Quincy, IL Train Wreck, Sept 1871

Railroad Accident in Illinois-Narrow Escape of Passengers.

There was an extremely narrow escape from a frightful disaster on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, near Quincy, Ill., on Monday night. The particulars are given by the Quincy Herald as follows:

“The incoming Chicago, Burlington and Quincy passenger was running at the rate of fifteen or twenty miles an hour, and when on the highest point of the embankment, full fifty feet, the locomotives left the track, carrying the main and baggage cars over the precipice. Fortunately the coupling that attached the baggage-car to the first coach broke and the passenger-car remained on the track. The locomotive went down the embankment, which is almost perpendicular, on the wheels, alighted in the creek at the bottom and fell over on the side. The engineer, who accompanied it in its flight, miraculously escaped with only slight injuries. The fireman, who was on the tender at the time the engine left the track, jumped off and was unhurt. The mail-car went down to the bottom with the locomotive. Half way down the bank the baggage-car struck a tree and lodged there; the four persons who were inside were not injured.”

New York Times, New York, NY 16 Sept 1871

__________________

Transcribed by June. Thanks June!