May 1, 1879 Chaska Valley Herald A passing train on the Mpls. Railroad on Monday morning, set fire to a very large pile of sawed wood near Kennings planing mill, but prompt alarm of fire called the fire co. and other citizens to the rescue who soon put the fire out.

June 5, 1879 Shakopee Argus It is rumored in private and semiofficial circles that the MSt.L. R.R. Co. are going to construct a second track along the present line from Mpls. to Merriam Jct. It is claimed that the second track is to be used by the Sioux City & St. Paul Co. This company as is well known, have been endeavoring for some time to obtain entrance to Mpls. If this report be well founded this action on the part of the Sioux City Co. will be the most important change that has taken in railroad circles in Minnesota for years.

June 26, 1879 Chaska Valley Herald Peter Drucke, of Chanhassen, had a good piece of fence destroyed by fire, from the sparks from a locomotive on the Mpls. Rd.

July 3, 1879 Chaska Valley Herald The M&St.L. R.R. Co. are going to entirely re-build the Vogel bridge. The timber is now on the ground and work will commence immediately. A much needed improvement.

July 10, 1879 Chaska Valley Herald Action has been brought against the M&ST.L. R.R. by Henry Teich, Rudolf Teich and Peter Drucke for damages sustained by them last spring, by losses by fire. Sparks from a passing train setting fire to fences and timber. These men after many attempts to settle the matter with the company, have at last had to bring it before the courts.

Sept 4, 1879 Shakopee Argus The M&St.L. R.R. Co. have put in a new trestle in place of the old one near Eden Prairie station. The high trestle opposite this city is in a dangerous condition. The timbers are weak and decayed.

Jan 22, 1880 Chaska Valley Herald Chief Engineer Rich, of the Mpls. R.R. was in town last week at the head of a surveying party, bound for Waconia. He is looking over a line from Mpls. southwest to intersect the Winona & St. Peter road. He is unable to give any idea of the practicability of the route until he has fully examined the nature of the country between the two points named.

May 13, 1880 Chaska Valley Herald The Mpls. and St. Louis road is building a branch road from Hopkins station to Hotel St. Louis, Lake Minnetonka. It will be finished by July.

July 16, 1880 Chaska Valley Herald Station agent Luck, has gone to Fort Dodge, Iowa, to take charge of the new Mpls. depot, until the company can find a competent agent for that station.

Sept 16, 1880 Shakopee Argus Passengers to Mpls. last week found the trestle opposite this city a convenient place to take the cars. Would it not be advisable for the city council to enter into negotiations with M&St.L. R.R. Co., whereby a depot, or at least a platform, will be constructed at this trestle.

Sept 23, 1880 Shakopee Argus A son of John Cavanaugh, who lives near Riley's Lake, in Carver Co., was run over by a hand car yesterday afternoon and severely injured. He was riding on the car which broke in some manner and threw the occupants to the ground. The boy was thrown on the track in front of the car and the wheels passed over him. he was considerably bruised and one wrist put out of joint. Dr. Lord was called and dressed the injuries.

Jan 6, 1881 Shakopee Argus Friday night a serious accident took place on the M&St.L. R.R. opposite this city. A freight train was thrown from the track by a broken rail just as the train was nearing the high trestle work opposite town. The engine and nine cars left the track and were precipitated down the embankment. four of the cars were loaded with wheat and though the cars were forced from the tracks but little wheat was lost. The engine turned completely over, injuring the engineer and fireman slightly. Had the broken rail been but a few feet further on, the train would have been thrown into a gully 90 feet deep.

Mar 10, 1881 Shakopee Argus Superintendent Gaylord of the M&St.L. R.R. has written City Recorder, Julius Collier, that he will construct a station house at the trestle opposite Shakopee this coming summer.

June 23, 1881 Shakopee Argus The M&St.L. evening passenger train has changed time. It arrives at Mpls. at 9:00 p.m. instead of 6:50 as formerly. Passengers wishing to take this train at the trestle opposite this city, should be in waiting at 8:15. The trestle is now a Flag station.

June 30, 1881 Shakopee Argus Track laying has begun on the new line of the M&St.L. R.R. Trains are expected to be running to the docks at Excelsior by July 4th.

