McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 11: Crimes and Accidents, 1885

Chapter 11: Crimes and Accidents

A Chapter Devoted to the Dark Side of Life in McHenby Count?. - The First Murder Trial. - The First Murder. - Dark Deeds of Later Times. - A Whole Family Killed. - Suicide and Murder. - A Boy Murdered a Man for Money. - Remarkable Storms. - Destruction of Life and Property. - Commonplace Accidents. - Railroad Disasters. - Suicides. - A Long List of Unfortunate Occurrences.

The first trial for murder was brought to this county on a change of venue. The defendants were Davis and -Taylor Driscoll, who were charged with the murder of one Campbell, in Lee County, in 1843. At that time the Northern part of the State was so infested with horse-thieves, counterfeiters and other law-breakers, that the law-abiding citizens, for mutual protection, felt called upon to organize themselves into a band of " Regulators." Campbell, of Lee County, was chosen captain of the organization, and so vigorously did he follow up the desperadoes that the latter resolved upon his death. The two Driscolls were chosen by lot to perform the deed. Going to his house in the day-time, they called Campbell out and shot him down, then rode leisurely away. The murder was witnessed by Campbell's son, a lad about sixteen years of age.

The trial attracted widespread attention. Young Campbell, n giving his testimony, identified the younger Driscoll, who was an acquaintance, but little older than himself, and declared that he would have shot him at the time if his gun had not missed fire. Driscoll interrupted, saying, " Yon would have shot me, would you?" " Yes, I would ; and will now if ever I catch you outside of the court-room," returned Campbell. The court rebuked the witness and the trial proceeded. The verdict, generally believed to have been unjust, acquitted the Driscolls. Afterward one of them was shot by some unknown avenger. The people of Winnebago and Boone counties captured several of the gang, among them the old man Driscoll, organized a court on the open prairie, and by a summary administration of lynch law, hang two and shot two within fifteen minutes.

-The first murder which took place in the county of McHenry was in the summer of 1846. Henry Breidenbucher, a young German, was charged with the murder of Miss Sarah Keiser, to whom he was engaged to be married. He, however, was desirous of breaking his promise to her and marrying a young German gir who had followed him from the Fatherland, and with whom he had been intimate before he left Germany. Therefore, to free himself from his promise to Miss Keiser he is supposed to have killed her by choking as they were returning from the harvest field. The indictment preferred against him was not sustained. The trial was carried along from term to term, for nearly three years, sometimes through failure of the jury to agree and at other times on technical grounds. Finally Breidenbucher was adjudged insane and sent to the asylum. It is believed by many that he effected his escape from the asylum through deceit and is still living and doing business under an assumed name in Iowa. He is supposed to have effected his release in the following manner: A patient in the asylum died of brain trouble, and it was given out that it was Breidenbucher who had died. A post-mortem examination was held, attended by Briedenbucher's attorneys, and certification was made that Breidenbucher had died of the malady which allowed him the protection of the asylum.

Dec. 5, 1857, a young man named Truesdell was murdered at Solon. During the year Truesdell's father had rented a farm to two Irishmen. When the time came to do the threshing the two Irishmen brought two others to help them, and with Truesdell and two assistants were to do the threshing for the whole farm. After the work was done and the Irishmen were about to leave, one of them missed a pair of mittens and accused Truesdell and his companions of having stolen them. They denied it. As the Irishmen were about leaving with their wagon, one of them jumped out and struck young Truesdell on the head with a hay-fork breaking his skull. The others got out and kicked him brutally. One of Truesdell's companions came to the assistance of the injured man, and was also struck, receiving a severe gash on the head. The Irishmen fled. Whisky had been freely used during the day, and probably brought about the murder. John Linnahan, an Irishman, was killed at Huntley, April 21 ;

1860, by his neighbor, Thomas O'Neill. A newspaper account of the affair was, in substance, as follows : O'Neill's cattle had strayed into Linnahan's enclosure, and during the day Linnahan drove them across his field into another, owned by a third party. At night, when O'Neill went after his cattle, he was obliged to cross Linnahan's field, and in order to get them back had to take down the fence and drive the cattle into Linnahan's enclosure. While he was taking down the rails for the purpose of driving the cattle through, Linnahan came up and struck him across the face with a whip. At this O'Neill struck his assailant across the head with a fence rail, fracturing his skull and rendering him senseless.

