Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1902 — Close Escape From A Bad Wreck. [ARTICLE]

Close Escape From A Bad Wreck.

There was a very narrow escape from what would, undoubtedly, have been a very bad railroad wreck on the Monon Sunday. It happened to the south bound train due here at 1:45 p. m. and about two miles north of Fair Oaks. A man named Smith was crossing the track with a heavy traction engine, with a water tank hitched on behind. It seemed certain that the locomotive engine would strike the traction engine, and at a high high rate of speed, although the engineer reversed his engine, but the driving wheels slipped and had but little effect in checking the speed of the heavy train. Smith kept his wits about him however and by uncoupling the water tank wagon, he managed to clear the track with his traction engine by about 18 inches, leaving the tank wagon to its fate, which was struck and carried on the front of the engine about 200 yards, when the train was brought to a stop. The train fireman was so sure of a wreck that he jumped off and rolled in the ditch. He was sprained and bruised some, but not seriously hurt. Had the train struck the heavy traction engine no doubt a very bad wreck would have resulted.