Oakford, IL Tornado Blows Train From Track, Jul 1904

Train Blown from Track.

Cars Hurled Down Seven Foot Embankment in Illinois.

Petersburg, Ill., Jul. 5. - An accommodation passenger train on the Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis Railroad was blown from the track at Oakford, Ill., twelve miles north of Petersburg, early this evening, and an express messenger, THOMAS WILLEY, was killed, and a number of passengers were injured.

The train consisted of two coaches, a baggage car and an engine, and all but the engine were hurled from the track down a seven-foot embankment, turning over twice in the descent, and landing in a splintered mass. The accident occurred just a few rods from the bridge over the Benjamin River.

The work of relief began immediately. Owing to the remarkable escape of nearly all of the small number of passengers aboard, those who were injured and pinioned in the debris were speedily rescued and attended to. Relief trains were hurried from Springfield and Havana, and the more seriously injured were taken to hospitals.

The engineer, who escaped injury, said he watched the gathering storm closely as his train sped along, as he feared from the appearance of the clouds that a tornado might result. As the train approached Oakford the clouds suddenly seemed to concentrate and drop, apparently coming directly toward the train.

Realizing that the train would encounter the tornado if it proceeded, the engineer quickly shut off steam and came to a halt.

The approaching tornado, when about a mile away to the southwest and coming northeast, suddenly swerved further toward the north, and the train was directly in its path. In an instant the engineer opened the throttle in a wild endeavor to rush beyond the zone of danger, and again the tornado swerved and headed directly for the flying train. The roar was heard plainly above the rattle of the train.

Steam was crowded on, and like a rocket the light accommodation, jumping and pounding on the rails, rushed ahead in an endeavor to cross before the cyclone and pass in safety. Suddenly, with a crash that was heard above the rumble and roar of the tornado, the train was struck broadside. The coaches were torn from the engine, lifted into the air, and hurled from the embankment into the ditch below. The engine alone remained upon the rails.

The engineer and firemen hurried back to the wreck and began pulling out passengers. Those who were uninjured immediately assisted, and within a remarkably short time the dead express messenger and the injured passengers had been taken from the debris to hastily improvised shelter.

The engine was hurried on to Petersburg, where a relief train was speedily made up and, bearing physicians, hurried back to the scene. The wrecked cars took fire, but the flames were extinguished before and headway had been made. As soon as possible the injured were placed aboard the relief train and taken to Springfield and Havana, and those whose injuries were of a serious nature were placed in hospitals.

General Manager H.W. GRIDLEY, who suffered a broken arm, remained on the spot and directed relief work, as did Conductor COLEMAN, who was cut about the head and face.

The New York Times, New York, NY 6 Jul 1904

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Train Blown From the Track By a Tornado.

One Man Instantly Killed and Several Injured Near Oakford, Ill.

Passenger Coaches Lifted Into the Air and Hurled Down an Embankment.

Petersburg, Ill., July 5.- An accommodation passenger train on the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad was blown from the track at Oakford, Ill., twelve miles north of Petersburg early this evening and one person was killed and number injured. The Killed:
THOMAS WILLEY, baggage master.
Injured: THOMAS HOGAN and wife, Springfield, Ill.; THOMAS LYNN, Chandlerville, Ill.; THOMAS BICHNAUER, Petersburg, Ill.; THOMAS SWISEY, Mail Clerk, Petersburg, Ill.; General Manager H.W. GRIDLEY of the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Road, broken arm; Conductor COLEMAN, Springfield, Ill., cut about head and arms.

The train consisted of two coaches, a baggage car and the engine, and all but the engine were hurled from the track down a seven-foot embankment, turning over twice in the descent and landing in a splintered mass of debris. The accident occurred just a few rods from the bridge over the Benjamin River.

The work of relief began immediately, as owing to the remarkable escape of nearly all the small number of passengers aboard, those who were injured and pinioned in the debris were speedily rescued and at once given attention. Relief trains were hurried from Springfield and Havana, and the more seriously injured were taken to hospitals.

The engineer, who escaped injury, said he watched the gathering storm closely as his train sped along, as he appeared from the appearance of the clouds, that a tornado might arise. As the train approached Oakford, the clouds suddenly seemed to concentrate and drop, apparently coming directly toward the train. Realizing that the train would encounter the tornado if it proceeded, the engineer quickly cut off steam and came to a halt. The approaching tornado, when about a mile away to the northwest and coming northeast, suddenly swerved farther to the northwest and the train was directly in its path.

Instantly the engineer opened the throttle in a wild endeavor to rush beyond the zone of danger and again the tornado swerved and headed directly for the flying train. The roar was heard plainly over the rattle of the train. Steam was crowded on and like a rocket the light accommodation, jumping and pounding over the rails, dashed ahead in an endeavor to cross before the tornado and pass in safety. Suddenly, with a crash that was heard above the rumble and roar of the tornado, the train was struck broadside, the coaches torn from the engine and lifted into the air and hurled from the embankment into the ditch, seven feet below, turning a complete somersault in the descent and landing in a splintered mass. The engine alone remained upon the rails. The engineer and fireman hurried back to the wreck and began pulling out passengers. Those who were uninjured immediately assisted and within a remarkably short time the dead express messenger, THOMAS WILLEY, and the injured passengers had been taken from the debris to hastily improvised shelter. The engine was then hurried on to Petersburg, where a relief train was speedily made up and, bearing physicians, hurried back to the scene. The wrecked cars took fire, but the flames were extinguished before any headway had been made. As soon as possible the injured were placed aboard the relief train and taken to Springfield and Havana and those whose injuries were of a serious nature were placed in hospitals.

General Manager H.W. GRIDLEY, who suffered a broken arm, remained on the spot and directed the relief work, as did Conductor COLEMAN of Springfield, who was cut about the head and face.

Morning World-Herald, Omaha, NE 6 Jul 1904
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!