Please visit our Store Page for an easier search of all the listings we have to offer.Genealogy Images Of History eCRATER Store (Click above.) In the left hand corner, insert the name or subject you are searching for. Click on text and title description, hit go and our offerings that contain the name or subject you are searching for will appear. OVER 600 LIVES WERE LOST BUT HUNDREDS WERE SAVED BECAUSE OF THE HEROISM OF EMPLOYEES OF THE ST. PAUL & DULUTH RAILROAD Seems there was a mighty fire along the line of the St. Paul and Duluth Railway Line in Minnesota back in 1894. Didn't look like much at first so the Fast Limited took out on it's regular run from Duluth southwest headed for St. Paul where thirty nine miles south at Barnum, 50 miles from Hinckley, the crew of old Number 4 started smelling smoke (see more below) AND PRETTY SOON IT WAS PITCH BLACK Folks, as many of you know, I specialize in finding old stories of long ago that have been overlooked, seldom found and rarely read. Here is the story entitled “The Train That Raced Death,” by Dennis A. Johnson. Seems that there was a little fire along the track – well - their assumption that it was just a little brush fire proved to be dead wrong. Ten miles further, it was so dark that the carbon headlight wasn't worth spit. No problem, run the fire and get on to Hinckley. Trouble was, the citizens of Hinckley were on run for their lives. Even Fire Department Chief Craig told his volunteers: “It’s no use men. Spread the word… …evacuate the city. Anyone who stays will die.” Well, hearing those shouts, there was panic. And then this story begins -- a history of what is called “The Hinckley Fire” though it's titled “The Train That Raced Death.” Space prevents me writing the rest of the story but I have detailed below every named participant in this fantastic retelling of the fire which killed 600 and captured for history the heroism of railway employees of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. Let it suffice to say, if you are into old railroad history, this is one piece you will love and cherish and rightfully so. As an old western Americana student, I had never read or seen this tragic railroad story so detailed. It verifies a tale of the old west. OLD RAILROAD MEMORABILIA IS RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING Please read this. There were many a western railroad story published – the common ones about Cowboys and Indians are listed on eCRATER every day but the rarer ones about the outlaws of the old west like this one are seldom found. Collectors treasure them and their price guide value rises every day. They are hard to find. I hunt them out because really the better, untold and rarer stories were published in the rest. This is the best of ‘em. PURCHASER WILL RECEIVE A FREE SEARCH OF MY WEBSITE WWW.GENEALOGYIMAGESOFHISTORY.COM IF YOU SEE AN ITEM OF INTEREST ON MY WEBSITE, JUST EMAIL ME AND I WILL PLACE IT ON eCRATER WITH A 10% DISCOUNT AND ALLOW YOU TO PURCHASE WITH BUYITNOW! Following my retirement, I have dedicated my remaining hours to indexing the Genealogy of our western pioneers. During my research, I discovered that thousands of our kinfolk lay unfound and unrecognized on some book dealer’s shelf. Because Old Western History and Memorabilia was printed before computer indexing, I index every item I sell. This complete index will be bound and included in this offering at no additional cost. Humbly, I am trying to keep our history alive. I hope you appreciate the effort. THE TRAIN THAT RACED DEATH By Dennis A. Johnson ANCESTORS INDEXED HEREIN, CIRCA: 1894 ANCESTOR’S LOCATION: MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN GENEALOGY NAMES INDEXED w * INDICATING PICTURE: BARRY, Ed, Engineer BARTLETT, Mr. and Mrs., owners of Hinckley's Restaurant BEST, William, Engineer on St. Paul & Duluth Limited * BLAIR, John, Porter CRAIG, John, Hinkley Fire Chief DUNN, Tom, St. Paul and Duluth Telegrapher GRAVELY, John, Chief of the Gravely Fire Department JOHNSON, Dennis A., Author KELLY, John, Engineer, St. Paul & Duluth Railroad LAWLER, Father, Hinkley Parish Pastor McGOWAN, John, Fireman MOLLANDER, Fred, farmer found dead in his well trying to escape fire MONAHAN, Brakeman NORRIS, Baggageman) ROOT, Jim, Senior Engineer on St. Paul & Duluth Limited * ROPER, Charles, Conductor SARGENT, James, Conductor SULLIVAN, Senior Conductor for Railroad THOMPSON, Miller Station