Hide Article Text (OCR)
■e Collision of s Passenger Train with i Cattle Train—The killed and Wound-id—Horrible Scenes-The Coroner’s In-IH11.II the lafayctte Courier, NoveoiU/r 1]i)ne of the most frightful accidents in the annals of railway travel occurred 011 the Lafayette and Indianapolis Road at 55 minutes past three o’clock yesterday afternoon. The regular Cincinnati Ex press due here atTour o’clock ill tin afternoon, by the new time card, collid ■ ed with a cattle train on a curve one anfl a half miles this side of Culver’s Station about seven miles from this city. Til. iassenger tram was twenty minutes .ehmd, but waiting the requisite time A Stockwell, obtained the undoubted right ot the road, and was moving at rapid speed when on turning the curve beyond Culver’s Station the cattle train was observed, but too late to avert the COLLISION.Both trains were heavily laden-one with seven coaches and five hundred and eight souls, and the other with nine freight car# filled with Government cattle The enginer, George Lamb, of the cattle train, had observed the smoke of the passenger engine just beyond the curve, and reversing Ws engine, had partially checked the speed of his train before the dread collision. He stood at his post, pale as marble, until the trains were but a few rods apart, when he jumped for his life, and with the fireman and breaks man escaped unhurt. John Whitten, engineer of theexpress, having, as he thought, an undoubted right of the road, was unsuspicious of danger 011 the curve, and did not see the other train until too late to mate-ally check the speed of his own train, inch less avert the disaster. He had barely time to reverse his engine and jump for his life, wlie 11 the massive lolt;# motives aud all their precious freight of human life collided, with a loud crash and a power which shook the cartli.— Head-lights, cow-catchers, and all the lighter works were crushed like tinder, and the massive iron boilers received the full force of the collision. All was over ill the twinkling of an eye, and in lose time than it takes to read this paragraph twenty-seven souls were swept into eternity.THE FATAL CAB.Next to the engine as usual was the baggage car, belonging to the Lafayette and Indianapolis Railroad, next was a first class coach belonging to the Michigan Central road, and this was the fatal car, in which Death held high carnival. The baggage, car was about 11 inches narrower than the passenger coach, and a little higher on the trucks, and the force of the concussion drove it like the smaller section of a spy-glass, into and through the passenger coach immediately behind. The baggage car remained intact, and narrower, as we have said, came crushing through tile coach, sweeping off the top hut leaving the sides of the car unbroken. Like a monster battering ram it swept everything before it, and scarce a single passenger in the forward part escaped instantaneous death.As it entered the coach it jumped the forward trucks upon which it rested, and the end dropping about twelve inches, for want of support, gave the baggage car an angle of about thirty degrees.— Aud to this simple fact the escaped passengers of the ill-fated coach owe their lives. Had the baggage car gone thro’ ou the same line upon which it entered, not a soul could have escaped. Thus it was that the forward passengers were instautly crushed to death. A little further, and the elevation of the death-dealing car brought in line with the tops of the seats, and here it was that heads were crushed like egg shells. A little further, and those only who were standing were struck down, while but a step beyond, passengers escaped without a scratch save from the splinters of the wreck.AN APPALLING SIGHT.Language has no power to depict the scene. Within the cefmpass of a few feet iuside that fatal car was compressed the bruised and bleeding bodies of the dead, the maimed and the dying. The red velvet cushions had a deeper dy from the life blood of the victims, aud the removal of the bodies, living and dead, from the debris of the car was full of horror.A number of the dead were so tightly wedged between the bottom of the baggage car aud the passenger coach that the baggage car had to be raised by j screws before they could be taken out. The car drippedjwith blood like a slaughter pen.NO LADIES INJUKEI).No ladies were injured. Conductoi Wright informs us that he was standing in the third car, and scarcely felt the force of the collision. Indeed, he had 110 idea that anything serious had occured until he went forward.NAMES OF THE KILLED.Lowin J. Laplant, Co. B, 11th Iowa, Marshalltown, Iowa ; Henry Stongh, Co. B, 11th Iow a ; John Bennie, I, 52d 111, Dundee, Lane Co., It!.; James