Sept 1, 1881 Shakopee Argus The M&St.L. R.R. trains now run into Excelsior, the bridge and draw at Solberg's point having been finished. Also yesterday the Lyndale Motor line finished it's track to Excelsior. Mpls. will have little difficulty in reaching the best known watering place in the northwest.

Sept 15, 1881 Shakopee Argus A wrecked freight train on the M&St.L. road delayed the passenger train on that railway Monday evening until midnight. Several Shakopeeites were aboard.

Feb 9, 1882 Shakopee Argus Those who have occasion to take the Mpls. train on the M&St.L. road at the trestle will be pleased to learn that a station house has been built at that point. It is small but comfortable, which is all that can be asked.

Mar 23, 1882 Shakopee Argus (Jordan Items) Last Thursday morning a wreck occurred on the M&St.L. road, about a mile from Jordan, caused by a car jumping the track. Four cars were ditched, two of which were loaded with horses, but fortunately none were killed.

May 4, 1882 Shakopee Argus The much talked of purchase of the M&St.L. R.R. by the Rock Island and St. Paul & Omaha companies has been effected. Monday a reorganization took place.

July 20, 1882 Chaska Valley Herald A brakeman, on the M&St.L. R.R. gravel train, by mishap fell under the train and had his right leg crushed, last Monday, so that amputation was necessary and performed by Dr. Lewis, on Monday afternoon with satisfactory results.

July 27, 1882 Chaska Valley Herald Theodore Suptig, the Polander brakeman, who had his leg amputated last week by Dr. Lewis, died on Friday and was buried in the Catholic cemetery on Saturday. His death is the result of internal injuries received at the time of the accident. We are informed that he leaves a wife and three children in the old country.

Aug 10, 1882 Shakopee Argus The M&St.L. road is doing immense freight traffic. It is rumored that trains on that road are to run into Mpls. via Merriam Jct. and the St. Paul over the St. Paul & Omaha, while the former road is graded opposite the city. Freight trains find much difficulty in climbing the grade from Chaska to Eden Prairie.

Oct 12, 1882 Shakopee Argus The Pioneer Press of the 10th contains the following: The M&St.L. road occupied the Sioux City freight house at the levee. The road does it's own handling of freight now, into St. Paul, over the Chicago, St. Paul, Mpls., & Omaha line from Merriam Jct. It is reported that the Omaha line will use the M&St.L. tracks from Merriam Jct. to Mpls.

Nov 23, 1882 Shakopee Argus Synopsis of article: John Galvin, conductor on the M&St.L. R.R., killed at Jordan. foot got got caught in frog, Shakopee Courier also has story.

Nov 23, 1882 Chaska Valley Herald The M&St.L. R.R. have placed two push engines at Chaska, one for day work and the other for night work and will remain here for the winter. The engines employ 10 men who will make the Merchants hotel headquarters during the winter. The heavy freight trains running over the road render this step necessary. The M&St.L. R.R. have been putting in extra side tracks in this village, their enormous business demanding it.

Jan 4, 1883 Chaska Valley Herald Gerhard Lenharts, a farmer of Chanhassen, had a very narrow escape from instant death last Wednesday. In driving down the hill near Joseph Vogel's on his way to Shakopee, the road making a sharp curve, he drove upon the M&St.L. R.R. track just in advance of a passing train and in consequence of the planks having been taken out between the rails, the sleigh became fastened between the rails and the locomotive struck the sleigh, throwing the whole rig to one side of the road, Mr. L., providentially escaping with a broken knee pan and other bad bruises about the head and shoulders. The sleigh and harness were demolished, but the horses also escapes with some bad wounds. Taken altogether it was a fortunate escape and should cost the company a round sum for damages in view of the fact that the section men removed the planks between the rails, rendering crossing by teams a very dangerous expedient.

Aug 2, 1883 Shakopee Argus What Shakopee wants, what Mpls. wants and what would be of considerable benefit to the M&St.L. R.R. is a passenger depot of respectable size and a freight depot at the trestle opposite Shakopee. If both these were erected then hacks would be run for passengers and a regular truck line for freight would be operated. From the trestle to Shakopee it is down grade and the roads are nearly always in good condition. Mpls. would receive double the trade from Shakopee that she now does and the St. Louis road would handle a large amount of freight for this city.

Sept 13, 1883 Shakopee Argus Joseph Stokes, a farmer living at Merriam Jct., was run over buy the cars Wednesday morning and almost instantly killed.

