Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1902 — ALMOST A WRECK. [ARTICLE]

ALMOST A WRECK.

The Monon Has a Narrow Escape From a Disastrous Wreck. The Monon fast mail south bound train last Sunday afternoon had a narrow escape from a disastrous wreck two miles north of Fair Oaka. The train was running at its usual high rate of speed, when the engineer noticed a man with a traction engine crossing the track. The engineer reversed his engine, but this ha : little effect in checking its speed. The man with the traction engine, seeing that he could not clear the track in time, ; jerked the coupling pin from the water tank and succeeded in getting the enginp clear of the track as the locomotive whizzed by. The train struck the tank wagon, however, and reduced it to kindling wood. The fireman of the locomotive, see- , ing the danger, jumped from the cab into the ditch. He was bruised some but not seriously hurt.