Boss, Jackson, Tp . Clinton Co., Ind., citizen ; Robert D. Nelson, F, 11th .AVashingtou Co.,—this young man was 011 his way to be mustered out, after thirteen months’ imprisonment in Libby Prison, and three years’ service; James R. Ewing, K, 84th 111., Biggsville, Henderson Co., HI. John H. Manlove, G, 11th Iowa, Mount Pleasant, 111.; Simon S. Huyler, B, 128th Ind,, South Bend ; Charles M. Hanville, 1), 128th Ind., Mishawaka ; George P. Cumming, H, 102d 111., Ke-wanee, Henry Co. IU.; Moses Kelett, E, 25th Michigan, Middlebury, Elkhart Co., Ind.; B. Winans, Lafayette, Ind., citizen; John H. Knight, Morgantown, Ind., citizen. Railroad tickets were found on his person to La Crosse, AVis , and two or three large packages of money ; also, bills of lading and permits to Bhip goods .from Nashville to Chattanooga. John Decker, citizen, Bulfaln N. Y. Unknown citizen, died this morning—legs cut off just below the knee. Henry Thresham, citizen, near Attica, lives in AVarren Co. Ind.; William Kernan. Co. C, 93d III., Bother, Peru Co . 111.; Uenrv Perrington, F, 11th Iowa, Linn Creek, SVaaliingtoR Co.; Joseph Ballien, H, 84th 111., Warsaw, 111. ; Robert Nelson, F, 11th Iowa, Noah Fry, Muscatine Co. Iowa, aged 23, discharged ; Cornelius Harrison, Cambridge City, Ind., citizen ; Abram A. Carter, First Lieut. Co. I, 116th Ind.—has relatives in this city ; James T. Huff, recently discharged from the 2d North Carolina mounted infantry, a resident of Knoxville, Tenn., where his father now resides—a letter was found in his pocket ad- t. Jamca R. Turner, Decatur, Camp, soldier, residing at Danville, 111. We could make out neither his194th III.; Richard N. Hoag. B, 101st 111.; David S, Hoffman, E, 84th 111.; Fayson Adams, —, — III.; John W. Robinson, Pontoon, 111.Two bodies—one a soldier and the other a citizen—hAvenot yet been identified.NAMES OF THE AVOUNDED.Bernard Fitzgerald, Detroit, Mich., badly; lias AVing, discharged soldier, mortally, Oscar Davis, D, 80th Illinois—dying at S o’clock; John V. McIntyre, St. Catherines, C. AA’-; AVm. Burns, A, 128th Indiana; Joseph L. Laplant, B. 11th Iowa; James B. Abbott, A, 102d Illinois, slightly; John Kelly, Sergeant Co. I, 60th Illinois; Jeremiah J. Castella. Co. G, 84th Illinois; Robert Otis, 52d Illinois; Chas. J.Shriver, Co. G, 11th Iowa; Reul Newton, Co. A, 89th Illinois; Joseph King, Co. B, 11th Iowa; Peleg Carber, Co. F, lal Michigan light artillery; Wm. Ford, Co. L, 2d Michigan cavalry; John Wesson, Co. I, llth Iowa; Chauncey Pattengill, drafted man, AVorth township, Boone county, Indiana; Wright Simms, drafted, Worth township, Boone county, Indiana; George J. St. Louis, Co. A, 72d—lives in Chicago, his friends in AVtscensin; John R. Greasier, Co. I, Uth 1-owa; G. W. Gregg, Orderly Sergeant, Co. C, 102d Illinois; Daniel Kinneman, drafted man, AVorth township, Boono county, Indiana; J, Lawrence, Co. B. llth Iowa.INCIDENTS, PERSONAL, ETC.Rev. B. E. Winans, recently appointed to the Presiding Eldership of the Indianapolis District, was among the first taken from the wreck. He was lifeless, so bruised and distorted iu features that a friend who has known him as a brother helped to lay him out for burial whithout a recognition. He did not know that he was among the dead until it was announ ced in the Journal this morning.Lieutenant Carter, who was instantly killed, was formerly engaged in the gro eery business in this city, iu company with Mr. Dugan. He was to have been married in a few days to a lady of this city.Esquire Ross, of Clinton, another victim, was a mau of wealth and character. He had been devoting himself for weeks, without fee or reward, to filling the quota of his township. He was returning from Indianapolis on his business yesterday.With but few exceptions the victimsinjured.AV. Blisboc, Esq., an attorney of Cas-polis, Mich., was very efficient from of tlie accident until a late hour last ght, rendering aid to the wounded and collecting information for the benefit of the relatives of the deadThe soldiers 110 sooner comprehended the disaster and its cause than they be came clamorous lor the Engineer of the cattle train, and had he been found they would have taken his life,The farmers in the vicinity of Culver’s Station came promptly and rendered valuable aid. The fences were taken down with cheerful consent, and fires built for the comfort of the wounded.It is a singular fact that all the cars remained on the track. A pair of trucks from one of the engines was thrown off, but nothing more. Two gentlemen stood on the rear platform of the bag gage car, and remained during its wile ’unge through the passenger car. One d his legs broken and a slight bruise ou the head. The other, legs bruised, but not