Oct 4, 1883 Shakopee Argus Fatal Collision- Shortly after 4 o'clock Friday morning an accident occurred on the M&St.L. R.R.Ð.opposite this city which resulted in the death of 4 persons. Two freights, the regular and the special, left Chaska a few moments apart. The head train consisted of 18 cars and a caboose. The grade about 2 miles from Chaska gradually rises until it reaches 60 feet to the mile. Here the head freight broke in two, 9 cars and the caboose running back down the steep grade. The special was just at the foot of the hill and running at full speed when she was struck by the broken section. The engine of the special and five cars and five cars of the regular were totally smashed. Every effort was made by the conductor and brakesman to stop the wild section but the brakes were out of order. The trains came together with tremendous force and the engineer, fireman and brakesman were instantly killed, as was also a stockman who was riding in the caboose. One of the wrecked cars was filled with cattle, of which 20 were killed, only one escaping.

Oct 4, 1883 Chaska Valley Herald Killed in a Collision- A terrible accident occurred on the M&St.L. R.R. on Vogel's hill, shortly after 4 o'clock on last Friday morning. We copy the following account of the disaster from the Pioneer Press special, who was upon the ground shortly after the accident. "The regular freight train, No. 35 leaving Chaska at 4:38, was followed by a special freight, which left about 10 minutes later. No. 35 consisted of 18 cars and a caboose. At the hill 2 1/2 miles south of Chaska, where the grade is 60 feet to the mile, No. 35 broke in two, 9 cars and a caboose running backward down the hill. At the foot of the hill this section struck the special, smashing 4 cars, the caboose and the engine of the latter and five cars of No. 35. The conductor and brakeman endeavored to stop the wild section as soon as the breakage was discovered, but half the brakes were out of order and the remainder were unable to stop the train. When the collision occurred, the special was running at full speed, the loose section at about 4 or 5 miles an hour. The train struck with tremendous force, the engine was hurled from the track and the engineer, fireman and brakeman killed instantly. The car of No. 35 were piled up in a splintered mass to the south of the track. P.H. McAuliffe, a stock dealer, who was riding in the caboose, was killed. One of the derailed cars was filled with cattle, 20 head of which were killed, one heifer escaping. Supt. Clark left Mpls. with a wrecking train at 7 and the track was cleared by noon. The bodies of the engineer, William Snow and fireman, James McCann were found in the engine, which lay on it's side. The stockman, McAuliffe, was found under a overturned box car in the swamp, south of the track. The bodies were horribly mangled, a terrible gash extending over the engineer's face from the chin to the forehead. The throttle of the engine was wide open, which conclusively proves that the back running train was not seen until the collision. The killed were: William Snow, Mpls., engineer, James McCann, Mpls., fireman, Michael Maloney, Michigan, brakeman and P.H. McAuliffe, stockman in the employ of Charles Witte.

Oct 4, 1883 Shakopee Courier This article is the same as the Shakopee Argus and the Chaska Valley Herald, except they added this: A dense fog prevailed at the time which must have prevented the runaway train being seen by the engineer. The wood work of the wreck was afterwards burned by the company, while neighboring Indian settlers got away with all the beef they wanted; and we understand some of them were over on Sunday and cleaned up the wet and damaged wheat; good for chicken feed.

