The Great Chatsworth Train Wreck

          

             

THE CHATSWORTH PLAINDEALER 

August 10-11, 1887

JAS. SMITH, PROPRIETOR

 

Photo taken by A. H. Hall, a local Chatsworth photographer at the wreck site.

 

 

 

Located 2.5 miles east of Chatsworth

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Article #1

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                  Horrors Beyond Description

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TERRIBLE WRECK OF THE NIAGARA EXCURSION OF THE  T.P.&W. RY.  TWO AND ONE-HALF MILES EAST OF THIS CITY.

Eleven Cars Out of Fifteen Totally Demolished.

The residents of our quiet little village were awakened from their slumbers a few minutes before one o'clock Thursday morning by the fire alarm, and in but an instant, apparently, people were running from all directions for the engine house, as no fire could be seen.  Instantly it became generally known that the Niagara Falls excursion train from Peoria, which had passed through here at 12:45, had been wrecked by a burning bridge two miles east of town.  A special train was immediately telegraphed for from Forrest, and as messengers brought in news of the wreck, it became apparent that some place be prepared for the reception of the dead and wounded, although the extent of the damage had not been imagined.  Many went to the scene of the disaster on foot, in vehicles of all kinds, and in the special train, while others remained and made arrangements to care for the dead and wounded in the hall, which had been opened to use as a hospital.  Upon arrival at the wreck, the sight was most terrible.  While all had read of disastrous wrecks, none had been prepared for such a scene as was presented. 

The first bridge west of the county line, and about fifty rods from the line, had caught fire and been slowly burning until the entire structure rested upon charred embers, and as the excursion train, which consisted of two engines, six sleepers, two chair cars, five coaches, one special and one baggage car, passed over, it gave way, and in an instant the entire train, with the exception of the last four cars, was precipitated to the ditch, and many were instantly killed, not knowing what had occurred, while hundreds realized what had happened only as they found themselves crushed and wedged between heavy timbers, unable to move, with the dead and dying laying in all shapes around them.  It was too horrible to admit of description.  The screams and moans of the wounded were heartrending, and the terror of the sight can not be imagined. 

Just east of the bridge three cars were telescoped, and it is wonderful that anyone escaped alive from either of them, they were so totally demolished.  What remains of General Supertendent  E. N. ARMSTRONG's special car lies headed north and south, instead of east and west as the track runs, and the other cars are in a similar manner, damaged or destroyed.  None of the occupants of his car were seriously injured.

The work of rescuing the victims from their numerous precarious situations was immediately begun, and the Chatsworth fire department deserves especial credit for their valor and the much needed assistance they rendered.  As the cars fell, one crushing upon another, they were, in places, heaped twelve and fifteen feet into the air.  To rescue the sufferers from these, a system of planks and ladders were used, and the wounded, dying and dead alike carried down to places of safety.  To add to the terror of the scene a heavy thunder and lightening storm came up, and , with heavy rain made such a scene as would apall the bravest hearts.  As fast as possible the wounded were brought in by the special train, that they might receive proper medical aid, but the number so far exceeded anything that had been expected, that the upper and lower rooms of the hall were soon filled, after which the school building was opened and many were taken there, while many others were taken to private houses.  The FELKER building was used as a morgue, where the dead were brought from the wreck and left for identification.

(Website Author's note:  The school building  sat directly across the street from the railroad depot. As of this writing I have not yet located where the Felker building was.)

The telegraph offices have been besieged with people wishing to communicate with friends and those expecting some tidings from anxious friends abroad.

After the listing of the official dead and those who have died since, this article was next.

From the Chatsworth Plaindealer

August 12,1887

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LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT

The location of the terrible accident, accurately described is as follows;  It was the last railroad bridge on the T.P.&W. track in this county, and was to span the main ditch running through the JEROME HOWE and JAS.A.SMITH farms, in section one.   It is located nearly two and one-half miles east of Chatsworth, about fifty rods west of the Ford County line. It was a two pile bents, four piling to each bent.  It was fifteen feet long, six-feet high.  The stringers were seven inches by sixteen inches, two under each rail.  The ties were six inches by eight inches by  nine feet-oak.  The master mechanic of bridges and building of the T.P.& W. Ry. is Mr. J.H.MARKLEY, who swore at the coroner's inquest that the bridge had been repaired about fourteen months ago, and that its condition was good.

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THE WOUNDED LEFT IN CHATSWORTH, AND THEIR CONDITION FRIDAY EVENING AT 9 P.M.

