Very, IL Train Wreck, Jul 1887

Many Killed and Wounded

Terrible Collision on the Chicago and Alton Railroad

Bloomington, Ill., July 27.-A south bound freight train on the Chicago and Alton Railroad came into collision with a construction train between Hopedale and Delavan, Ill., today, killing four men outright, fatally crushing a fifth, and injuring ten others.

The dead are: JAMES BROWN, Hopedale; FRANK DRAKE, Petersburg; JAMES KELLOGG, MORTON DUNSETT, Delevan; PLANO BARROW, Ashland.

The list of wounded includes Roadmaster THOMAS KAVANAGH. AUGUST KADEL, Bloomington; JOHN ELY, Hopedale; SAMUEL ANDERSON, W. KENNEY, Tallulah; SIMON ATKINS, Hopedale; JOHN COX, foreman of the construction; FRANK HOLMES, Bloomington, engineer of the freight train; THOMAS DE LONG, brakeman on the same train, and CHARLES SMITH. DUNSETTE was the water boy on the construction train. The list may be increased as further particulars come in, the excitement at the scene making it very difficult to get details. It is not known here who is responsible for the accident.

Pekin, Ill., July 27.-Reports form Hopedale give varying accounts of the results of the disaster on the Chicago and Alton Road, near that town, this afternoon. A dispatch this evening says that 10 dead bodies have been taken out of the wreck, and four persons have been found so badly injured that they cannot live. In addition to the 14, 8 other persons of the 45 on the train are said to be missing, and it is feared that they are in the ruins. A large force of doctors is on the spot giving all assistance possible.

The accident occurred at Very, near the Orendorf Bridge, which was on fire this afternoon, and the flames of which the construction train had been sent out to extinguish. It had finished the work, and had started back when the freight train dashed down upon it. Both trains were torn to pieces.

The responsibility for the accident has not been ascertained. The engineer of the construction train claims that the freight train disregarded a signal to stop which he had shown at Hopedale.

The New York Times, New York, NY 28 Jul 1887
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!