Source: The Fairbury Enterprise, August 11, 1894.
A horrible wreck occurred on the Rock Island road Thursday evening at 9:40, about three or four miles this side of lincoln and about one and one-half miles east of the penitentiary, at a point where the Rock Island crosses the Union Pacific track on a high trestle. The train was No. 8, and was in charge of Conductor C. D. Stannard and Engineer Ike De Pew. They were a little late and were running pretty fast to make up time. When they struck the trestle the engine, 213, encountered a rail from which some damnable wrtech had removed the spikes and fishplates, causing it to turn over, and throwing the rapidly moving passenger down upon the U. P. tracks, some forty feet below. The coachesimmediately caught fire from the engine, and it was not long until the flames added an additional terror to the awful scene. Engineer De Pew, of Council Bluffs, and Fireman William Craig, of this city, were crushed to death under their engine. Conducotr Stannard, of St. Joseph, was also crushed under the coaches. Postal Clerk C. H. Cherry was pinned down in his car, also Messenger Fred Scott, both of whom were rescued from the jaws of death by the heroic action of Brakeman Harry Foote, who, although his own leg and foot was broken, fought desperatley and succeeded in saving his companions. A. A. Munger, of this city, was also killed. The whole number killed is believed to have been fourteen. Attorney W. O. Hambel, of this city, was also in the ill fated coach, and as his body cannot be found it is believed he was killed and creamated with the other unfortunate victims. Col. Bills and Jay McDowell were in the rear coach and escaped serious injury, and at once went to work and did noble work in rescuing other passengers from their fate. It is stated they saved fifteen from death.