Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-29
A WRECK OF LONG AGO.
Memorable Fatality at johnson Greek
Thirty-eight Years Ago Recounted

Thirty-eight Years Ago Recounted.
A Fond du Lac correspondent in
last Sundays Sentinel gives an ac-
count of the terrible railway wreck at
johnson Creek which occurred soon
after the completion of the GAINESVILLE
and Fond du Lac branch of the North
western. Many of our older residents
recollect vividly the circumstances of
the accident, some of which we under
stand TO be somewhat different from
stated below. One Of those killed in
the wreck was Mr.. Minor, who kept
bookstore here. His widow is now
living in San Francisco with her sis
ter, our former resident Mrs. Judson
Prentice. Mrs. j. A. Hall was one of
the excursionists. Following is The
Sentinel's article:
Thirty-eight years ago this fall
wreck occurred near Watertown, in
which fourteen people were killed,
among them many from this city. It
was the most expensive wreck which
the Northwestern ever had in this
state, both in loss of lives and proper
ty.
On Tuesday, November 1, 1859, 900
people in twelve coaches left this city
for Chicago, to return a visit which
had been made by 1000 people who
came here October II. 1859, to cele-
brate the completion of the North
western road to Fond du Lac from
Chicago. At Watertown two more
coaches were attached to the train.
Although the cars were packed it was
merry excursion party. The train
men, aware Of the crowded condition
of the cars, were running at a rate of
speed less than ten miles an hour
Eight miles below Watertown an OK
which was drinking near the unfenced
track, frightened at the approaching
train, sprang directly in front of it
and was caught in a culvert. The
pilot struck the OK and the engine and
five cars were hurled from the track.
A scene of horror and suffering
instantly supplanted mirth and gayety.
No one could tell how many lives were
lost, for there were at least 200 per-
sons in the demolished cars, from the
wreck of which it did not appear pos
sible for one of them to escape alive.
+. Strong, Sr., at once sent his son
Timothy to Watertown for physicians
1t was ascertained upon clearing away
the wreck that fourteen were killed,
| seven of whom resided in this city.
These were Major j. Thomas, United
States marshal, who was plunged into
mud-hOle and held there by the
wreck until drowned Timothy l..
Gillet, one of the first directors of the
road, who was crushed; jerome
Mason, express agent and telegraph
operator, who was thrown across the
stove at the middle of his body and
burned in most shocking manner,
and only recognized by his boots; John
BOardman and lsadOre Snow, carpen-
ters, who were both instantly killed;
Edward H Sicklts bookbinder, who
had the lower portion of his body
crushed and who lived several hours;
Van Buren, Smead, of The Democratic
Press, who had his skull fractured
and did not die until November 29.
The remainder of those killed were
four from Oshkosh and three from
Watertown. Those from Fond du
Lac who were seriously injured were
Robert Flint, Mrs. R. NJ. Lemis, Mrs.
James Kinney Mrs. John Radford.
Edward Beeson, j. Q. Griffith, James
w. Partridge and A. D. Bonsteel.
The only one living of the injured
is Edward Beeson, who gives the
above account Of the wreck Mr.
Beeson says that for nearly year
afterwards it was almost an impossi-
bility to get Fond du Lac resident to
travel by rail.