Telegrapher UNIDENTIFIED SURVIVORS AND RAILROAD OFFICIALS * VANCE, C. W., Duluth Agent WELLMAN, May, Survivor WILLIAMS, Dave, Yardmaster PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS w * INDICATING PICTURE: Picture 1: Jim Root, the 35-year railroad veteran who became senior engineer on the St. Paul & Duluth’s Limited. * Picture 2: The engine that pulled the St. Paul & Duluth’ “Fast Limited,” train that saved hundreds of lives. The wooden cars burned as the train lumbered the five miles back to Skunk Lake – and water! * Picture 3: Engineer William Best helped put together a makeshift train from his passenger train and a freight. * Picture 4: The charred remains of a horse and wagon of one of the Minnesota families which perished on the road out of Hinckley. * Picture 5: Railroad officials ponder the thankless task of identifying the horribly burned corpses they recovered. * Picture 6: The survivors of the disastrous Hinckley fire assemble to lend assistance in the gruesome business of trying to identify the victims. * Picture 7: This pool of water, known as Brook Park, helped save more than 30 lives during the panicky escape. * Picture 8: Skunk Lake, the destination of The Limited. More than 400 persons were saved by jumping in the lake. * Picture 9: This search party finds an entire family burned to death in their cabin on the outskirts of Hinckley. * Picture 10: Shortly after the holocaust, the people began to rebuild Hinckley. Known as the “Hinckley fire,” it was really two fires which joined south of Hinckley and raged from Mille Lacs on the west all the way to Wisconsin on the east and north to Duluth. * PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS w * INDICATING PICTURE: Barnum, Minnesota Barry-Best Special Brennan Lumber Company Brennan, Minnesota Brook Park, Minnesota * Carlton, Minnesota Eastern Minnesota Railroad (now Northern Pacific or Burlington Northern) Eastern Minnesota Railway Depot Finlayson, Minnesota Hinkley, Minnesota * Kerrick, Minnesota Mansfield, Minnesota Miller, Wisconsin Mille Lacs, Minnesota Mission Creek, Minnesota Mission Logging Camp Partridge, Minnesota Pine City, Minnesota Pokegama, Minnesota Rutledge, Minnesota Sandstone, Minnesota Skunk Lake, Minnesota * St. Paul & Duluth’s “Fast Limited” Number 69 * St. Paul, Minnesota Train Number 13, St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Train Number 4, St. Paul & Duluth Railroad West Superior, Wisconsin White Bear, Minnesota THE TRAIN THAT RACED DEATH OLD RAILROAD MEMORABILIA IS RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING While others clip ads from magazines, I save history. It’s a shame that our past is being lost. It’s as simple as that. My wife kids me that after I find a piece I like, buy it, read it, research it, take a picture, scan it, write the blurb, pay the eCRATER entry fee and commission, that I end up making about 50 cents an hour. But, OH HOW I LOVE THIS OLD RAILROAD HISTORY. What a story, Rare Story!!! Great Pictures. You will love it as it was published in this old complete western magazine of many years ago. The issue is in good condition, the cover is in vibrant color. As clearly stated in my description, this is featured story in a rarely found and seldom read unusual and complete western magazine. I don't give out name of publication or date because I have caught competitors copying my index and work and trying to sell it as theirs. I hope you understand. Buyer pays postage of $3.50 First Class Postage to U. S., $4.50 to Canada. $4.60 Priority Mail. $11.00 Par Avion (Air Mail) for International Mail. Texans must pay 8-¼ % sales tax. Thanks, Tom A GENEALOGY IMAGESOFHISTORY COPYRIGHTED PRESENTATION On Nov-15-07 at 12:18:48 PST, seller added the following information: Use the FREE Counters 1 million sellers do - Vendio! On Nov-15-07 at 12:20:41 PST, seller added the following information: Use the FREE Counters 1 million sellers do - Vendio! On Nov-16-07 at 09:06:10 PST, seller added the following information: Use the FREE Counters 1 million sellers do - Vendio! On Nov-16-07 at 09:10:16 PST, seller added the following information: Use the FREE Counters 1 million sellers do - Vendio! Powered by eCRATER . List your items fast and easy and manage your active items.On Aug-25-09 at 14:33:29 PDT, seller added the following information:IF ITEM CONDITION ABOVE IS LISTED AS "NEW", THIS IS AN ERROR. ITEM CONDITION IS "USED".