Story: 'TWAS A MIRACLE - Trapped Beneath The Cars

The Escape from Death Wednesday of R. Lindberg, a Switchman on the Northwestern

PINIONED 'NEATH THE CARS

Ten Ore Cars Piled in a Heap in the Yard in Iron Mountain

Switchman Buried Beneath Them - Held there by a Rod Across His Neck for Thirty long Minutes.

Three Hundred People Watch the Work of Rescuers.

What was apparently the direct agency of the Almighty power, was the miraculous escape from a shocking death of Robert Lindberg Wednesday as he lay pinioned beneath a wreck in the Iron Mountain (C&NW) Northwestern yards, groaning with pain and pleading and praying to his rescuers to hasten the heroic efforts being made to save the young man's life.

Shortly after 11 o'clock Wednesday forenoon the ore train from the Pewabic mine, containing thirty loaded cars, came rumbling down the spur leading into the city. The string was being pushed by engine No. 724, and when a short distance this side of the Stephenson avenue crossing, the rails of the track spread and the cars left the track. The first and second cars became embedded in the sand and stopped the progress of the train. Instantly the loaded cars at the end of the string began to pile up into a heap, and before the engineer could be signaled, ten of them were off the track, twisted, broken, upturned, and lying in the ditch along side the track.

At the time the accident occurred Switchman Robert Lindberg, whose miraculous escape from death has been noted, was standing on the first car facing the engine in the rear. He felt the jolt caused by the car striking the ties. Lindberg started back running the full length of three cars, when he either jumped or was knocked off the train, falling between and under the wreck, where he was tightly pinioned by a heavy bar across his neck, while tons of ore covered his chest and arms.

THE WORK OF RESCUE

In this position the man was found by his companions a moment later, and as soon after as possible a gang of Northwestern employees were on the ground with picks and shovels, and the work of rescue was begun.

In the meantime the news of the wreck, and the report that a man was killed, spread like wild fire over the city. Dr. Crowell, the company's physician, was notified and he drove to the scene of the accident.

In less than ten minutes from the time of the wreck occurred the tracks and streets adjoining were full with people. Fully 300 were there jamming and crowding, climbing upon the wreck, asking questions and offering suggestions, while bicycles, express wagons and carriages, with their occupants, came tearing down the road, everyone eager to hear just how the shocking affair occurred.

The rescuing party worked heroically while the victim of the accident lay groaning beneath the debris. Picks, shovels, jack-screws and crowbars were employed to assist the men in the work. For fully thirty minutes the heroic work of rescue was continued. Lindberg's chest and arms were buried beneath the ore, while his head rested on the ground. An iron bar lay directly across the man 's neck and it was this that required so much time and work to remove. Finally the rescuers succeeded in extricating Lindberg and the fellow, with apparent little pain or effort, sat up and drank a cup of water. After he had emerged from the debris, and while being assisted to a carriage in waiting, a mighty cheer went up from the 300 people who had been watching with breathless interest, the work of rescue.

INJURIES WERE SLIGHT

Lindberg was taken to the St. George hospital where Dr. Crowell made an examination of his wounds. With the exception of a slight bruise on the temple and a scratch on the wrist and back of the right ear, the man was not injured in any way. An hour after being taken to the hospital the patient walked to his home on East C street.

It is reported that the wreck Wednesday was caused by two boys who were meddling with the switch. They partly opened it and were unable to close it again and ran off and left it when they heard the train approaching. Switches are supposed to be locked at all times but as this switch is on a side track and constantly in use the caution of locking it seems to have been sometimes omitted. It is fortunate no loss of life attended the accident.

Reprinted from The Range Tribune newspaper [RTR], Iron Mountain, Dickenson County, MI. November 20, 1897.