Newberry Library - Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

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Open book Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

Title Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Date 1850-1866

Place United States

Subjects Bowdoin College, Brothers and sisters, DuQuoin Coal Company, Illinois Central Railroad Company

Format Business records, Correspondence, Diaries, Genealogies, Invoices, Manuscripts, Personal narratives, Records

User-Contributed Transcription They were two Brothers Austin & Asahel Root who came out here a monthor two since from Vermont 18 & 21 years old, the younger went to workat the bridge but took sick & has been unable to work most of the timewith Dysentery. The older worked at the tracklaying, very steady one ofthe very best men. Thursday his brother sent to him to come downand see him. He went intending to stay a day or two but finding thetrain going up at dusk suddenly concluded to go up - and waskilled. How I pitied that boy, left alone here so far from home - entirelydestitute and sick. I feared he would really break his heart. ButI have got him up here & believe he is better, I will take care of him.I got to the river before Mr Mason arrived from below. Met himthere with the dreadful news. Took every measure to urgeforward the completion of the bridge - so we can get Engines &cars over from the 1st Div. Then came up with Misters Mason Olson& Griswold with much effort succeeded in getting them throughto the end of track by 12PM so they could go on. I got back to thewreck, where Mr Mitchell was already at work clearing awaythe fragments with a large force of men. The wreck is a completeone. Our great 10.000 engine as perfectly used up as I ever saw one,laying lead downwards in the ditch; the machinery fairly raked andFour Cars entirely destroyed. The dead were buried at DuQuoin Old burying ground on Friday afternoon. Austin A. Root,Harding Keating, Jacob Randleman; all young stoutmen, 20 to 25 years old, healthy & active; on the same car theywere on were four oldish men rather weak & aguish lookingwho were all saved. Friday night I got down here & by 9 slept.I had been on my feet from 5am Thursday. In the nightFriday, by great good fortune, Goodale got back from St Louis withthe repaired cylinder heads of the old Medford. They went to workon her & got her running before night Sat. Mitchell & his mensucceeded in clearing the wreck & track. I took all the forceI could muster to the River, worked there all day & got backtired at 10 P.M to hear then of Taylor's death. got men at workon coffin &c But I finally got to sleep & slept till almost 10 thismorning. Mitchell got the Medford started at 4 P.M upto End of Track, came back this morning & has gone up now3.30 P.M with another load. I regret the Sabbath work but it seemsunavoidable. The whole country is waiting for us 1000.00 wouldnot pay for the delay of a day now unless the Medford worked today.The whole line must stop tomorrow. The Engine working todayall can get to work tomorrow. I never did order Sunday work.That I could not prevent I did order not to work today at the bridgewhich was taking a great responsibility - if the rain had not taken the responsibility.

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Isaac Stevens Metcalf papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Metcalf Box 7 Folder 176

BibID 821787

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3298px × 4215px 79.58 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_07_fl_176_025_004.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FJLU

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