Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-15
OVER An EMBANKMENT.
Limited Train on the Way to the
South is Wrecked in
Indiana

Evansville, Ind, March 10.-The most
disastrous wreck that has ever happened
on the Evansville & Terre Haute rail-
road occurred this morning between II
and 1 oclock as the train, known as the
midnight cannonball from Chicago, was
coming south over the road.
The recent rains have had a terrible
effect on the roadbed and the entire serv-
ice of the road has been directed since
last Friday in getting the road in shape
for travel. 1t was pronounced safe last
night and train service was resumed.
All trains had orders to proceed eau
tiously on slow time for safety and the
train that was wrecked was coming Oh
under these orders.
At point three-Quarters of a mile
north of Hazelton, where the roadbed is
built on an embankment, the earth sud-
denly gave way and the engine, baggage
car and a part of the smoker went down.
The engine turned over, but the baggage
car remained upright. The smoker hung
over the abyss.
Engineer McCutcheon escaped death.
but his fireman, Joe coleman, was
killed. Conductor George Sears of
Terre Haute, who was in the smoker,
is also killed. 1t was first reported that
there were fifteen passengers killed, but
Where the accident occurred there is a
long stretch of embankment upon which
the track is laid. This is surrounded
by back water from White river. 1t is
supposed that groundhogs had burroWed
under the embankment to get away from
the food and that the water followed,
making the accident of this morning pos
sible.
The sleeper and day coach were taken
back to Vincennes. Many Evansville
people were in the sleeper, including
State Senator LEIGH and wife, returning
and wife and Miss Ida Ragon, returning
from the Inauguration of President Nc
Alnley. They sent reassuring kilograms
of their safety.
Previous to the time of the accident
five trains had passed over the road
within three hours and at 10 o'clock last
night the Waterman there had reported
the track five feet above water and
everything all right. 1t is the assump-
ton of the railroad officials that the en-
bankment had softened beneath and
when the last train struck it it was
ready to collapse and did so. The dead
are Conductor George 4. Sears and
Fireman Joseph coleman of Evansville
Baldwin Haueisen, the brakeman, and
an unknown passenger were injured
how seriously it is not yet known. En-
gineer McCutcheon escaped. The pas
senger coaches and sleeper were taken
back to Ninccnnes and from there will
be taken over the Big -Four to Gray
vile, ILL.,, and sent in there over the
Peoria, Decatur & Evansville.
Chicago, ILL.,. March 1O.-At - o'clock
the general officers of the road in Chi
cago gave out the statement that the
company's official dispatches showed no
loss OF life among passengers. The loss
OF five tralnmen was stated as the total
number. The officials deny that the
smoker was submerged.
The following is the statement made to
the Associated press at | 20 p. m. by the
officials of the Evansville q Terre Haute
railway:
Evansville & Terre Haute train No. 5,
which leaves Terre Haute at 1901 a. M,
was wrecked by going through the trestle
at White river bridge al Deckers, Ind. The
engine, baggage car, mail and smoking cars
went into the river. George Sears Of Terre
Hauie, Ind and Firema IN coleman of Ev-
names unknown were killed.
Elliot Durand. OF the firm of Heath &
Milligan, received telegram from Mrs.
Marion Heath dated Decker station.
Mrs. Heath was on the train. According
to the telegram only the engine and the
two next cars were plunged into the
river. Mrs. Heath telegraphs that the
engineer, fireman and several passengers
who occupied the smoking car were
killed instantly.
The following is an exact statement of
the wreck and the total number Of killed
and wounded as reported direct from
Supt. Corbett of the Evansville & Terrc
Haute railroad. who is at the scene Of
the wreck, to President Barlow:
Five or six trains passed over the road
up to within an hour of the accident. En-
CINE, baggage car and front end of the smok-
ing car went Ovef coaches and slcepers with
all the passengers are safe. Conductor and
fireman were drowned, one brakeman and
one passenger were injured.
On the wrecked train :, ere three Mil
waukee people, +. n. Finney, Master
John Hathaway, a grandson of Fred
erick Abbot. aid the governcss of the
child. A telegram received by Mr.. Alb
bot from Mr. Finney says that the mem
bers of the Milwaukee party are al safe.
They were on their way to Marietta, Ga.
Ex-Mayor John NJ. Stowell Of this city,
was also passenger it is believed. OH
the train which was wrecked. Mr..
StoWell. accompanied by a servant. left
the city yesterday afternoon for Tampa,
Fla, and engaged his sleeping-car &C
conmodations through the st. Paul ticket
office here, for the o'clock train out
of Chicago last evening over the Evans
vile & Terre Haute road AS the passen-
gers in the sleepers are reported to be
all right, it is supposed Mr.. Stowell
escaped, although nothing has been heard
from him.
THE AURANIA ARRIVES.