Train Wreck Inquest of January 1856

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Madison County, IL Newspaper Data

Train Wreck Inquest
January 1856

Inquest

An inquest was held at Alton on Friday last, to investigate the causes which led to the accident on the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad, the proceeding day which resulted in the rendering of the following verdict:

We, the Jurors summoned by Wm E. Pinchard, Coroner of Madison county, State of Illinois, to examine into and ascertain the cause by which Henry King and John Morrison, engineers, Wesley Davis, firemen and A. M. Doak and J. R. Bales, passengers, came to their death of the 10th of January 1856, on the train coming in from Pana on the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad, be leave to report, that after hearing a number of witnesses testify, they find that near Dorsey’s Station on said road, one of the small truck-wheels of the engine broke, while running at the rate of nine to twelve miles an hour, and threw the engine from the track, and that with the concussion of the cars attached, caused the death of the above named persons, four of whom were at the time riding on the engine, and one on the forward car, as supposed. The Jury are unable to perceive that any censure or blame is attached to any person having charge or supervision of the train, or any officer, or agent on, or connected with the road.
[Illinois State Chronicle, (Decatur, IL) Thursday, January 17 1856 – Submitted by Nancy Piper]

Particulars of the Fatal Accident on the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad
On Yesterday morning, as the A. M. freight train to this city on the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad, had nearly arrived at Dorsey’s Station, about fifteen miles from here, it met with a terrible accident, by the breaking of one of the wheels of the truck supporting the locomotive, by which the engine was thrown from the track, the tender turned upside down on the other side of the track, and five men killed by one of the freight cars running up on the engine.

Those on the engine at the time of the accident were Conductor Wyman, of this city, Mr. King, the engineer; Wesley Davis, the fireman, also of this city; John Morrison, an engineer from Dunkirk, N.Y., who had been employed by the company and was going over the road for the first time; J. R. Biles, and A. M. Doake, both from Decatur, Macon county, the owners of the hogs which composed the freight of the train. Just previous to the smash, Mr. Wyman, the conductor, observed the engine leaning to one side and jumped off just in time to save himself. He received no injury whatever. The other five remained on the engine, four of whom were instantly killed, and the other, Mr. King, the engineer, lived three or four hours.

As soon as the accident was known here, Superintendent Sargent took out a special train, accompanied by Drs. Williams, Metcalf and Allen, messrs Warren and Carson, of this city, but it arrived too late to render any aid to the engineer. He had passed to another world. Mr. St. John, the president of the company, also arrived at the scene of the disaster a short time after it occurred.

The relief train brought in the bodies in the afternoon, upon whom Coroner Pinckard proceeded to hold an inquest, which he adjourned until the afternoon. The officers of the company have also ordered a searching inquiry into the causes which produced the accident. Although not upon the ground, we made diligent inquiry, and could not find that anybody was to blame. It seems to be one of those accidents that baffle all human foresight. – Alton IL-
[Illinois State Chronicle, (Decatur, IL) Thursday, January 17 1856 – Submitted by Nancy Piper]

Another Destructive Fire at Alton

About two o’clock on Sunday morning a fire broke out in the two story frame carpenter shop of Messrs. Butler & Hugo, on the corner of Market and Second streets, Alton, and from that building extended to two adjacent houses, with such rapidity that it was impossible to save them. Of these one was the city Council building, on Market street, and the other the large three story boarding house kept by Mrs. Waldron on Second street. The residences of E. L. Dimmock, H. C. Sweetser and Mrs. Maxwell were on fire, but by the exertions of the citizens were saved from destruction. The books of the Register’s and Clerk’s offices, kept in the city building, were saved but in a somewhat damaged condition. The carpenter shop was owned by D. J. Baker, but was not of much value.

The Council building was owned by the city of Alton. The boarding house was owned by E. L. Dimmock, and was partially insured. The total loss was about $10,000. Ill. Journal.
[Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois) April 30 1857 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]