Kent, IL Train Derailment, Jan 1893

LUMBERMEN IN A WRECK

Their Special Train Jumps the Track at Kent, Ills.

St. Paul, Jan. 30 -- More people were injured in the wreck of the lumberman's special train on the Chicago Great Western at Kent, Ills., Saturday afternoon than have been reported. At least fifty of the escursionists were cut and bruised, but the injuries of many of them are only slight. The train bearing the lumbermen arrived here in three sections Sunday afternoon, the first at 2:10, the second at 3:10 and the last at 3:45. Fourteen men had received such severe injuries that they were taken to St. Luke's hospital. DR. WILLARAD, physician at the hospital, said Sunday evening that with one exception the injured were doing well. The exception was W. E. OTTIE of Minneapolis, who was so badly bruised internally that he probably cannot live. JOHN WATSON, the colored porter employed in the coach used as a commissary headquarters, was severely cut about the head.
Akers Frightfully Mangled
According to his statement, W. E. AKERS, the Minneapolis attorney, who was the only passenger killed, had just left the commissary car and was on the platform when the coaches left the track. AKERS body was found in a dnowdrift some distance from the wreck and was frightfully mangled. Some of the passengers say the wreck was not caused by a broken rail, but by spreading of the rails. J. H. TENNANT, who resides at 422 Sixth street, South Minneapolis, was in the fifth coach from the engine. He said the first intimation the passengers had was a jar, and then, as the coach left the track, a jolting over the ties, and the car fell over the embankment. It all came so suddenly that the first he knew he and the passengers were climbing out of the windows, the car being on its side. The scene that followed, MR. TENNANT said, could not be described. The majority of the passengers were so excited that they did not seem to know what to do. A number of them hurried forward to assist those injured in the forward coaches, while others walked up and down the track, too excited to be of any service to themselves or others.
Five Cars Left the Track.
L. BARBER, of the firm of Payton, Kimball & Barber of Duluth, was in the third coach from the engine, and fortunately escaped injury. He said of the nine cars in the train, five of them left the track and rolled down an embankment of ten or fifteen feet. Two of the cars were thrown forty feet from the tracks. It was in these coaches that the passengers were most seriously hurt. At the time of the accident the rain was falling fast and steady, but the weather was warm, which was exceedingly fortunate, especially fot eh passengers more seriously injured. DR. MILLARD said, at 10 o'clock, that ten or twelve of the injured would be sufficiently recovered to be removed to their homes in a few days.

The Daily Review Decatur Illinois 1893-01-31
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!