Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1911 — ANOTHER FORTUNATE WRECK. [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER FORTUNATE WRECK.

On the Monon Monday at C. I. & S. Crossing at St. John. Passenger train No. 32, northbound, due in Rensselaer at 10:05 a. m., was wrecked at St. John Monday forenoon when the engine struck the derail. With the exception of one woman, who sustained a sprained ankle, the entire train crew and all passengers escaped injury. The engine, tender and three mail and baggage coaches w r ent off the track to the right, the engine turning over on its side. The engine was in charge of Engineer Murphy, and it was through his skill and presence of mind that a more disastrous wreck whs averted. The wreck occurred just south of where the Monon crosses the C. I. & S. railroad immediately north of a sharp curve. It was owing to the short curve that Engineer Murphy was prevented from seeing the target. He went around the curve at the rate of thirty-five miles an hour and was enabled to slack off enough to permit himself and his fireman to jump with safety. He told his fireman to jump first and the latter, following; instructions, went into a puddle of water, but got up with a Smile at his good luck to escape without injury. The 11:06 and 11:30 trains from the north met the northbound train this side-of St. John, of course, and came through all right, but the 1:58 south and the 2:53 and 3:15 trains north w’ere detoured via the Michigan City division and Wilders before the track was cleared for the passage of trains. A freight engine was hitched onto the uninjured coaches and the passengers were brought back through Rensselaer 'io Monon. ; W. C. Babcock, Mrs. George Ketchum, Mrs. L Erady and Miss Bessie Moody were Chicago bound passengers of Rensselaer on the illfated train. 1