On the 8th of December, 1866, Martin Cooney, of Hartland, visited Woodstock on business, aud in the evening started for home on foot. While walking along the railroad, about a mile and a half west of town, he suddenly received a terrible blow, given in some unknown manner, either with a club or a stone, which rendered him unconscious for some time. Recovering a little, he was able to reach a neighbor's house about a half mile distant, and the next morning was taken to his own home. About a week after the assault he died from the effects of it. The motive for the attack could not be guessed; he had little money, and was not robbed of that which he had.

In July, 1872, John Connor, who lived a short distance south of Woodstock, was killed by Benjamin Bedee, in a quarrel. The cause of the murder was a dispute concerning the ownership of a piece of land of which Connor was in possession. Holcombe, the father-in-law of Bedee, claimed the land, and Bedee ordered Connor to leave it. Words ensued, during which Mrs. Holcombe is said to have urged Bedee to kill Connor. She was tried in Woodstock as an accessory but acquitted. Bedee was tried in De Kalb County, on a change of venue, found guilty and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.

A Whole Family Killed

On Sunday, March 5, 1871, a singular tragedy came to light in McHenry. George Walker and family had moved to that place rom Wisconsin but a few months before, and rented, as a residence, part of a one-story frame building, adjoining Colby's drug store. Walker was a quiet, peculiar man, somewhat given to drink, and regarded by some of his neighbors as insane. He was a watchmaker by trade, but worked here at daily labor. He attended strictly to his own business and had very few acquaintances. On the day in question, toward evening, theneighbors having not seen Walker during the day, some one chanced to^remernber hearing him say that he was going to leave this world, that there was no place for him or his family here, etc. An alarm was made, and an entrance effected into his house, where a startling sight met the gaze of the investigators. The father, his boy, about three years old, and an infant daughter all lay dead in the bed, while the life less body of Mrs. Walker hung suspended from the ceiling of the room. A cup containing poison stood on the table. A considerable quantity of provisions was found in the house, showing that destitution had not led to the crime. The physicians who were called examined the bodies and thought that all had died on Saturday night. The following letter, mostly written by Walker, but containing his wife's signature, was found, addressed to Dr. Howard :

"Now, Doctor, we want no serremony or extry trouble with these boddys, for our spirets are freed from them, only justis done with what we leave behind. Take charge of everything.

"We have long premeditated this. We are happy and rejoice in takeing our little ones with us from a cold and unfriendly world. We leave without fear or dred. Perhaps you may think ns insain. Think what you like, and we leave it all in your hands. This is all we have to say. Tours, Geoege Walkek.

Murder And Suicide

A horrible murder and suicide took place near Ring wood on Tuesday, May 13, 1873. On the morning of that day, between seven and eight o'clock, Mrs. Jane Carr called at the house of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harrison, who lived near by, and on entering was horrified to find both her father and mother with their throats cut, lying dead upon the floor. Her cries of alarm soon brought her husband and another man. to the spot. They discovered a billet of wood and a bloody razor near the body of Mr. Harrison. The table sat in the floor, the breakfast upon it being untouched. The coroner was absent but Justice J. B. Church proceeded to the scene of the tragedy as soon as possible after hearing the news, for the purpose of holding an inquest.

When he reached the house he found the neighbors assembled in large numbers. He hastily impaneled a jury; the evidence brought forward seemed to clearly indicate that Harrison had murdered his wife and then committed suicide. The supposition is that he first struck and stunned his wife with the stick of wood found near, then cut her throat. No cause could be assigned for the crime. Mr. Harrison was a farmer, fifty-nine years of age, in comfortable circumstances, and hitherto respected in the neighborhood. It was stated to the coroner's jury that he had always lived happily with his wife.

A Mysterious Murder

A horrible mystery received the attention of the people of the county in December, 1S7S. On Thursday evening, Dec. 5, according to the Nunda correspondent of the Woodstock Sentinel, a fire was seen south of Nunda. No attention was paid to it, as the blaze came from a burning hay stack on the Gates farm, two and one-half miles south of Crystal Lake. The next morning A. Reed, who lived near, went to ascertain what damage had been done, and in walking around the stack discovered in the burnt hay the charred and blackened remains of a man. Wood was sent to Crystal Lake, and several citizens repaired to the spot, where a horrible sight met their gaze. The remains were burned and charred almost beyond human semblance; one leg burned off up to the knee and the other entirely gone; and one arm burned up to the elbow. Not a single feature was left by which the body could be recognized.

