet. The engine when 1t left the
track was followed by the baggage car, two
postal cars and the express, and all were
piled In heap, burying score or more VIC
Tins.
The trucks OF the first day coach were
dragged out and the side of the car knocked
into fragments, but no passengers In this car
were injured. The chair car and two Pull
man sleepers remained on the track. Fire
started from the stove in the baggage car,
but the Fire Department rapidly extinguished
the flames.
A large crowd OF citizens gathered very
quickly, and force Of local physicians gave
the necessary attention to the wounded.
Several victims Of the wreck were persons
standing in the depot waiting for the train, o
hackman, mail cart driver, and passengers.
The dead were: Michael Welch, engineer,
indianapolis; Fireman McInnis; Indianap-
oils; Ed. Myers, Logansport, mail clerk !;
- McMahon, Cincinnati, express meSsen-
ger /; A. r. Chadwick, Cincinnati, mail clerk {;
Charles Meyers, Lafayette, haekman; John
Lennon, Lafayette, mail cart driver Jesse 81.
Long, Lebanon, Ind, mail clerk; Charles
Schaneu, passenger, had just bought ticket
to Indianapolis; Otto Jerselson, Alhambra
Hotel, Chicago, passenger waiting for the
train.
Eleven others were injured. The damage
to property will be fully SS0, 900.
High bluffs rise on the west bank Of the
Wabash, just opposite the city, and there is q
long and steep grade at that point. The Ill
fated train must have been a mile up the
grade from the river when the engineer dis
covered that there was something wrong with
the air brakes, for he began to whistle shrilly
for h,nd brakes. The speed at that time had
increased 80 terrifcaly, however, that its
control was beyond human agency.
The engine dashed around the curves and
across the long bridge, although the man at
the throttle had reversed the machinery and
streams off1re were being dashed of from the
driving wheels. Just after leaving the east
end Of the long bridge the cars described
semicircle at the midway point. When the
engine struck that sharp curve # left the
track, followed by the cars, and they piled
upon each other 100 feet away after crashing
through the train sheds.