Kalamazoo, MI Train-Trolley Wreck, May 1889

HURLED TO DEATH

An Engine Runs Into a Street Car Killing Six Ladies

A shocking accident occurred about 5:30 o'clock in the evening at the West Main street crossing of the Michigan Central Railroad in Kalamazoo, Mich. A street car containing eight ladies and two gentlemen was crossing the track when a switch engine dashed down upon it from the east side at a high rate of speed, and the driver being unable to get the car out of the way the helpless passengers were hurled to a terrible death. It was but the work of a moment.

The street car was carried almost to Academy street, the pieces flying in all directions, and the human freight being mangled in a frightful manner.

Those in the car were:

MRS. ALEXANDER HADDOCK, MRS. M. E. WATLES, MISS GERTRUDE TILLOTSON, MRS. GEORGE SMILEY, MRS. MIDDLETON, MRS. VAN ANTWERP, MRS. S. A. GIBSON, MRS. JOHATHAN BARNES, MR. L. C. LULL and DR. SUTTON. The first-named six were killed, two being found dead in the cattle guard, one in the creek near by, two on the track and MRS. MIDDLETON died an hour later. She was thrown in the roadway.

MRS. GIBSON was injured in the head and side and MRS. BARNES was bruised badly. The two male passengers escaped. The driver of the car escaped by jumping.

The switch engine was running at a high rate of speed. The gates at the crossing where the accident occurred are not used between 5:30 and 6:58 P. M., the gatekeeper going home at that time. This custom probably deceived the driver of the street car, who was a new man and probably supposed that the gates would of course be down if an engine were coming.

The Cranbury Press New Jersey 1889-05-17
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!