Vandalia, IN Train Wreck, Jun 1897

Another Fatal Collision.

Christian Endeavors in a Train Wreck Near Vandalia, Ind.- Two Train Men Killed.

Indianapolis, Ind., June 30.- Train No. 11 on the Vandalia Railroad, which left this city at 7 o’clock last evening, containing a large number of Christian endeavourers, was in a collision with Train No. 6, bound east from St. Louis, at 8:25 o’clock, near Vandalia. J.J. TURNER, General Manager of the Vandalia, telegraphed the following facts to this city.

The Killed
Following is a list of the killed:
SHERMAN, R.T., mail clerk on No. 6, Indianapolis.
COON, W.P., baggage master. 326 East Louisiana Street, Indianapolis, on No. 11.

The Fatally Injured:
Following is a list of the injured:
PARKINSON, SAMUEL, mail clerk, of Columbus, Ohio, crushed in wreck.
OWENS, FRANK, fireman, of Terre Haute, mangled under the engine.

Train No. 11 left Indianapolis in two sections on account of the heavy San Francisco travel occasioned by the National meeting of the Christian Endeavor Society. Orders were given to meet No. 6 at Vandalia, these two trains being due to meet at that place about 1:30 o’clock this morning.

At 3 o’clock further information was received which confirmed the first report of the accident.

It seems from the best information attainable that the west-bound train pulled out of Vandalia without waiting for the train from St. Louis. The headlight of the west-bound train was extinguished for some time before the crash came.

HORACE KERNS of this city was conductor on train No. 11 and TOM MANAFEE of Terre Haute was the engineer. None of the passengers on either train was injured.

The New York Times, New York, NY 1 Jul 1897
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!