Word: southerland
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...presently reached tiny Chatsworth. Ill., took on six more passengers, chugged out of the station at 11:35 p. m. Some two miles outside the town it approached a small wooden culvert over a 10-ft. ditch. As the train rounded a knoll just before the bridge, Engineer David Southerland in the first engine suddenly screamed in horror to Fireman Rodgers: "My God! The bridge is burned! Jump for your life...
...fireman promptly jumped, escaped with minor bruises. Engineer Southerland. seeing he could not stop in time, signaled frantically to Engineer McClintock in the second locomotive, then pulled his throttle wide open, tore loose from his train and hurtled onto the culvert. The engine carried across the bridge even as it crumpled, safely reached solid tracks beyond. But the second locomotive and the whole train behind piled up in the ditch. Eleven of the wooden cars telescoped or were splintered to matchwood. There was no fire, but when rescuers from Chatsworth reached the spot they found 81 dead, 372 injured -Illinois...
...blame went to Engineer Southerland since his action was the best course to save the train. When an engine is torn loose, air brakes lock on the other cars, which can be stopped quicker with the engine's weight and momentum detached. Engineer Southerland kept his job until his death two years ago. About eight years ago the railroad was acquired by the Van Sweringen interests, taken out of receivership...