175 years ago today - Sep 12, 1843

[Wilford Woodruff]
[Woodruff's train] engine was thrown from the track in consequence of a rail being raised 8 inches by some designing miscrant. The force was such that It drove the engine about 5 rods ahead and smashed it to peaces with the Baggage cars piled [on] top of it & the first passengers cars followed in its train & mounted the pile and instantly killed /about 8 feet high throwing the passen[gers?] [--]/.

... The lives of many were in danger, & it seemed a mystery that so little injury comparatively was done. Four cars were filled with passengers & had not the force been broaken by the baggage cars many lives would have been lost. The Baggage car soon was on fire which was with difficulty extinguished. The fireman was thrown about 3 rods & escaped with a slight injury. But the engineer Mr Adams from Portland was buried beneath the pile & instantly Killed. The ruins had to be removed before the body of the enigneer could be obtained. ...

[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

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