Two Engines “Ditched” on the C. D. & M. R. R. - 1871

RHOMBERG, GRAVES, JACKSOB

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/18/2016 at 17:04:30

The Herald, Dubuque, Sunday, September 17, 1871

RAILROAD ACCIDENT
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Two Engines “Ditched” on the
C. D. & M. R. R.
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The Chicago, Dubuque and Minnesota R.R. Company is experiencing the drawbacks that happen to all new roads and not a few old ones. Of course when the employees are more thoroughly drilled in, the business will proceed more smoothly although accidents at time are unavoidable.

Two engines jumped the track yesterday. The Dubuque ran off an open switch in the yard through some mismanagement and now lies on its side awaiting a force of men to right it. As the construction train was nearing the city last evening with six cars on which were 150 workmen, two cows, jumped upon the track about a half a mile this side of Eagle Point and threw the engine and two cars off the track. The locomotive was the Wm. Andrew and was backing into town. So sudden was the occurrence that no time was allowed to stop the train. One of the cows got under the tender, made a wreck of herself and the train also. Two boys, sons of J. K. Graves and Joseph A. Rhomberg, were in the cab of the engine, returning from a hunting trip. They crawled out unharmed and ‘legged’ it home with their game. The only person injured was conductor Jackson who was brought to the city in a carriage. He was sitting on the tender holding a lantern, but so quick did it occur that he had no time to save himself.