Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1885 — CRUSHED BY THE CARS. [ARTICLE]

CRUSHED BY THE CARS.

Collision of Two Sections of a Circus Train on the Northern Pacific Road, Five Men Killed Outright and Many Others Badly, If Not Fatally, Injured. [Fergus Falls (Minn.) dispatch ] A serious smashup of John Robinson's circus train occurred on the Northern Pacific, Fergiifc and Black Hills Road, a.branch of the Northern Pacific, at Ames Station, six miles west of this city. Four cars were broken to pieces, five men killed, and a large number injured. The train was in two sections. After passsing Ames the coupling of the four rear cars of the forward section broke, and there being a heavy grade they ran back toward the rear section. The rear engine ran* in to the wild cars at nearly full speed, with a terrific crash, injuring the forward part of the engine badly and totally demolishing the cars. These were common freight-cars, fitted up with bunks, etc., as sleeping-earth for the canvasmen and roustabouts of the circus. They contained nearly 200 men, and the mystery is that so many escaped with their lives. A terrible scene followed the collision. Their groans, and cries from the many injured, and howls and curses from those who were tryirig to extricate themselves from the wreck. People in the rear section, none of them hurt, lent all the aid possible, and the forward engine was dispatched at once to Feigns Falls for surgical assistance, returning in half an hour with the Northern Pacific physicians here. The following are the names of the dead:' George Krouse, Cincinnati. His brother lives at No. 62 Main str.et, Cincinnati. H. Roberts, Wadena, Minn., canvassman. Charles Wallace, joined the circus at Portland, Me.; laborer. Samuel Blair, Colfax, Dakota; laborer. James Wilson, Cincinnati, formerly policeman; train watchman. The most seriously wounded are as follows: James Eccles, Nova Scotia, dislocated shoulder and bruises; probably fatal. Joe Brown, New York, leg hurt. Win. Winfield, Appomattox, Vi. side and hack; will die. Thomas Vanata, ruptured. James Meyers, sprained ankle and legs bruised. Al Turner, lowa, foot mashed. Henry Roise, New York, leg and arms bruised. Wm. Murray, New York, head badly cut. James Coleman, colored, leg cut. Jenkins, head canvasnian, jaw smashed. Ed Siegler, Cincinnati, head hurt. Wm. Warfen. Cleveland, both hands jammed; will l&ve to be amputated. Nearly every man in the four cars is somewhat bruised and hurt, but, except the above, none seriously. A brakeman named Peterson could not be found after the wreck was cleared, and it is not known ' whether he was killed or ran away. The injured will be sent to the Northern pacific Hospital at Brainerd, and an inquest will be held to-morrow on the remains of the deceased, which will be held at the disposition of relatives, if any telegraph; otherwise they will probably be buried here. A colored band in one of the cars escaped with little injury except to. their instruments. Hearty all of which were smashed beyond repair. • . --