Lauzon, Lévis, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy)
1890 - BRIDGE WENT DOWN - ENTIRE PASSENGER TRAIN SMASHED IN PIECES. ENGINE AND BAGGAGE CAR ALONE REMAIN ON TRACK - TEN PASSENGERS KILLED AND MANY INJURED.

Quebec, Dec. 18. - The express train from Halifax on the Intercolonial which was due at Levis at 11:40 a.m., met with a frightful accident about three miles from its destination.
The scene of the wreck is an embankment at St. Joseph de Levis. The train was made up of a baggage and mail car, one second class, one first class and one sleeper. It was running at a high speed, and after passing St. Joseph Station, the second-class coach appears to have jumped the track at the end of the station siding on a curve and to have dragged the first-class car and sleeper with it, and also to have derailed the mail car and baggage car ahead of it. The three passenger cars ran diagonaly along the embankment for two hundred yards, the second class car striking the western abutment of the bridge which carries the track over the public highway at this point. It was in this car that the sacrifice of life occurred the front of the car being smashed to atoms against the solid stone abutments. The three cars turned over, the first class car being badly shattered. Fortunately the curve on which they were running threw the cars away from each other and through the heavy sleeped was carried half the length of the first-class car, it ran alongside of it instead of crushing through as it would have done on a straight line. The sleeper was not so badly smashed as the other cars. The engine still drawing the baggage and mail cars passed over the bridge, the timbers of which were badly broken up by the two cars derailed and by the piling up of those in the rear. After passing the bridge the mail car went down the embankment, having apparently turned completely over in the descent. The engine and derailed baggage car continued on passing over the second road bridge safely, and were brought to a standstill a few hundred yards further on. As soon as the news of the disaster reached the city, a number of medical men crossed over, and joining their confreres of Levis, went down in a special train to the scene of the disaster and rendered efficient aid to the wounded passengers.
The following is a list of the dead and wounded so far as it has been possible to learn in the prevailing excitement:

M. BLAIS, merchant, of Kenowashaw, was on the platform of the first class car and jumped, but was caught under the car platform and was crushed to death.

XAVIER LEETOE, aged 17, of Levis, had gone to Harlaja Station on the pilot of the engine to meet his father, who was on the ill-fated train. The boy's form was mangled beyond recognition.

Two young men of Jewish origin who carried on business as peddlers in the lower parishes were found close to each other, pinned to the ground by heavy timbers and car wheels.

A man named GAUVIN, from some of the lower parishes, and the train news agent, named WIMER.

It is believed that two or three more bodies will be found when the wreckage is cleared out. The bodies have been placed in the old bank building at Levis, under special guards, by the coroner's order, pending the inquest, which is to take place in the morning.

The wounded are:

MR. and MRS. FULLER, of Halifax, several internal injuries and numerous contusions. MRS. FULLER was fatally hurt.

MR. COTE, residence St. Gervais, Rimouski, internal injuries.
A newsboy named MICHAEL, of Levis, badly bruised about the body.

THOMAS FOLEY, of Halifax, large hole in his head and badly bruised about the body.

MISS FOLEY, his daughter, slightly bruised.

MICHAEL LEBET, aged 78, from Kamouraska, and father of Dr. Lebet, Quebec, fatally injured.

Brakeman BEAULIEN, fatally injured.

EVAUSTE COYETTE, from St. Claire, seriously injured about the body and internally.

MRS. G. GAGNON, of Levis, right leg badly crushed and internal injuries.

MR. DIONNE, merchant, from St. Dennis, Kamouraska, contusions about the head and body and internal injuries.

MR. SIMPSON, Montreal, insensible when seen; bruised in the face and legs.

MR. and MRS. BEAULIEU, from St. Anne De Lapocatiere, Kamouraska, severely injured.

T. WILSON, from Nova Scotia, right leg fractured and bruises in the face.

MR. BEAUCHER, from St. Perpetu, injured internally; leg broken, face horribly mangled.

HERMIGLDE GAGNON, from St. Felicite, leg broken and head cut in several places.

J. FARREL, Dundas, Ont., internally injured; removed to the Jeffery Hale Hospital.

MR. HOLSTEIN, of Nova Scotia, and DR. MORRISETTE, from St. Henedine, bruised.

ALFRED DOBSON, of Campbellton, legs broken.

THOS. PELLETIER, scalp wound.

DR. TANGNAY, from St. Gervais, bruised in the face and legs.

A. MEGNEAULT, of Sandy Bay, ribs broken and other internal injuries; dying.

M. ARESENEAULT, of Levis, badly bruised.

REV. M. GARNEAU, of Beaumont, slightly bruised.

O. BRECHER, and M. PLANTE, slightly bruised.

A priest of the Redemptionist order was badly cut about the head.

ALFRED ANSEN, leg fractured in several places.

MRS. CARON, of St. Claire, a scalp wound.

GEO. WALKER, conductor of the train bruises in the face.

FERDINAND MARCEAU, of Levis, scalp wound and broken fingers.

M. LAVOCE, baggage man, dislocated shoulder.

EUGENE ROBITAILLE, of Lorette, hand mashed and fractured leg.

Also several wounded persons whose names it has been impossible to find out owing their being scattered in private houses, the residents of which refuse admission according to the doctors' orders. Incoming trains from the lower parishes bring into the scenes of the disaster hundreds of relations and friends of the killed and wounded and the excitement and sorrow are intense. The Intercolonial Railway officials with gangs of men are busy clearing the wreckage and in getting the railway line into shape.

Manitoba Daily Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
December 19, 1890

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