THE WAUPACA POST

Thursday, September 22, 1898

 

FREIGHT TRAIN WRECK

 

 

     A freight train wreck that resulted in no loss of life, but in great destruction of property and delay of traffic, occurred near this city early Monday morning.  A double header extra freight train, bound southward, broke into several sections about two miles west of town between 8 and 4 o’clock.  Not even the train men can tell just how the wreck was caused, but the indications are that a flat car loaded with wood broke down in the middle about three miles from the station.

     A mile farther on, in a cut west of the Dan Nickel farm, seven cars of lumber, shingles and wood were piled up promiscuously.  That the train must have broken into three or four sections is evidenced by the fact that the engineer, fireman and head brakeman knew nothing of the trouble until the engine was slowed for the water tank at the station.  When the front section, with the engine, was running at a speed of about fifteen miles an hour, about half way from the brewery crossing to the depot, it was struck by a section of loaded cars that were rushing down the hill at a much greater speed.  At this place four or five cars of logs and flat car were ditched. None of the crew was injured.  A wrecking train came from Stevens Point as soon as possible, but it was not until 12 o’clock that passenger train No. 1 went north, just about four hours late.  The south bound passenger, due here at 11 o’clock, was late nearly two hours.  Between 1 and 2 o’clock there were five freight trains and two wrecking trains in the Waupaca yards at one time.