Kingston Whig Standard 27 October 1897
FREIGHT CARS COLLIDED.
A Broken Half of a Train Smashed Into the Standing Part
Iroquois, Ont., Oct. 27. A big smash-up occurred at this station, which
is on the Grand Trunk main line, this morning. A heavy east-bound
freight train broke in two a short distance west of here. The engine
and part of tha train attached sped into the station and began taking
on water, intending to run back afterwards and bring in the remainder
of the train. To the surprise of all, the rear half suddenly appeared
coming towards the station at high speed. Before the forward part could
get out of the way it crashed into it. The collision was terrific, and
twenty grain-laden cars were badly wrecked. Their contents were
scattered in all directions. It seems as if every third car was
telescoped into the one in front, but there were few derailed. The rear
brakeman says he did not know that the train had broken in two, a thick
fog making it impossible to see two car lengths ahead. He had a narrow
escape from death. A large wrecking crew have arrived end will have the
line clear this afternoon.
(Also verbatim in the Kingston Daily News same date)
Ottawa Citizen 28 October 1897
The Train Parted
Tail End of a Freight Dashed Into the Front Portion
Iroquois
Ont. Oct. 27 At seven-thirty this morning, a freight train, composed of
about thirty cars, broke in two near the middle, some two miles west of
this station. The front part of the train ran into the station and
stopped for water. The rear part came more slowly, but there was a
considerable downgrade. With a gathering momentum it crashed against
the stationary cars, smashing about twenty of them. Most of the cars
kept their places on the track, but at two or three points they were
telescoped. They were principally loaded with grain, which is scattered
along the track for about forty rods to the depth of several inches.
The
brakeman on the rear of the train, not knowing the cars had parted, and
the fog being very dense at the time,stepped off, falling in front of
the train, and had a miraculous escape from being run over. He is
severely, but, it is thought, not fatally injured. Assistance was soon
procured from Brockville, and a large gang of men with a wrecking train
are clearing the debris.
Ottawa Journal 28 October 1897
Twenty grain laden cars of a G.T.R freight train were wrecked in an accident at Iroquois, Ont., yesterday
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