Over the left eye was found a bullet hole, indicating murder or suicide. A remnant of the vest, upon which the body lay, was found whole, and in it a watch chain, from which the watch had apparently been forcibly pulled; also a fragment of a bank book showing that $110 had been drawn from the bank of Elgin.

A coroner's inquest at first failed to bring the solution of the mystery to light, and there was much speculation and many different theories promulgated".

The inquest having adjourned for that purpose, Officer Benthusen visited Elgin with the bank book above mentioned. On presenting it at the City Bank, it was identified as belonging to William Frost, a citizen of Elgin who had an account at the bank.

It was ascertained that on the day of the murder Frost had left Elgin for Algonquin, on the morning train, in company with John Stewart, a boy nineteen years of age, whose home was less than a mile from the burned stack. On the Tuesday following the inquest (which began on Saturday) the officer arrested young Stewart at his father's house. He confessed his guilt, produced the watch and pocket-book of the murdered man, and showed the pistol with which he had fired the fatal shot. Stewart was taken before Esquire Butler, ofNunda, who ordered him committed to jail to await the action of the grand jury.

The Sentinel says editorially: " We visited the prisoner in his cell Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. He says he went to Elgin the morning of the murder; met Frost during the day in a saloon; and that when he came to the depot to return home, he found Frost there, who came with him to Algonquin. They left the train together and walked along the track to where it crosses the wagon road, then followed that until crossing the Crystal Lake outlet, when, leaving the road, they started through the woods for his father's house, that being nearer than to follow the highway. Instead of going direct to the house, they kept to the right until nearly opposite the stack, when they turned and went to it; that they lay down near the stack; that after a shori time, he rose up, shot his companion, took what he had on his person and went home; that he did not fire the stack; that Frost was smoking a cigar at the time, and he supposes the stack was set on fire by it. The revolver he says he borrowed from Frost before he left the wagon road, but he gives no reason why he committed the crime. He claims that both had been drinking freely, and that his victim had a bottle of whisky on his person when he left him after the murder; but this must be a mistake, as no such thing was found near the body.

"The prisoner is only nineteen years of age, and that he committed this cold-blooded murder seems to be almost incredible - although he insists that he did. That he had an accomplice admits of little doubt in the minds of those who have conversed with him upon the subject. He assigns no motive for the crime, but the natural conclusion is that the object was money."

It appears that Stewart and Frost had been acquainted for some time, having worked together as farm-hands for John Campbell, who lived three miles north of Dundee. "While there "Stewart learned Frost had money by Campbell borrowing of him. Stewart was not aware of Frost's having made a deposit in Elgin, but supposed he still had his money with him, he having finished his work for Campbell a short time before. Finding Frost at Elgin he induced him to return with him to husk corn. He bought a revolver on the day of his visit to Elgin, and seems to have deliberately planned the murder. He had no accomplice. Frost was a stranger, having come to the State from Michigan only two months before. The father of young Stewart was a respectable farmer of some property, nearly all of which he spent in a vain attempt to clear his son from the foul stain of murder.

A Terrible Storm

On Monday, Aug. 4, 1862, a tornado, which was very destruc tive to life and property, passed through the Southwestern parto the county. The storm began at three o'clock p. m., with sheets of rain, heavy thunder and very sharp lightning. A.t the Deitz school-house in Seneca, school was in session, and about eighteen scholars and the teacher, Mary E. Goodrich, were present. The house, standing directly in the track of the storm, was taken from its foundation and carried several feet, turned half around and torn to pieces, leaving only the front end of the building standing. Strange to say, no one of the scholars was seriously injured, though all were badly frightened.

