Plover, WI Train Derailment, Sept 1910

SEVERAL WERE INJURED

Combination Car on Green Bay Road Thrown From Tracks at Plover by Throwing Switch Too Soon.

The Green Bay & Western has for more than a quarter of a century been recognized as one of the safest roads in the state to travel upon, but passengers who went south on the branch from this city to Plover, last Saturday afternoon, were at least momentarily convinced that “all signs had changed.”
The train left here on time at 2:30 and was entering on the “Y” north and west of Plover station. The brakeman had thrown the swtich[sic] and then jumped on the forward end to throw another switch farther down. The engine passed over as did also the forward truck of the combination passenger coach and express car, but before the rear trucks reached the switch it was thrown back. The mistake was not noticed soon enough to be rectified, and soon things commenced to present a dangerous aspect. The engineer stopped as quickly as possible, but not quick enough to prevent the rear trucks being torn loose and the overturning of the car, which fell upon its side.
GUY E. MERRILL of this city, and BUY PIERCE of Plover, were the only occupants of the express car at the time. The former sat upon a box, and as the car fell over he landed between the stove and wall on the opposite side to where he had been sitting, while the box landed just above his head, narrowly missing him. Fearing the stove would follow, MR. MERRILL quickly regained his feet and scrambled out upon the ground, but not until one of his shins had been cut and he was considerably bruised. MR. PIERCE saved himself by jumping from the side door just as the car was tipping and had a narrow escape.
The coach was occupied by several passengers, among them being MRS. ROBT. HERMAN; MRS. WALLACE VERRILL; MRS. CROSS; MRS. JOHN LUKASZVITEN and two children; MRS. H. A. MARLATT; MRS. JACOB SUSKI and MISS ROSE SPRUNG, all of the town of Plover, MRS. CHAS. GLODOWSKI of Arnott, MR. AND MRS. JOS. GLODOWSKI of this city, MRS. U. J. PUARIEA of Buena Vista, A. C. NELSON of Scandinavia, and P. LEONHOWDT of Sturgeon bay, all of whom were cut and bruised.
MRS. HERMAN, who is the wife of the section foreman at Plover, was the most badly hurt. A few weeks ago, while riding home on a hand car after attending a show in this city, she was accidentally thrown to the ground, breaking three ribs. On Saturday she came here to consult a physician, and in the wreck the ribs were again torn apart and she was otherwise injured.
For several minutes there was the wildest excitement among the occupants of the car, the ladies screaming and crying for help, but the train crew, assisted by P. CURRAN, the local agent here, who was temporarily in charge of the train, and MR. MERRILL set to work and soon had them out in safety. The car was quite badly wrecked, but was righted the next day and taken to Green Bay for repairs. General Supt. FRANK B. SEYMOUOR arrived from Green Bay on the evening train and spent two or three days here looking after the wreck and settling up with those who were injured, visiting and interviewing several of them in company with DR. G. ROOD and DR. VON NEUPERT, JR.

The Gazette Stevens Point, Wisconsin 1910-09-21
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!