Ottumwa, IA Train Wreck, Jan 1888

A DISPATCHER'S MISTAKE

A Fatal Railroad Collision Due to an Operator's Carelessness.

Three Persons Killed and Several Others Injured in the Wreck.

Three Cars Tumble Down an Embankment Near Topeka, Kan.

COLLIDED ON A CURVE.
OTTUMWA, Ia., Jan. 16. -- The Wabash passenger train from Des Moines and a water train of the Ottumwa & Kirkville road collided four miles west of here at 9:15 last night. Both roads ran over the Rock Island track from here to Comstocks, eight miles west. The collision occurred on a sharp curve, where the track runs close to the river and around a high bluff. The night was frosty and the engineers could see only a short distance ahead. The trains were running at full speed. The engines were completely demolished, the Wabash baggage car derailed, also four O. & K. cars. H. E. PECK, the Wabash engineer, jumped and escaped with a slight sprain; his fireman was scalded to death; GEORGE MILLER and ISAAC BUDENSTEIN, engineer and fireman of the other train were killed and buried under the wreck. Several persons were badly, but not fatally hurt. The collision was caused by a mistake of the Rock Island train dispatcher.

The Quincy Daily Whig Illinois 1888-01-17
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!