Rare 1911 Postcard Monroe Wisconsin Train Wreck - Race Horses Injured - Man Dies for Sale

On eBay Now...

Rare 1911 Postcard Monroe Wisconsin Train Wreck - Race Horses Injured - Man Dies For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Rare 1911 Postcard Monroe Wisconsin Train Wreck - Race Horses Injured - Man Dies:
$599.99

This rare 1911 postcard features a train wreck near Monroe, Wisconsin, where a thirteen-car train careened down a thirty foot embankment going 40-60 miles per hour, between 4 and 5 o'clock, killing one man and injuring several others, along with race horses. Some sources say several of the racehorses later died. The wreck was caused by spreading rails.Approximate size: 5.4 inches x 3.4 inchesThe train wreck near Monroe, Wisconsin involved the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The train was reportedly rushing along at a speed of 60 miles per hour when it hit an open switch. The train telescoped and the day coach burst into flames. Those in the sleeper escaped.
The coroner’s jury found that “said switch was left open by the negligence of C. H. Wells, an employee of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company”.The first reference photo regards a newspaper clipping printed in theWauwatosa News (Wauwatosa, Wis.), September 22, 1911. An identical article was also printed in theThe Manitowoc pilot (Manitowoc, Wis.) on September 21, 1911.
The second reference photo is a newspaper clipping printed in theIowa County Democrat (Mineral Point, Wis.), September 21, 1911.This was written about the wreck in theMineral Point Tribune (Mineral Point, Wis.), September 21, 1911, just four days after the wreck (illustrated by the newspaper clipping in reference photo #3 in this listing).BAD TRAIN WRECK NEAR MONROEOne Man Killed, Others Injured, LiveStock Battered and Bruised.
Spread Rails the Supposed Cause.The worst wreck in years on theMineral Point division of the C. M.St. Paul road happened last Sundayafternoon between 1 and 5 o’clock whenthirteen cars and the engine went downa thirty foot embankment, a short distanceeast of Monroe.
It is understood to have been a specialtrain for the purpose of conveyingfrom the Monroe fair held last week tothe Elkhurn fair held this week, suchas race horses with their attendantsand paraphernalia, other live stock, acarnival outfit, etc.
Fortunately the majority of the showpeople who left Monroe for Elkhorntook the passenger train, which leftMonroe only a short time ahead of thisextra train, on which it was at first intendedthat they make the trip.
Had the large troupe of attendants andperformers been on this train it is morethan likely that the list of dead and injuredwould be much larger.
The wreck was caused by the spreadingof the rails at a sharp curve. Theengine was so heavy that thetrack softened by the recent rains wasunable to support its weight and thelocomotive pushed the rails from theirplace, turned over and rolled down theembankment, taking thirteen cars withit.
The dead and injured are:Edward A. Lull, West Allis, horseman, suffered concussion of the brainand hemorrhage of the lungs of whichhe died at five o’clock Monday morning atMonroe hospital.
Harry Cutler, brakeman, arm brokenand other minor injuries.George Busby, Granger, Missouri,bruised.E. A. Johnson, Granger, Missouri,
minor injuries.
The injured are all at Monroe hospital,badly shaken up and bruised.Mr. Lull, who died from his injuries wasattending the race horses that were underhis care at the Monroefair and was riding in the stock car enroute to Elkhorn, where the horseswere entered at the fair this week.
When the car in which he was ridingwas overturned and rolled down theembankment, Lull was crushed beneaththe horses. The animals were onlyslightly injured.
The other two men who escaped withminor injuries were attendants accompanyingthe show properly to Elkhorn. Theseand the injured brakeman are restingcomfortably at the Monroe hospital.
The engine was running backward.C. N. Bonham, the engineer, of Madison and J. J. Hope, the fireman, ofMilwaukee saved their lives by jumping.The conductor. John Moore, alsoof Milwaukee, was in the caboose,which was not derailed.Cutler, the brakeman, was standingon top of one of the cars when the accidentoccurred. He jumped and escapedwith a broken arm and bruises.
Johnson’s valuable race horse, with arecord of 2:07 1/4, which was in the disabled car, was also injured.All traffic on the line was blockedduring all of Monday and passengerswere transferred around the scene ofthe wreck.
Drays and automobileswere used to carry passengers andtheir baggage from the railway crossingon either side of the wreck to theother crossing, a distance of about halfa mile, thus enabling passengers tocomplete the trip, although the trainson both sides were delayed.

Please inspect the pictures, as they give the best representation of condition.May have discoloring, edge or corner wear, marks, creases, fading, smudges, corner or edge bends, tears, or corners missing.

(C125 inventory number)