Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1887 — How the Accident Occurred. [ARTICLE]

How the Accident Occurred.

A Call reporter interviewed E. S- Blackwell, one of the engineers in the Monon accident near St. John’s on Sunday. He said: “We were bucking snow with four engines, two of which were headed north, the other two south. We were working about two miles south of St. John’s, and were making a run over Bull Creek bridge, which is about seventy-five feet long and eighteen feet high. The front engine jumped the track within twenty feet of the bridge, and the second one followed, tearing up the track and ties in such a manner that the two engines following, backing up, went down. One of these was mine, the other was run by Dave Pope. The two front engines got across the bridge, but ours took the entire structure down when they went througlj. The bridge was perfectly safe and there was up one to blame. Those who were on the engines were injured in some way. My injuries are in tiio chest and left leg bruised. Dave and Wes Pope were hurt about the head and legs, bruised and scalded. A. Mclntosh, fireman, hurt about the legs; Mr. Adams, legs scalded; Brakeman John Lucas, legs scalded, and two section men slightly bruised.”—Lafayette Call.