Des Plaines, IL Train Wreck, May 1899

WRECK ON NORTHWESTERN.

ST. PAUL FLYER RUNS INTO AN ENGINE.

ONE MAN IS KILLED AND THREE INJURED--PASSENGERS ARE SHAKEN UP

Chicago, June 1-- A collision between the St. Paul limited train of the Chicago & Northwestern and a passenger engine at Desplaines last evening resulted in the death of one man and the injury of three others. No direct blame has been attached for the accident.

The dead:
UNIDENTIFIED MAN, apparently 25 years old.

The injured:
DAVIS, WILLARD H., colored, a waiter on the buffet car of the passenger train.
SAGE, JOSEPH, fireman on passenger train.
ARNOLD, F., fireman on the light engine.

The light engine, which carries a suburban train from Chicago to Desplaines, had arrived at its destination, uncoupled from the cars and was being run to the roundhouse, when the St. Paul flyer ran into it. Fireman Arnold was in the engine alone and had charge of the throttle. He was going east on the westbound track, and to this the collision was due.

The pilot of the limited engine tore the suburban engine’s tender into two parts and, forgoing ahead, completely wrecked the locomotive. The limited engine was also badly damaged, probably beyond repair. Fireman Sage, of the limited engine, was hurled from his post with terrific force, and he fell upon his left leg, breaking it. Engineer H. Ebbitts escaped injury, as also did Conductor C, M. Marriotte and Brakeman H. J. McCammon and Oscar Pfanstiehl.

The force of the collision wrecked the platforms of the two “blind baggage” cars on the train. On the platforms were the unidentified Negro and his companion. Several witnesses of the accident say that they saw the man’s companion jump in time to escape injury. The Negro who was killed was caught between the platforms and his chest and head were crushed. Fireman Arnold was buried under the wreckage from the tender and was imprisoned there ten minutes.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 1 Jun 1899
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Transcribed by Audrey. Thank you, Audrey!