Fences, buildings, stacks and bundles of grain - everything that stood in the way of the gale - was madly seized and torn to pieces. The house of John E. Green, in Marengo, was blown down. Mr. Green's mother, wife and daughter were in it at the time. The old lady was so badly injured that she died the next day, and the wife and daughter were seriously hurt. Robert Smith's son John, aged about fifteen years, took shelter in a shock of wheat in the harvest field. He was struck in the side by a board blown from some neighboring structure and so much injured that he died within an hour. The wife of G. H. Sumner, a tailor, was found among the ruins of the barn, with her neck broken. Edwin

A Terrific Cyclone

Friday, May 18, 1883, the towns of Chemung and Alden, in this county, were visited by one of the most terrible storms ever witnessed in this region. Three lives were lost, several persons injured and immense damage caused to property all along the track of the storm. Its course was from southeast to northwest and every building in its way was swept out of existence. Near Chemung Village the farm buildings of Henry Baker, occupied by George Conn, were utterly demolished. Seven persons were in the house at the time. They fled to the cellar for protection. Patrick Corrigan, a hired man, was killed, and Mr. Conn injured by falling timber. Just across the way the buildings of Mr. Downs were also destroyed, the owner rendered unconscious, and several members of the family injured. A neighbor of Downs, Mr. R: J. Williams, lost his barn and a portion of his house. Owen McGee's buildings were destroyed and large oaktrees uprooted.

At Lawrence, the depot and other buildings were damaged. Patrick Kennedy lost all his buildings, and his hired man, John McGuirk, was killed. J. W. Sogers, across the road, lost all his buildings except the house, together with horses, sheep, fences, carriages and farming implements. There was still further damage in other parts of the township.

In Alden, the barns of James Yick and Mr. Campbell were destroyed, the residence of Fred Bombard damaged and his outbuildings destroyed. Concerning the remainder of the terrible work of the storm, we copy the account of the Sentinel's Alden correspondent:

" A few minutes after six o'clock the storm struck the residence of Fred Bottlemy. The family consisted of himself, his wife and four small children and one hired man. Mr. Bottlemy says they did not even have time to descend to the cellar; he reached for two of the 'children to take them below, and the next he remembers anything about, he was lying out upon the ground. The building was strewn to the four winds, the house in atoms, not one stick left upon another, even the stones composing the foundation were scattered for rods around. The scene beggars description. Parts of bedding and other clothing were found in the tops of tall trees a quarter of a mile away. Huge oaks were torn up by the roots and carried along for rods to be lodged against those that were standing. Scattered around the house were the family. The hired man, a German named Soule, about thirty-two years of age, was found dead in front of the house; he seems to have been killed by being thrown violently against some sharp pointed grubs that were sticking out of the ground at that spot. His skull was pierced in several places; the body was removed to the residence of Casper Bottlemy, about a mile away.

" Mr. Bottlemy was seriously injured across the lungs aud bruised about the head. Their small children were unhurt. Mrs. Bottlemy was found with her back firmly planted against a tree, her left arm broken below the elbow, her right arm dislocated at the shoulder. Her case is critical. The oldest child, a girl twelve years" of age, was badly bruised about the head and shoulder. She will probably recover. They were all taken to the residence of Mr. Fred Bombard where they were kindly cared for. Dr. Barringer, of Alden, was sent for as soon as possible and was first upon the scene, arriving about 6:30 p. m. Dr. Brigham arrived abou,t midnight. The sufferers were properly cared for, and are as comfortable as could be expected. An inquest was held on Saturday on the body of the hired man, and a verdict rendered in accordance with the above facts. Mr. Bottlemy's sheds and barns were leveled to the earth, one horse being killed. The next building struck was the school-house, a substantial frame building; it was actually swept from existence, not a vestige remaining. The storm happily occurred two hours after school closed for the day, or the consequences would have been terrible.

" A few rods east is the residence of C. L. Kingsley, a large square house with cupola. The whole roof was torn off and carried away. The barn, over sixty feet long, in which twenty-dve cattle were standing, was flattened to the earth; the fragments were strewn for a mile around. There were also three persons in the barn at the time it was struck, none of whom were seriously injured. That they escaped unhurt seems almost incredible. A cow and a horse were killed, and one double buggy and one single carriage are missing entirely. The next place visited was that of Fred Mode, a quarter of a mile further on. The barns were all destroyed; the houses were saved, although the porch was torn off. Still further east, the barn belonging to Mrs. M. A. Weter was

"From Alden, the cyclone passed over the line into Wisconsin, and just north of Hebron station, destroyed Levi Nichols's house, barn, etc., and killed his hired man. His father's barn was also wrecked. At Racine, eight persons were killed, a large number injured, and 150 buildings destroyed."

