Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1886 — An Awful Accident. [ARTICLE]

An Awful Accident.

At about four o’clock yesterday (Wednesday) morning, two freight trains on the L., N. A. & C., one some distance behind the other were running towards Chicago, and when going up a heavy gyade near Cedar Lake, tho foremost train broke ip two and the rear portion began to run rapidly back down the grade, and towards the train which wps swiftly appi'oaqhing. In the caboose of the broken train were nine men, mostly stockmtn taking stock to the city. Among them were Delos Thompson, of Rensselaer, son of Alfred Thompson, Richard Grow, of Marion tp., Mr. Spence, trustee of Jackson tp., in Newton county, also a man named Lowe or Lyons, also from Newton county, and a Mr. Thayer, who got on the train at Rose Lawn. Before most of the occupants of the caboose knew that there was any danger, the collision occured with fearful force. Three men of the nine on the caboose saw the danger just in time to jnmp off. Among these was Mr. Grow. The locomotive of the rear train passed entirely through the caboose, in which the six men were, and split it from end to end. It also demolished the car in front and then rolled into the ditch. Of the six men in the caboose, Mr. Spence, Mr. Lowe or Lyon, and an unknown man man were killed instantly. Mr. Thayer was probably mortally injured, the fifth man very badly injured, while Mr. Thompson escaped with a few bruises. The fact that he was stretched on a bench asleep while the others were all sitting or standing, was probably all that sav- 1 ed his life. The wrecked cars took tire at once, and the bodies of two of the slafn men were consumed, and a portion of the body of the third man. Qrily the prompt assistance of Mr. Thompson saved Air. Thayer, the wqrst injured man from being burned with the others. The engineer and fireman of the wrecked engine jumped off in time to save themselves. No trains were able tp pass the «cene of the wreck yesterday, and tho mail and express matter which was due in the forenoon was sent around by Alichigan City and Monon, and came in on the afternoon trains.