Fenton Historical Society
28 Sep 1900 - Durand, MI
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Durand, Michigan Train Wreck
28 September, 1900
The Grand Rapids Herald, Grand Rapids, MI 29 Sept 1900

SMASHUP AT DURAND

FREIGHT RAN INTO OPEN SWITCH AND STRUCK YARD ENGINE.
TWO DEAD AND ONE INJURED
RAILROAD YARDS [illegible] AN AWFUL SIGHT.

Engineer Hamlin of Detroit and Fireman Linden of Ionia Were Both Killed and Brakeman Injured - 24 Cars of Merchandise Were Burned.

DURAND, Mich., Sept. 28. - An awful railroad wreck at Durand at 2::00 this morning resulted in the killing of two men and the injury of another. The two engines which came into collision were both badly smashed and 24 cars of merchandise burned.

Merchandise freight train No. 64 of the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee railroad ran into an open switch at the north end of the yards and crashed into yard engine No. 1065. The freight engine was 1014. The casualties:

ENGINEER THOMAS HAMILIN of Detroit; leg and arm torn off; died in two hours.

JOHN LINDEN, fireman, of Ionia, killed.

Samuel Beek, brakeman, injured about head and hands.

A car of sulphur in the center of freight No. 64 immediately caught fire and 24 cars of valuable merchandise were burned. The fire department saved several by hard work.

The railroad yards present an awful sight. The blame has not yet been fastened on anybody. The crew of No. 56 say the light on the switch was out. Engineer Carl Obert whistled for brakes and he and his fireman jumped and were uninjured. The brakemen also saw the danger and jumped.

Engineer Thomas Hamlin and Fireman John Linden of the switch engine did not jump. Hamlin fell under the tender and his arm and leg were torn from his body. He died at 4:00 o'clock. Linden was thrown upon the driver and instantly killed.

Hamlin's home is in Detroit. Linden was the famous football player of Ionia. He was a member of the Lansing champion team last season.

Engineer Hamlin had been on the road 14 years and this was his first accident. Linden had accepted his position with the road about two weeks ago. Both the bodies will be taken home for burial.

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