Unfortunate Occurrences

The political campaign of 1856 won McHenry County from the Democrats and a rousing majority was given for Fremont. The Demoorats on receipt of the news of Buchanan's election decided to have a celebration, and brought out the old " Woodstock cannon," which figured very prominently in many a political celebration in the olden time. By some mismanagement the cannon was prematurely discharged and Orson Bates was so badly injured as to require the amputation of the right arm above the elbow, and the left hand above the wrist. He was in the act of ramming down the charge and received it full in his arm and hand.

A snow storm early in December, 1856, blocked up roads and railroads so effectually that travel by any method was impossible for several days. On the railroad running through Woodstock several trains were snowed in on the track remote from any station.

On Sunday, Aug. 28, 1859, James Ashe, a prisoner confined on the charge of ill-treating his wife, was found hanging in his cell in the county jail. He was a native of Ireland, about thirty-five years old, and had been a resident of Hartland for some time. On a scrap of newspaper, pinned to the floor with his knife, he left the following somewhat remarkable communication:

"A Declaration. - I do confess I never abused this Woman no Harder then woss nessarey to correct a seven years old child that would Be Disobedient to his parents but when I see a woman taking an oath before God and man all In a treacherous lie, It makes the hare of my hed Stand on an End. The world is so wicked In the form of law that Every boddy when they get an opertunity will Turn round and persecute There Nighest benefactor. I declare this to be the truth. Jas. Ashe.

"Let Barny McGuire have my Coat and boots and John Sullivan Blacksmith Get ten dollors from Squire Thompson and Give Jim Slavin one Djllor use the other nine dollors as you please - I cant stand Swindling under the Cloak of Law."

Oct. 22, 1859, William Dalzell, while bricking up a well thirty feet deep on a farm about one and a half miles northeast of Mc- Henry, was buried alive by the earth caving in upon him, covering him eighteen feet deep. When his body was recovered his head and face were terribly mangled, indicating that he had been almost instantly killed.

In the spring of 1859 a young man named Deming, son of Jedediah Deming, of Harvard, started for Pike's Peak in company with others. When near there he became sick and was almost overcome by his hardships. He decided to turn back; but being joined on the Missouri River by his brother, John concluded to start for California. He was sick all along the route, but recovered in a measure after reaching his destination.

On the 20th of January, 1860, he went out hunting, and not returning when expected, his brother went to search for him. Seeing tracks of Indians he at once concluded that John had been foully dealt with, and went to the neighboring miners for aid. The body was found, shot through the head. While the brother of the murdered man was absent from his cabin, the Indians raided it, carrying off whatever they fancied. They were not pursued.

A man named Babcock was drowned in the Nippersink, near Spring Grove, while fishing with a seine, May 19, 1860. He was about thirty-five years of age and had recently come to this county from the East.

A. C. Wilson, aged about twenty years, was killed at Harvard, July 20, 1860, while attending to. his duties as a railroad employe, in trying to get cars that had run off back upon the track.

In December, 1863, only a few days later, Eben Lord, of Janesville, Wis., a brakeman on a freight train, was killed at Woodstock in a similar manner.

Adam Schneider, of Greenwood, was killed Oct. 20, 1863, while at work in the field. His horses became frightened and ran over him. He was forty-seven years old and a very worthy citizen.

April 18, 1863, Augustus Clark, of Franklinville, in the town of Seneca, committed suicide by hanging. Mental aberration brought on by business trouble was supposed to have been the cause.

John Steffer, working near Bingwood, April 24, 1863, ate wild parsnips, being ignorant of their poisonous qualities, and was killed by them.

In March, 1864, Willard Joslyn, a nephew of Orson Diggins, was killed on the farm of the latter near Harvard, while trying to turn a somersault over a pole.

In April, 1865, as citizens of Marengo were celebrating the fall of Kichrhond, an anvil which they were fixing exploded, and a large piece struck H. G. Otis, wko died two hours later. Others were injured but not fatally.

June 16, 1865, John Dolan, of Woodstock, about nineteen years old, was shot and killed while trying to enter the house of Butledge Harris near Crystal Lake. He with a companion, both intoxicated, went to Harris's house to see a girl and were denied admission. While trying to force an entrance Dolan was killed.

In June, 1865, during a picnic excursion, two .young ladies,. Addie Deitz and Lucy Adams, both members of prominent families, were drowned in Crystal Lake while boating.