broken.SURGEONS SENT DOAVN. Immediately after the accident, messengers were dispatched to the city, and all the surgeons and physicians dispatched by special trains to the scene of the disaster. Doctors Jewett, O’Far-rell, Ingersoll, Yeakel, Chestnut, Beeks, Fonda, Wright, Byers, Crouse and Sea-wright were present. Dr. H. Githers, of the VSth Illinois, was fortunately on the train, and had dressed nearly all the wounded before the arrival of the Lafayette surgeons.THE AVOUNDED were carefully removed to the cars and brought to this city. One poor fellow, whose shattered leg was found in his boot, some distance from his body, and was otherwise injured, died before reaching the city. Mr. Baker, of the Bramble House, promptly threw opeu his doors, and George Lockstand vacated his bill-iard-room iu the Lafayette House for the accommodation of the sufferers THE DEAD.The dead were laid in two rows near the wreck, and as soon as identified cards with their names were pinned to their clothing. Coroner Ingersoll took charge of their effects, including a considerable sum of money. After the wounded and the passengers had been brought to the city the special train brought up the dead, and the ghastly row was arranged in the freight-house at the foot of South street, to await the Coroner’s inquest.At an early hour this morning Coroner B. F. Ingersoll, having made the necessary arrangements, proceeded to hold an inquest.Proclamation for Thanksgiving,, Oct. 23,1864.By the President of the United States of America, FROCLAMATiyN.It has pleased Almighty God to prolong tional life another year, defending Hia guardian care against unfriendly designs lrom abroad, and vouchsafing to ua in Hia mercy many and aignal victories over the enemy who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps, and our sailors on the rivers and with ur.uaual health. He has largely aug-ted our free population 1 and by immigration, while he* ealth and has crowned the labor of our working men in every department of industry witn abundant reward. Moreover, he has been pleased to animate and inspire minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution aufficient for the great trial of war into which we have been brought by adherence as a nation the cause of freedom and humanity; and to afford to us reasonable hopea of ultimate and happy deliverance om all our dangers and afflictions.Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoin appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens. wherever they may may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, tbs bene ficent creator and ruler of the universe; and I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occassion they do re verently humble themselves m the dust, and from thence offer up penitent and ferveut prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of events for a return oi the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land, which has pleased to assign as a dwelling-place for ourselves and our posterity throughoiIn testimony whereof, I have heraunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixedDone at the City of AVashington, this 20th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, thousand eight huhdred and sixty-four, and of the Independence of the Uhited States the eighty ninth.ABRAHAM LINCOLN.By the President:AVm. H. Sbwakd,Secretary of State.withNcuj 3Vi)ucrtisement0.H.PIANO TUNING.. CHANT, begs respectfully to infori izens iif Lajwrte, that his duties on a has delayed his visit; and having some i ’ * ■* beg their iwill do on haiweek, heLAPORTE ACADEMY,THE next 10 weeks of the LaPorte Academy commence » Monday, Nov, 14th. All who expect to 8‘ toud daring the Winter .Session, will find It very mat to their advantage to be present proi^itlyatt^t time.Nov. 9. 18(54-17 Principal.lt;-WANTED.BOARD in a private family, by a young man of 1 of good steady habits, who is willing to make iui ■elf iisefbl about the house. For further particular* e as a letter to W. lt;Date of Indiana, » Court of Common Pleas, Feb. Term Laporte County J A. D., 1864.Zebu Ion M. Ward, •NOTICE is hereby gn fendant in the abov the Plaintiff’s complainaction, and that the e .. .the next term of the Court of Common Pleas of Laporte County, to be holdea at the Court House, in the city of Laporte, on the first Monday of February 1865.JAMES MOORE, Clk. C. C. P. I* C. Noyes . Wheir, Attys for Plff Oct. Sflth, 1864 15w3DARN TO RENT.Oct- S16. 1864-1$ OLd'lINE DRUG STORE.
Newspaper Details
La Porte Weekly Union
La Porte, Indiana, US
Wed, Nov 09, 1864
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 May 2025
Other Publications Near La Porte, Indiana
La Porte Weekly Union
La Porte Weekly Herald
