Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1909 — FLYER WRECKED DY HIGHWAYMEN [ARTICLE]

FLYER WRECKED DY HIGHWAYMEN

Locomotive of Chicago and Burlington Smashed.

FIVE MILES FROM PEORIA

Theory That Criminals Merely Wished to Halt the Train and Fled on Seeing the Damage Wrought—Men In Cab Jump For Their Lives as Engine Dashes Off on Siding and Splinters String of Loaded Freight Cars.

Peoria, 111., March 12. —Chicago and Burlington passenger train No. 1 was wrecked by robbers at the Vicary coal mine switch, five miles from this city. An investigation showed that the lock on the switch had been broken, the switch thrown and the train, going at the rate of forty miles an hour, thrown on the siding into a string of loaded freight cars. The train was in charge of Conductor Peck and Engineer Maxwell. Maxwell reversed his engine when he saw the danger and, with his fireman, jumped. They escaped' with slight bruises.

Over two hundred passengers were aboard and the impact, which demolished the locomotive and several of the coal cars, resulted In several minor Injuries.

The passengers returned to this city Oh a special, arriving early today. The sheriff’s office was notified and a posse is now exploring the country for the criminals.

The theory is highwaymen hoped merely to halt the train and fled on seeing the result of their work.