In February, 1866, A. E. Lyke, of Hebron, accidentally shot himself fatally while pulling a loaded gun toward him. He was twenty-six years old.

In August, 1867, Michael Dwyer, of Woodstock, aged seventeen, was accidentally drowned while bathing in Crystal Lake. The next day efforts were made to recover the body, and among other means employed the cannon belonging at Woodstock was taken to the lake and fired. The second time the piece was discharged it exploded, injuring J. Dwyer, the father of the drowned boy, so that it was feared he could not live, and wounding two other persons in a less degree.

On the 9th of July, 1867, Archibald G. Filkins, of Harvard, a lad nine years of age, was thrown from a freight car on which he was riding and received injuries which rendered the amputation of his leg necessary. He survived the operation only a few hours.

In May, 1868, a boy named Ira Clason, eighteen years of age, was killed by a flash of lightning while plowing on a farm six miles south of Marengo. The pair of horses which he drove were killed at the same time.

June 17, 1868, Archie "Van Vleet, ten years of age, son of Nathan Van Vleet, in Harmony, committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope in his father's barn.

In August, 1869, the body of a man was discovered in the river below the railroad bridge at Cary Station. Papers on the person proved that the deceased was T. H. Bennett, a railroad employe, of Janesville. It was known that he was on a train passing the spot where the body was found, a few days before, but whether he jumped from the train to commit suicide or fell from it accidentally can only be surmised.

T. J. Hobart was instantly killed Oct. 8, 186^, by the wall falling in upon him as he was digging a cellar under a building. This occurred about six miles from Woodstock, on the McHenry road.

In October, 1869, a little girl, four years of age, daughter of Patrick Crowley, of Marengo, was so badly burned by her clothes taking fire that she died ten days afterward.

March 23, 1871, Jeremiah Halesey was killed near Harvard by a railroad train. He was riding a horse and had crossed the track, when the horse, becoming frightened at the cars, was rendered unmanageable, ran back and threw him off in front of the train.

In December, 1871, the wife of Alexander Martin, living a short distance north of Woodstock, was so severely injured by being thrown from a wagon by a runaway team that she died in a few hours.

Jan. 10, 1873, a boiler in a steam flouring mill at Huntley exploded, killing Wm. L. Benedict, the engineer, and seriously injuring Philip Shaft ner, the owner of the mill.

Aug. 29, 1873, Watson Heath, of Dunham, had both legs and an arm cut off by a mowing machine, and died soon after. He was sixty-four years old, had long resided in the county and was a very worthy citizen.

Dec. 7, 1872, Jacob Hurst, night watchman at the Woodstock brewery, was killed in a singular manner. A bin of malt above him broke through the floor, and he was buried and smothered.

severely. The damage was especially great at Harvard, McHenry, Union and Eichmond. At Harvard the new engine house of the Chicago & Northwestern Eailway was destroyed and much property suffered.

Aug. 24, 1874, a little ten-months-old child of fm. H. Howe, was drowned near Harvard by falling head first into a pail of milk. John Hallasy, of Hartland, died in October, 1874, from injuries received through being thrown from a wagon.

On the 12th of October, 1874, a ten-year-old son of Isaac Mussey, of Seneca, went to the pasture to catch a horse. While returning home his hands became cold, and that he might put them in his pocket he tied the rope, by which he was leading the horse, around his body. The horse taking fright, the boy was dragged upon the earth and killed.

Dec. 15, 1874, on the farm of J. E. Nourse, two miles west of McHenry, fm. Grant, twenty-four years of age, was buried in a well sixty feet deep. Eleven feet of earth caved in from the top and fell upon him. It required the labor of two men for nearly a day to extricate the body.

Oct. 30, 1875, about two miles from "Woodstock, on the Austin Frame farm, George Schneider was struck by lightning and killed instantly. He and his wife were in the cellar sorting potatoes at the time. His wife escaped uninjured.

In March, 1876, a man named Sweet, at Harvard, while sawing wood with a horse-power, was caught by the coat in the machinery and killed by being drawn upon the saw.

