Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1893 — DEATH ON THE RAIL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEATH ON THE RAIL.

Frightful Catastrophe at LaFay-' etteT 7- ” A. Runaway Train—Ten Peracn« Killedj —Many Injured.: The South-bound vestibule psssqepger train on the Big Four, due at LaFayette at 1:15 a. m. Sunday morning, was wrecked just as it entered the sheds at the Unfdn station, the accident ending ten lives and injuring as many more people. Both employes and passengers were appalled at the terrific speed at which the doomed train dashed across the bridge over the Wabash rl-ver. The headlight of thqon-

gine glared at them for an instant as it came into view around a short curve at the east end of the bridge. Then there was an immense clond of dust, the rumble and roar of a swiftly moving train, a terrible crash, and then the cries for help bi the injured and dying! The track from the depot west is on-up grade and a sharp curve reaches froth the depot to the bridge. The down grade begins a mile or more west of the city and and the air-brakes are applied as soon as the grade is reached suas to slow un-for-the—bridge and—the curve at the station. ; - As the train rushed across the yards il tore down the east lino of sheds and they fell on top of the heaped up, broken cars. The engine was buried from sight by the debris. The mail cars went beyond the engine and were dashed against some Lake Erie & Western freight cars on a siding. The baggage car and smoker was lifted up and laid on its side on top of the broken heap. The ladies’ car lost its front trucks and was caved in on the left side near the rear end. The train was a runaway. It is evident 1 from its terrific speed on entering the sta* tion that the train was not under control. . The theory as to the cause of this, advanced by the railway officials, (s that . tramps riding on the front end of the firsl j mail car, either accidentally or intentioni ally, shut off the air from the train at ! Templeton, twenty miles west, the last I stop made by the train. Tramps were i seen on the train at that point. The lever controlling the air passing from the engineto the cars can be easily turned, concentrating all the air on the engine. Coming down grade the train could force the engine by Its weight. The following is a list of the persons killed outright, or who have died from their injuries: Michael Welsh,. engineer. Indianapolis: Fireman McGinnis, Indianapolis: E. D. Myers, Logansport; McMahan, Cincinnati; Charles Myers, Lafayette; John Lennon, Lafayette: Jesse H. Long, Lebanon; Charles S. Cahill; Ottq Gessalson. Chicago. Twenty or more persons wore injured, some of whom cannot recover. From the officials at Lafavetto it was learned that the train was enteringthestationpromptI ly on time, and they discredit the theory t that it was running at any unusual speed, but are at a loss to account for the catastrophe. There were ten coaches in the train, only two of which will boa total loss. The damage to the engine will not exceed fSJO. The tracks wore not injured and there was no delay of trains. Th« depot ahd train sheds were wrecked badly.

[The Big Four tracks at and near Lafayette. The accident occured in front of the station building, which was partially demolished.]