Railroad wreck at Enfield, 1876

RUPERT, ANDERSON, MYER, TICE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 21:26:33

Dubuque Daily Times, Thursday, March 30, 1876, Dubuque, Iowa, Page: 8

RAILROAD WRECK
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Train Ditched at Enfield on the
Davenport & St. Paul Railroad
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Six Cars Wrecked, Several Persons
Injured, Two Fatally
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J. K. Rupert, of Dubuque
Fatally Wounded
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Special Dispatch to the Dubuque Times
FIRST DISPATCH

ENFIELD, March 20. – The freight train running north on the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad was wrecked this afternoon at a point four miles south of here, occasioned by the breaking of a journal on one of the cars. Six cars were destroyed, and several persons occupying the caboose were more or less injured, among them, J. K. Rupert, traveling solicitor for Myers, Tice & Co., of Dubuque who is badly wounded in the head.

SECOND DISPATCH
Enfield, March 29. – The northern bound freight train on the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad met with a severe accident south of the village this afternoon. There were six freight cars and a caboose that fell in the wreck. The accident was caused by the spreading out of the track, owing to the wrecked condition of the road-bed since the recent storms. The seven cars mentioned were thrown into the ditch a good deal shattered and splintered.

In the caboose were several person who were seriously injured in the general smash, two of them fatally. James Anderson, conductor, and a brakeman whose name your correspondent was unable to learn, were severely injured. A woman with a small child were also hurt, the child so bad that its recovery is considered doubtful.

J. K. Rupert, of your city, representing the tobacco house of Myers, Tice & Co., is also among the severely injured. After a careful examination by the physicians present say that he cannot recover. Everything possible is being done to alleviate of suffering of the unfortunate victims of this shocking accident.

There will be no interruption of travel on account of the accident, as the Company are at work repairing the breach in the track which proves to be slight.

Sunday, April 02, 1876, Dubuque, Iowa, Page: 8

Mr. Myers returned from Enfield yesterday. He said that Mr. Rupert received a very severe cut in the forehead, and a fracture from which some small slivers of bone were taken. He is also bruised in the hip, and complains of soreness in the chest. Mr. Myers caused a thorough examination to be made by physicians, who are of the opinion that he has received no internal injury. He is now doing nicely, and is receiving the most thoughtful attention at the hotel at Enfield.

*Enfield is the historical name of Strawberry Point, Clayton County