FATAL ACCIDENT, LEMONT IL, DEC 18,1867
Friend Steele,
A very serious accident occurred today among the workmen employed in deepening the Illinois & Michigan Canal at this point, under the superintendence of Mr. J. H. Mallory, whereby the life of an unfortunate man, named James Shaw, was lost. The facts are as follows; at noon today some twenty or twenty-five men went into the engine house to eat their dinners. Soon afterwards several blasts went off, when a stone, weighing some three hundred and fifty pounds, from one of the blasts, was thrown to a great height, coming down in its descent directly through the roof of the engine house, at a point where Shaw and three others were eating their dinners out of one basket, instantly killing Shaw. It was a miraculous escape for the three men, who were seated within four feet of the unfortunate man, and, indeed, for the whole party, as the stone in descending broke a valve off the engine, cause a copious escape of steam. It was but a few days ago, when a building of our friend Boyer, near his works, was slightly "caved-in" by a "pebble" weighing but a few pounds less than the one above mentioned- No serious damage was done however. X. "The Independent", Wilmington, IL newspaper, dated Dec 25, 1867 (src. #2)
SERIOUS ACCIDENT
A most serious accident, and miraculous escape from death, occurred a little above Lockport at an early hour on Monday morning of last week. Messrs W. A. Steel, Henry A. Sanger, and Jas. O'Reilly, the latter the foreman of the rock excavation work for Messrs. Sanger, Steel & Co., were riding in the buggy of Mr. W. B. Caswell, along the tow path about two miles above Jack's Lock, when, at a slight curve, one hand wheel commenced sliding in and down, and before the buggy could be righted the three gentlemen were precipitated down the embankment over the rocks, some twelve feet and landed in the canal below, with the horse and buggy on them. Messrs. Sanger and O'Reilly only received a few slight bruises, but Mr. Steel was taken out from under the buggy in an unconscious state, and notwithstanding everything possible was done for his relief, he remained in this condition till Wednesday morning, since which time his physicians report him improving. We are glad to note that his friends hope for his complete recovery soon. The horse, though a spirited one, stood quietly in the canal after his rough fall, with both thills of the buggy broken and hanging at his sides. "The Independent", Wilmington, IL newspaper, dated Mar 4, 1868 (src. #2)
TERRIBLE DISASTER NEAR LEMONT
A fatal accident occurred at Lemont, on Wednesday last. A blast had been put in on section 53, just below Lemont, on the Norton canal deepening contract, but as it did not explode the men were engaged in "tamping" it with a "needle" or "priming wire," when, as is supposed, the friction of the instrument ignited the powder, and the blast exploded. Three men were instantly killed, a fourth died early next morning, and a fifth was seriously wounded, but will probably recover. The names of three of the killed are Kelley, who leaves a wife and several children, Ed. Farrell and Leahy, both single men. "The Independent", Wilmington, IL newspaper, dated Mar 11, 1868 (src. #2)
JOLIET - J.C. DUGAN, engineer of the Denver-Chicago limited train No. 6 of The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, east bound for Chicago, was probably fatally injured when the train dashed into an open switch in the heart of the city, plunged over the steep elevated embankment and hurled itself into a street in the residence district of Joliet. The train was speeding through the city at 50 miles an hour when it plunged over the embankment into the busy street. The fireman and an air brake man, whose names could not be learned, jumped as the engine left the tracks, but the engineer stuck to his throttle and went down in the cab. The engine, its tender and a baggage car wee almost demolished. Dugan was taken to St. Joseph's hospital by the police. He lives in Calumet avenue, Chicago. "Ste. Marie Tribune", Jasper County, IL newspaper, dated Friday, November 21, 1913 (src. #1)
Joseph ABELE and Peter NELSON, two convicts at Joliet, were recently sent to the insane asylum at Elgin. "The Newton Press", Jasper County, IL newspaper, dated July 27, 1887 (src. #1)
Moritz EKHARDT, living near Lockport, Will County, blew the top of his head off a few days since. He was a farm hand, but one of evident anarchist tendencies, for in his room were found a number of socialist papers and several of Herr Most's incendiary pamphlets. "The Newton Press", Jasper County, IL newspaper, dated July 27, 1887 (src. #1)
John GOUGAR, of New Lenox, Will County, lost five cattle by Texas fever last week. It was brought by a lot of Texas cattle belonging to Burke Bros., who are the brothers of Rev. M.F. Burke, and who were driving a herd to Chicago, and stopped there over night. Sixteen cattle in Manhatten died the week previous. "The Newton Press", Jasper County, IL newspaper, dated July 27, 1887 (src. #1)
Joliet - Two prominent Joliet girls escaped death by a narrow margin in a taxicab while they were riding from Graceland cemetery, Chicago, to the home of their aunt, Mrs. A.R. SWIFT, 6757 Wentworth ave., Chicago, whose funeral they had attended. Fumes from a limousine heater in the taxicab were forced into the tonneau by the exhaust of the auto engine. When the girls, who were accompanied in the taxi by Mrs. W.M. HOBBS, Jr., of Chicago, and Mrs. William HOBBS of New Orleans, reached the Swift home the taxi driver found them unconscious in the floor of the cab. The two other women were in a semi-conscious condition. Physicians worked over the girls four hours before they were revived and declared that had the ride been two miles farther both would have died in the cab. [The Sainte Marie Tribune, Jasper County, Friday, Jan. 23, 1914 - (src. #1)]
PARDONED
CRIMINALSSomething Concerning the Exercise of Executive Clemency in Illinois.
A List of Pardons Issued to Prisoners Under Sentence for Manslaughter and Murder.
H. WESTPHAL; March 1873; Will County; manslaughter; one year; pardoned in May 1875.
Judge Josiah McRoberts, who sentenced this man says " There was no malicious intent, and I think it is a
case where the exercise of elective clemency would be proper. I think it an act of justice to pardon him"
Fourteen Attorneys of the Will County bar, the Sheriff and county officers, and leading citizens sign the petition,
and say that the prisoner was set upon by a crowd of persons at a German ball. He was knocked down
and beaten. On escaping again, and the crowd about overtaking him he cried; " Stop or I'll shoot." They didn't
stop and he fired, He should never have been convicted. [Inter-Ocean Springfield, January 17 1876, submitted by src. #3]