Railroad Accidents

On Thursday, Feb. 5, 1874, there was a railroad accident near Kishwaukee, six miles north of Woodstock, by which a large number of persons were. injured. The train was the Green Bay express, going south, and due at Woodstock at 4:33 a. m. The accident happened at the creek, which was crossed by a trestlebridge 120 feet long and thirty-five feet high, flanked at either end by an embankment which extends about a half mile in each direction. The road-bed presented a steep incline toward the bridge, so that a train from either direction must run over the downhill side rapidly in order to gain sufficient momentum to make the ascent on the up-hill side. On the morning in question the train was a little behind time, and came down the grade at a high rate of speed.

The train consisted of two express cars, a baggage car, two passenger cars, a Pullman sleeping car and a caboose. About thirty rods from the trestle bridge the heavy wheels of the locomotive forced the top from a rail, cutting it smooth. The locomotive and two express cars passed over the break safely, but the five cars following jumped the track, and ten rods further on four of the detached cars took the plunge down the embankment twenty-five feet or more. The baggage car passed some distance further before it was thrown down the embankment. The sleeping car, passenger cars and baggage car turned entirely over, and the caboose was evidently lifted bodily from the track and deposited right side up about sixty feet away. The passengers, thus suddenly awakened, were stricken with terror, and to add another horrible feature to the situation, the cars took fire from the overturned stoves and soon the whole wreck was in a blaze. The passengers and train men went coolly and systematically to work and not only rescued all the passengers, but saved all the loose personal property and baggage that could be found. About forty persons were hurt, eight seriously, but none fatally

On September 7 and 8, 1875, Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin were visited by a very heavy rain storm which caused immense damage to fields, roads, crops and buildings. Three frightful railroad accidents occurred on account of the storm, two of them in McHenry County. The first of the accidents was at Lawrence, McHenry County, where the Green Bay express broke through a bridge, completely wrecking locomotive, baggage, express and smoking cars and piling them one upon another. Four persons were killed: The engineer, Henry Morris; the baggage man, James Furey; a passenger, W. J. Grouse, and Frank Carr, the newsboy. A number were injured.

The second accident happened at Shopier, near Janesville, where a freight train was wrecked and the engineer and fireman killed. The cause was a culvert, washed out by the rain.

Other Accidents And Incidents

Herman Rammerstabt, a German in the employ of Wm. Groesbeck, of Alden, while at work in the field May 19, 1876, took refuge tinder a tree during a thunder shower, and was struck by lightning and instantly killed.

Kate Kashion, an old lady who lived near Mc Henry, was burned to death Nov. 17, 1876. It is supposed that she lay down near the stove and that her clothes caught fire while she was asleep.

" Frozen to Death. - On last Sabbath afternoon the lifeless form of John Burk, of the town of Greenwood, was found in the township of McHenry. near the old residence of Hon. H. McLean. The circumstances connected with this sad affair are substantially as follows: Mr. Burk left his house on Friday morning for Mc- Henry with a load of oats, and not returning that night, his mother, who lived with him, notified his brothers of the fact on Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning they started out to find what had become of him. They went directly to McHenry and were informed that John was there on Friday afternoon and left for home in the evening. They also learned that there was a sleigh, from which the horses were detached, near the railroad track north of the village. On examination, it was soan found that on leaving McHenry Mr. Burk took the railroad track instead of the wagon road driving over cattle-guards, etc., uutil he came to the outlet of McCollum's Lake; and at this point it seems the horses refused to cross the bridge, left the track and undertook to cross the stream on the ice, but it gave way precipitating horses and sleigh into the water. It appears that Mr. Burk left the sleigh and succeeded in detaching the horses therefrom, removed the fence and started to cross the slough, but ran into a soft place or spring and here the horses left him, he traveling in one direction and they in another. Mr. Burk went but a short distance from where the horses left him, took shelter under some bushes on the shore of the lake, where he was found by his brothers, frozen to death. His clothes were wet nearly to his waist, which proves he had been in the water. John has been in the habit of indulging too freely in strong drink for several years, and there is no doubt but what this was the case on Friday night causing him to lose his way and bringing him to this untimely death."

Dec. 1, 1877, John Keating, of Hartland, was severely injured by being thrown from his wagon in a collision with another team; he died on the next day. He was sixty-three years old.

March 7, 1878, the body of Miss Ella Shultz, a j'oung lady who had been living in the family of Mr. Buell, of Hebron, was found near the railroad track in a small pond, about a mile from Caledonia, Boone County. She left her home iu Hebron on the 17th of January, without notice to the family, and nothing further was heard of her until the discovery of her body was made.

