James Tracy (-1896)

TRACY, HOLLISTER, SILL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/6/2011 at 23:39:37

From Story County Watchman December 25, 1896

The regular east-bound fast meat train (No. 20) on the Chicago & Northwestern ran into an open switch at 8:30 o'clock Tuesday morning at Ontario, a small station near the Boone county line, causing a bad wreck and resulting in the instant death of Fireman James Tracy and the probable fatal injury of Engineer Andrew Sill. Both the men live at Clinton.

It is not positively known where the blame rests, but it is supposed that the switch was left open by the crew on No. 18, another fast freight which preceded No. 20, the one wrecked. The section men may have left the switch open, though it is thought improbable. The engine and tender were ditched together with several cars. Other cars were derailed. The particulars are hard to learn at present, as the officers are very reticent.

The dead fireman has been on the road for eight years and is well known at his home in Clinton and at Belle Plaine, where he married a young lady named Hollister two years ago. His death recalls that of Doc Leekins, who was also killed in a smash-up on the Chicago & Northwestern at Belle Plaine, in which his engine ran into a coal rack.

Leekins and Tracy were married a few years ago to sisters, Susie and Anna Hollister, who were residents of Belle Plaine. Both boys met the same fate and both girls are now made widows by the same grim destroyer.

Engineer Sill has been on the road for twenty years and is about forty five years of age.