The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-07-08
Passenger Train Was Pitched by Ter
rible Tornado.
TRAIN RACED WITH THE STORM
Engineer Endeavored to Escape the
WhirIing Vortex of Air--Baggage-
man Killed and a Score Injured
Thrilling Drama on Illinois Railroad.

Petersburg, ILL.,, July 6.-An accom-
mediation passenger train on the Chi
cago, Peoria & ST. Louis railroad was
blown from the track at Oakford, H.,
twelve miles north of Petersburg
early last evening and Baggageman
Thomas Wiley of Springfield was
killed and fifteen to twenty passengers
were injured, some Of them seriously.
Among the injured are the following:
William H. Gridley, Chicago, gen.
eral manager of the Peoria & st. Louis
railroad, arm broken. George A. Cole
man, Springfield, conductor of train,
head cut and bruised. Ernest Leib,
springfield, possibly fatally injured.
Turned Twice Over.
The train consisted of two coaches,
baggage car and the engine, and all
but the engine were hurled from the
track down a seven-foot embanl1ment,
turning over twice in the descent and
bris. The accident occurred just few
rods from the bridge over the Benja-
min river The work Of relief began
Immediately as owing to the remark
able escape Of nearly all the small
number of passenger aboard. those
who were injured and pinioned in the
debris were speedily rescued and at
once given attention. Relief trains
were hurried from Springfield and
Havana and the more seriously in
jured were taken to hospitals.
Train Made Wild Dash.
The engineer who escaped injury
said he watched the gathering storm
closely as his train sped along, as he
feared, from the appearance of the
clouds, that tornado might result.
AS the train approached Oakford the
clouds suddenly seemed to- concen.
trate aid drop. apparently coming di'
reetly towards the train, Realizing
Vas tho train would encounter the dpr.
heds il Il proceeded the engineer shut
of steam and came to halt. The APP
preaching tornado, when about a mile
away to the southwest and coming
northeast, suddenly swerved over to-
wards the north and the train was di-
rectly in its path. Instantly the engi-
neer opened the throttle in wild en-
deavor to rush beyond the zone Of dan
ser and again the tornado swerved and
headed directly for the flying train.
The roar was heard plainly above
the rattle of the train. Steam was
crowded on, and like rocket the light
accommodation, jumping and pounding
On the rails, rushed ahead in an en-.
6eavor to cross before the cyclone and
pass in safety Suddenly with a crash
that was heard above the rumble and
roar of the tornado the train was
~"rly broadside, the coaches torn
from the engine and lifted into the air
and hurled from the embankment into
the ditch seven feet below. turning a
complete somersault in the descent
and landing splintered mass. The
engine alone remained upon the rails
Relief Train Sent.
The engineer and fireman. hurried
back to the wreck and began pulling
cut passengers. Those who were unin-
jured Immediately assisted and within
remarkably short time the dead ex-
press messenger, Thomas Wiley, and
the injured passengers had been taken
from the debris TO hastily improvised
shelter The engine was then hurried
on to Petersburg, where a relief train
was speedily made up and, bearing
pty sicians, hurried back to the scene
The wrecked cars took fire but the
flames were extinguished before any
Roadway had been made. AS soon as
possible the injured were placed
aboard the relief train and taken to
Springfield and Havana and those
whose injuries were of serious ma
tue were placed in hospitals.