In August, 1878, a German named Christian Beir, living about six miles we6t of Huntley, was standing on the top of a threshing machine and slipped down into the cylinder while it was in full motion. His body was horribly mangled, and mutilated in a man- ' ner too shocking to describe. He lived an hour 1 ater and was fully conscious until he died.

In December, 1878, James McMahon, saloon-keeper, formerly a resident of Woosdtock, was killed in Chicago, by John C. Hayward, a student in the Chicago Medical College. The crime grew out of a quarrel over cards.

In December, 1878, Chris. Buck, express agent, was injured by the cars at Nunda so badly as to render the amputation of his right leg necessary.

Hiram Curtis, freight brakeman, was knocked off the cars near Cary, in March, 1879, and received injuries which required the amputation of a leg. He died soon after the operation. His home wa3 in Janesville.

Philip Newmeyer, station agent at Harvard, lost a leg by the cars running over it, April 4, 1879, while he was assisting in making up a train. He died from the effects of his injuries.

April 7, 1879, Loren Turk, of Capron, was run over and killed by a train near Chemung, while walking on the track. It is supposed that he was intoxicated.

Oct. 24, 1879, a serious accident occurred at the sugar refinery at Nunda. A machine exploded, injuring Lorenzo "Wilcox fatally and George Numson seriously.

Fred G. Davis, whose parents resided near Harvard, was injured by a railroad train at that place in September, , 1879, and died in February following.

In March, 1880, George T. Shimmin, of Turner Junction, brakeman, was knocked from the cars by a bridge at Richmond, and seriously injured. He died not long afterward.

Oct. 21, 1880, Smith Nolan, of Marengo, while crossing the railroad track with a team was thrown beneath the wheels of the cars by the engine striking his team and his right foot crushed in a terrible manner.

Oct. 26, 1880, Fred Arnold, Jr., of Woodstock, was shot in the right arm by the accidental discharge of a gun which he was handling. The limb had to be amputated.

Oct. 31, 1880, Ezra Cross, seven years of age, was shot and instantly killed by a young man named Williams, who was playing with a revolver. The boy was a son of Welch Cross, living two and one-halt miles south of Harvard.

Feb. 10, 1881, two children of Leonard Bautes, whose ages.were seven and nine years respectively, were burned to death in the house of their grandfather, M. Wagner, north of Johnsburg. The cries of the children alarmed the household, who discovered the house on fire. The roof fell in before the little ones could be rescued.

In February, 1881, George Goodhand, of Richmond, a young man twenty-five years of age, shot himself fatally during a fit of mental aberration.

April 30, 1881, Willis E. Bourne, of Woodstock, was killed by a freight train on the Kenosha division of the 0. & N. W. Railroad while attending to his duty as brakeman.

The body of Wm. Stewart, of Algonquin, was found on the bank of the river below that place May 11, 1881. He was a Scotchman, thirty-nine years of age, and had been missing for two weeks. A heavy iiood had washed away the railroad bridge, and it is supposed he fell into the river at night, while walking upon the railroad track, and was drowned.

June 2, 1881, a harness-maker named Moore, at Algonquin, committed suicide by taking laudanum. He came from Dundee to Algonquin, and had resided but a short time at the latter place.

By a railroad accident two and one-half miles north of Woodstock, July 25, 1881, fifteen freight cars were thrown from the track. A man named Frank Wilson, who was stealing a ride on the freight train, was found buried beneath the wreck, dead.

Sept. 23, 1881, Charles Zimmerman and his son were killed near Crystal Lake station white attempting to cross the railroad track in front of an engine.

On Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1882, Elias C. Buck, about twelve years old, son of Isaac Buck, of Riley, was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun which he was drawing toward him.

Aug. 12, 1882, two German boys who were stealing their way and walking from Minnesota, whither they had been sent by the Children's Aid Society, back to New York, stopped to rest near Ridgefield. One of them went to sleep upon the railroad track and was killed by a passing train.

Oct. 13, 1882, Frank Gallagher, eon of James Gallagher, of Woodstock, fell from a freight train and was killed. He was terribly mangled, and the head severed from the body. This accident should serve as a warning to boys who have a propensity to jump on the cars when they have no business there.