Of the sixteen wounded left in Chatsworth, at this hour, eight are in private houses and eight on the upper floor of the Town Hall.  After receiving the very best care and everything that could possibly be done for them.  Their conditions as follows:

DR.H.P.HAZEN , Fort Madison, Iowa, wife and wife's cousin, MISS ALTER, are all doing well, but will not attempt their journey home for some days.  An old aunty, who arrived today, and a brother of Mrs. HAZEN are with them, and they are as comfortable as circumstances will admit.

MISS JULIA VALDIJO, ? Peoria, who is a great sufferer, from serious internal injuries, is not in a condition to be removed, and her prospects of recovery are extremely doubtful.

H.H.BOND, Colchester, Ill., whose spine is injured, is suffering considerably, but will, if his courage keeps good, pull through.  His brother is with him and he is made as comfortable as his injuries will permit.

ADAM SHAMBURGER, Peoria, Ill., who has a broken leg and abdomal injuries, is in a precarious condition, and is kept under the influence of narcotics.

EATON WATTERS, Co?tage, Catarogues county, N.Y., is injured about the hips and head.  His internal injuries may carry him away. He is resting quietly at 9 p.m. Friday evening.

MRS.R.H.CLARK, of Roostown, Ohio, is in a precarious condition from internal injuries.  Her husband arrived from his home at noon Friday, and is prostrate with grief at the terrible condition of his wife and the loss of his little boy, whose remains have been admirably cared for by MR.W.W.POST and family.  Her sister, MRS.HARRIS, also arrived Friday and is nursing the patient as we go to press at 3:40 a.m. Saturday morning.

AT MR. AND MRS. C.A.WILSON'S

HAROLD B. LAWRENCE, of Burlington,Iowa, who received bad, but not serious, cuts about the head,face, and legs, and whose back is bruised, is doing nicely.  His father is with him and will remain until such time as the patient is fit for removal.

AT REV. AND MRS. BIRCH'S

Little FRANK SNEDAKER, of Abingdon,Ill., is domiciled.  No braver person was in the ill-fated train than this little fellow.  His leg was amputated, his arm is broken, and his eye injured.  His mother was killed and his father has gone home with the remains, and will return.  MRS. KIPP, of Wing, Ill., a cousin of REV. SNEDAKER, is with the little hero.  He was very restless at the hour of our reporter's call, but all hope for the recovery of this brave little fellow, who said when asked at the time of his rescue, "I'm not hurt much, help those who are crying first."

AT MR. AND MRS.A.B.SEARING'S

MISS SARAH MAY LAW, of Eureka, Ill., is still a great sufferer, and had been until a short time prior to our call, unconscious, but reaction has restored her.  Her brother is with her, and her uncle, who was here, took her mother, who was injured, but not seriously, home Friday.  The patient can not be moved for several days.

AT MR. AND MRS.SAML. ORR'S

C.B.NUZZEL, Canton, Ill., dislocated hip; not very serious, and will be about in a short time.

AT MR. AND MRS.J.H.MARTIN'S

MRS. S.R. BORDEN, Tonica, Ill., right ankle broken and left foot badly bruised.  Her husband arrived Friday and they will remain some time, as the lady and Mrs.MARTIN were friend from childhood.

AT MR. AND MRS. JNO.R. BIGHAM'S

MR.JOTHAM NEIL, of Mossville, Ill., is badly bruised about head, but not confined to the bed.

MRS. LETTIE NEIL, wife of above, has right arm and right leg broken and gash in forehead.  She is doing very nicely.  This lady lost a baby nineteen months old in the catastrophy, which has been taken home for burial.

Their friends, MR. AND MRS. N.Q.TANQUAREY, of Pontiac, and MR. TUTTLE of Dunlap, and MISS NEIL, of Mossville, are caring for them.

 

 

Death List              Later Deaths & Obits         More Wreck Articles 2        More Wreck Articles 3          More Wreck Article 4

Wounded List        The Song                              Wreck Links                        Survivors Reunion 1937      The Cane

 

 

 

Read a recount of the memories of B.M. Judd of the wreck here

 Disaster !

 

Read a recount of the wreck here

 Railroad Wrecks 

 

 

Read the recollections of Art Young, reporter for the Chicago Daily News here

 Art Young-His Life and Times

 

 

 Read the Australian "Brisbane Courier" report from Oct. 3, 1887

Read the testimony taken by the Ill. R.R. Commission