THREE PERSONS KILLED, 40 INJURED IN CRASH OF WABASH 
APRIL 5, l9l4

The east bound Wabash Continental Limited train due in Attica at l:53 P.M. Sunday, April 5, l9l4, broke through the Wabash River Bridge just before the crossing.  The wreck was the worst in the history of Attica, doing more damage
to property and taking more lives than the Redwood wreck near West Lebanon
two years before, killing three people and injuring 40 more.

Officials charged the railroad master, Solon Whitehead, with mistaken judgment in pronouncing the bridge safe after it had been damaged in a freight train wreck earlier the same day. Apparently a freight car derailed and knocked the bend out of line 2 to 3 feet.

Two 150 foot spans of the steel bridge, which had been weakened by the 11 freight wreck, gave way when the heavy Continental Limited pulled upon it letting the locomotive, tinder, mail car, combination baggage, express and smoker, and the day coach fall a distance of 25 feet.

The engine and tinder went down at the east end of the bridge at the point where the big steel post had been jolted...The mail car was next to the tinder and fell in a tilted position right side up on the river bank clear of the water.  Following the mail car was the combination baggage and smoker which fell right side up but leaning to the north.  This car fell almost wholly in the river, and water stood in it from a foot to three feet deep.  The west end of the second span, which gave way, rested on the second pier.  The day coach went down on this span, the east end falling into the river, while the coach as a whole rested on the declining span, which stood at an angle of about 45 degrees.  The Pullman car and diner remained on that portion of the bridge left standing and were not derailed, although the east end of the Pullman hung out several feet over the second pier.

There were about 200 persons who witnessed the catastrophe, having gathered for the freight wreck earlier that morning.  The wreckage had just been cleared away to allow the passenger train to pass.

Those killed in the wreck were Timothy Hull, engineer, from Peru, Indiana; Jacob S. Miller, fireman from Peru, Indiana; who died on the train en route to the Lafayette Hospital; and Harry Thomas, Wells Fargo express manager.

Among those injured were Tom Livingston of Williamsport, former employee of National Car Coupler Plant; Frank Johnson, Williamsport; Guy Smith, Attica, employed by National Car Coupler; and Ear Mehaffey of Williamsport.  Several other local people were in the day coach but were only slightly injured.  They were Warren Scott and Hicks Kittle of Attica, and Tom Powell, Tom Ferrell, Mrs. John Gregory and Miss Emily Boyd of Williamsport.  Within half an hour of the wreck the railroad company had a crew clearing away the debris.  Reconstruction of the bridge got under way shortly, and by the following Saturday trains was once again using the bridge.

By Betty and Dale Clawson from the l966 Attica Ledger Tribune Centennial Edition.