1889 Electric Springs Collapse and a Train Wreck Near Holden Missouri

July 23, 1889

The Sedalia weekly bazoo. (Sedalia, Mo.)

An Expensive Wreck on the Missouri Pacific This Morning.

A disastrous head end collision occurred on the Missouri Pacific near Holden this morning. The engines on both trains were derailed and badly damaged and four cars on one and six on the other were demolished. The engineers and train men all jumped in time to escape injury. Both trains were freights loaded with dead freight. One was drawn by Rome Mogul 958 in charge of Engineer J. Labourn and Conductor Frank Mounts, 

Rome built Engine 0 4 0 

Mogul Engine Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotive, 2-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Mogul. 

and the other by an engine of the same make and weight, No. 949. Engineer Phil. Shearer and Conductor James Lamout. The cause was the failure of the operator at Holden to turn the order board for the east bound train to stop for orders, consequently the train dashed by the station. The wrecking car and a strong force of wreckers were dispatched from here to the scene as quickly as possible, but the obstruction proved to be so great that all trains, the Independence and Sedalia section, were delayed several hours. 

A special train of 13 coaches, heavily loaded, was just ready to leave the Kansas City Depot for the great lot sale at the Electric Springs at Warrensburg, when the news of the wreck was received. Of course the main line being blocked, the trains could not go by that route, and an effort was made to send it to Sedalia via the Lexington branch and thence to Warrensburg, but that being found impractical the train was backed to the depot and the passengers unloaded. The train will set out tomorrow. 

Two train loads from Kansas City en route to the Chautauqua meeting at Pertle Springs were brought over the Lexington branch to this place. They arrived at 3 o'clock and departed at 3:30 this afternoon.