BAD WRECK ON THE "BIG FOUR"

Several Passengers Hurt in a Smash-Up Near Indianapolis.

Indianapolis, Ind., April 27 -- At 3:30 Sunday morning the "Big Four," mail train No. 10, east-bound from St. Louis, met with a remarkable accident three miles west of this city. The train was running at fully sixty miles an hour down a heavy grade six miles in length, when the rear trucks of the last car but one struck a broken rail. The last coach, a Pullman, struck the break and jumped the track, entirely breaking away from the body of the train. The coach rolled over upside down in the ditch and ran on of its own momentum for more than a hundred feet. There were six male passengers in the Pullman, all of whom were more or less injured.

The railroad company immediately sent a wrecking and ambulance train to the scene and had the wounded passengers removed to St. Vincent's hospital, this city, where their wounds were dressed. The Pullman conductor and porter escaped without a scratch.

The following is a list of the passengers in the Pullman who were hurt:
LIBENTHAL, cut around the head, but left the hospital for his hotel soon after his injuries were dressed.
SMITH MEYERS, ex-Secretary of State, jaw and back very sore but no bones broken.
ALBERT S. BERRY, back injured, scarcely able to move, no bones broken, is in a serious condition.
ALBERT OGLE of Muncie, Ind., knee-cap fractured.
THOMAS McGILL, of Chicago, ear cut off, shoulder bruised.
B. C. McMILLAN of Columbus, Ohio, hip broken, internal injuries, extent of which are not known, but very serious. He is an old man, and his injuries may prove fatal. He left for home in a special car. All were generally bruised up in addition to their injuries.

An examination of the defective rail after the wreck showed that it was an old one and cracked from the end a distance of eight feet. At the end of the crack there was a perceptible break which must have been existing for weeks before the accident. With the exception of Passenger McMILLAN the injured men will all recover, and there is a possibility that he, too, may survive.

Davenport Morning Tribune Iowa 1891-04-28
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!