Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1873 — The Accident on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. [ARTICLE]

The Accident on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad.

The Chicago Tribune of the 18th gives the following account of the recent horrible accident on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Kailroad: The train consisted of a locomotive, a baggage-car, a smoking-car, two coaches, and two sleeping-cars. The cars were well filled, particularly the smoking-car. The train was due at Willow Station at 9:55, and was on time. It is not usual for this train to stop at that station, but on this occasion it was necessary, in order to take on a sleeping-car which was brought from St. Louis by the train which left that city in the morning. The train started from Willow Station, according to the best evidence, ten minutes behind, and, as it is customary on this road to make up lost time, undoubtedly the rate of speed was somewhat accelerated. The conductor and engineer knew they were to pass a coal train at Lemont, seven miles distant, but unhappily that train did not wait, as it should have done, but came on toward the passenger train, expecting to make Willow Station. It was a race for life. The conductor and engineer ,of the coal train knew that the passenger train, laden with precious lives, was in front, and if they did not reach a switch by a certain time a collision was inevitable. Both trains were rushing toward destruction. On they flew over the iron way througn the darkness, the speed increasing at every revolution of the wheels. The passengers in the sleeping-cars were preparing to retire, or had already done so. Those in the coaches were looking forward to reaching their destination, where expectant families awaited their coming. The suspicion of danger never crossed the minds of any, when suddenly, without a moment’s warning, not even a whistle, the two trains were locked in an embrace of death, and in one terrible moment wives were made widows, children became fatherless, mourning was sent to the threshold of many happy homes, and sorrow that can never be eradicated, pierced many hearts. There were three concussions—first, when the engines met and were destroyed; second, when the baggage-car struck and was smashed into fragments ; and third, when the smokingcar collided and leaped in the air, alighting on the-fractured boiler of the freight engine. The remains of the passenger train engine were thrown from the track, toward the east, and so were the ruins of the baggage-car. Then came the smok-ing-car on top of the boiler. The forepart of this car was burst open by the force with which it struck, the hind wheel’s remaining on the " track, and there it stood at an angle of thirty degrees, the passengers imprisoned in the broken iron and wood, while the deadly steam came up with terrific force from the boiler below, scalding those whom it touched, instantly peeling off the skin, and causing the most excruciating agony. One moment was sufficient to cause death, but many were there several minutes before being extricated. They breathed the burning atmosphere. One breath was fatal, the inner surface of the chest and lungs being fearfully scorched. As soon as they recovered from the first shock, the passengers in the two Coaches and in the sleeping-cars, who were uninjured, did all they could to rescue the sufferers. The cause of the accident was the inex-

cusable foolhardiness of the conductor of the freight train in leaving Lemont when he knew that it was a matter of life and death, that it was a mere chaiice if he could reach a .witch in time, that it was his duty to remain there until the passenger train, which had the right of way, was safely by, and that any way he had no right to run any risk or take any chances. Mr. Huston, station-agent at Lemont, entreated him not to leave the station, and so uneasy;, was Mr. Huston when he did leave, that he listened until he heard the concussion, and then he went to work to secure the necessary aid. The night was dark, the sky cloudy, the waning moon shed no light, the stars were visible overhead, but a thick fog Covered the surface of the earth, and lights coujd not be seen for any great distance. That made no difference, however. With the same reckless management of the freight train the accident might have occurred” in the full blaze of noonday. There would be nothing to prevent it’ k curve in the road hid the trains from each other, and the engineers could do nothing to stop their e*gmes. In this case nothing attempted. There was no Rafferty there by a deed of heroism to lighten this gloomytale.