Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1909 — Close Cell for a Monon Passenger Train. [ARTICLE]

Close Cell for a Monon Passenger Train.

Hammond' Times. ■the south-boiind Mdnon passenger' train, No.' 35, which gets Into Hammond from ’ Chicago at 12:17 a. m., was wrecked this morning at the bridge over the Grand Calumet river in Hammond, and had it not been for the fact that the engineer Was obeying explicit instructions to go over this bridge at a snail’s pace, it is probable that one of the worst wrecks in the history of the road would have resulted. The accident was caused by the storm. There was a quantity of structural steel in the vicinity of the bridge, which is being put into the new bascule bridge, now being constructed. • It is believed the wind blew one oi the heavy steel girders and it rested across the track on the fireman’s side. When the train came across the bridge the engine struck the piece of steel and the derailing of the engine resulted. The pilot of the locomotive was broken as was the engine beam. As soon as the accident Occurred an engine was sent for and the train was sent through Hammond over the Erie. The wrecked engine was not replaced on the rails until 7 o’clock this morning. All of the trains from the south were delayed for an hour or more before they were finally given a through route to Chicago. '•* The passengers in the sleeper of the Monon train were unaware of the danger to which they had been subjected and did not know that they had been very near death until they arrived in Indianapolis.