The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-07-08
TRAIN WHIRLED
FROM THE TRACK
Passenger i'm Illinois Had Fierce
Encounter With a High
Wind.
PERSON WAS KILLED
Tornado Struck Train and Blew
Coaches From Track-Ensineer
Ran a Sensational Race
With Elements.

Pittsburg. H., July An accom-
notation passenger train on the Chi
cago, Peoria and st. Louis railroad was
blown from the track at Oakford. Ill,
twelve miles north of Petersburg. last
evening, and one person was killed and
Il number We're injured.
The dead:
THOS. WILEY, express messenger.
The injured.
Thomas Hogan of Springfield, III.
Thomas Lynn, Chandler Vile, Ill.
Thomas Eichnauer, Petersburg. III.
Thomas Swisey, mail clerk, Peters
burg, Ill.
General Manager II. w. Gridley, OF
the Chicago, Peoria and st. Louis rail-
a broken arm.
Conductor Coleman. Springfield, cut
about head and arms.
The train consisted of two coaches, q
baggage car and the engine. and all
but the engine We're hurled from the
track down a SeVen-foot embankment,
turning over twice in the descent and
landing in II splintered mass of debris.
The accident occurred just a few rods
from the bridge over the Benjamin
river.
The work of relief began Immediately.
and owing to the remarkable escape OF
nearly all the small number of pas
sengers aboard, those who We're in
jured and %pinioned in the debris were
speedily rescued and at once given at.
tention.
Relief trains We're hurried from
Springfield and Havana, and the more
seriously injured We're taken to the hos
pitfalls.
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 a tornado might arise. AS
the train approached Oakford the
clouds suddenly seemed to concentrate
and drop, apparently coming directly
towards the train. Realizing that the
train would encounter the tornado if it
proceeded. the engineer quickly shut Oft
steam and came to a halt. The APP
preaching tornado, when about a mile
away, swerved to the northwest and
the train was directly in its path.
Wind Clouds Chased Train.
Instantly the engineer opened the
throttle in a Wild endeavor to rush be-
yond the zone of danger, and again the
tornado swerved and headed directly
for the flying train. The oar was
heard plainly above the rattle of the
train. Steam was crowded on, and lik,
a rocket the light accommodation train,
jumping and pounding on the rails,
dashed ahead in an endeavor 70 cross
before the tornado and pass IN safety
Suddenly, with & crash tina was heard
above the rumble n roar of the tor
nado, the train was struck. broadSide
the coaches torn from the engine ano
lifted into the air and hurled from the
embanknlent into the ditch, seven feet
below. The engine alone remained
upon the rails.
The engineer and fireman hurried
back to the wreck and began pulling
out passengers. Those who We're un.
injured Immediately assisted, anG
within a remarkably short time the
dead express messenger, Thomas
Wiley, n the injured passengers had
been taken from the debris to hastily
~improvised shelter. The engine was
hen hurried on to Petersburg. where
a relief train was speedily made up,
and, bearing physicians. hurried back
to the scene. The wrecked cars DOL
fire, but the flames were ~eNtinguished
before any Roadway had been made.
AS soon as possible the injured were
placed hoard the relief rain and talk
en- to Springfield and Havana. and
those whose injuries were of a serious
nature were placed In hospitals.
General Manager H. W.. Gridley, who
suffered a broken arm. remained on
the spot and directed the relief work,
as did Conductor Coleman of Spring
field, who was cut about the head and
faca