Nov 29, 1883 Chaska Valley Herald A cattle car attached to a freight train on the M&St.L. R.R. was thrown from the track last Friday on the Summitt opposite Shakopee while trying to side track. The train hands promptly knocked the car to pieces, saving all the cattle but one. Apr 17, 1884 Shakopee Courier John Stuart Jr., of Eden Prairie, Killed by the Cars. On last Thursday evening, 7:40, a young man of 20 years named John Stuart Jr. whose father is a well known Eden Prairie farmer, while returning from Mpls., afoot, in the company with another youth named John Balme, crossing a trestle on the M&St.L. R.R. near Hopkins station, was struck by a passing train and killed. Balme, who was behind, warned him the train was coming swinging himself off to one side on a cross tie, while Stuart attempted to run forward and off the trestle, but was caught by the engine a couple of ties from the end. After the train had passed, Balme found the remains of his unfortunate companion lying on the track, with the head disevered, an arm cut away and otherwise horribly mangled. Hurrying on he reported the facts to the station men and thence to Goodrich's on Eden Prairie to two half brothers of Stuart. During the night the remains were gathered up, after, it is said, being rolled and run over by other passing trains; Mr. Ezra Paine of Shakopee was among those who assisted in the sorrowful task of picking up the cut and scattered portions thereof. The engineer of the first train didn't notice the accident until many miles away when, while oiling up at some station, he found a suspender and a piece of flesh on the locomotive. May 22, 1884 Shakopee Courier Mr. F.A. Tuck, the accommodating agent of the "M&St.L" notifies of change in time as will be seen above. The trestle station is called "Summit." Sept 25, 1884 Shakopee Argus The M&St.L. depot at Carver was broken in to last weekend a trunk broken open and articles of value taken therefrom. Dec 11, 1884 Shakopee Courier Sad Accident- A fatal accident occurred at Merriam Jct. last week whereby a young man of Le Suer, a brakeman on conductor Moriarity's freight train, caught his foot in a frog and was run over and killed. Dec 25, 1884 Chaska Valley herald It is reported that the officials of the M&St.L. R.R. are discharging all their depot agents who are not married and replacing them with married men. They first notify the agent and inform him he can hold his position providing he takes unto himself a better half in a specified time, if not he gets the g.b. This is a mighty good scheme for some of the young men in this cold country, but still it is rather rough on the poor girl.- Arlington Enterprise

Jan 15, 1885 Shakopee Argus Last Thursday two trains collided on the M&St.L. R.R. near Chaska, but without any serious result, the trains were delayed several hours.

Jan 22, 1885 Shakopee Argus If our Board of Trade had any life they would petition the officials of the M&St.L. R.R. to change their track from the present location along the bluff and have it come directly through the bluff from Riley's lake to a certain point on the river bank and from thence circle through the bottoms until it would strike the old location at Yorkville prairie. We do not think that it would require much effort to convince the railway officers that such a course would prove beneficial to them. First they would do away with both of the high trestles and the fill through the bottoms could easily be made from materials obtained from the cut through the bluff. Our road demonstrates the fact that an eight feet fill would be more than sufficient. Then they would naturally get the largest percentage of our trade, as it would be a direct line to Mpls. and a good line to St. Paul. Our citizens have fooled around long enough with St. Paul, let us affiliate with its more energetic neighbors, the metropolis of the state, Mpls.

May 14, 1885 Chaska Valley Herald Will the M&St.L. . rebuild the depot at this place in order to comply with the law enacted last winter or will the two companies unite and jointly build a union depot. Our people are anxious to know before the first of June.

May 28, 1885 Chaska Valley Herald August Vahl, a prominent farmer of Waconia, had a valuable mare killed by the M&St.L. R.R. at the crossing near Leivermanns brewery last Thursday evening. His team was feeding some distance from the track and became frightened and unmanageable at an approaching train and broke away from Mr. Vahl and ran upon the track before a passing train.

Nov 26, 1885 Chaska Valley Herald New Depot Building- Chaska has finally been accorded ample depot accommodations by both the H&D and M&St.L. R.R.'s.(Goes on and gives dimensions)

May 6, 1886 Chaska Valley Herald Mr. C. Monnis, of Louisville, Scott Co., and father of the Monnis bros., was struck by an engine on the Mpls. railroad track just this side of Carver on Monday afternoon and killed, living but a few moments after being struck. he was hard of hearing and probably did not hear the signal to clear the track. He was upward of 80 years of age and well known as an old settler, having resided on his Louisville farm over 30 years.

May 13, 1886 Scott Co. Argus (E.P. Col) Two young bloods of Eden Prairie after visiting with friends near the depot until a late hour at night started for home. Finding the box cars invitingly near and slowly moving, they climbed up, supposing the cars were being sidetracked. The train slowly, but surely, moved out of the depot and obligingly side tracked in Chaska; and those two well known gents mourn, fully plodded their way home, sadder but wiser men. But this is a profound secret, as they will know when this paragraph meets their gaze.

July 14, 1886 Shakopee Courier Last Sat. night, July 3, some parties broke two window lights in the Shakopee flag station, High trestle. Got in and kicked the stuffing out of the desk, left their supper on the floor and made a muss generally. The agent is a mild mannered, christian gentleman, who never did anyone harm and if they had been around next morning when he arrived he would have given them a father's blessing.

Aug 12, 1886 Chaska Valley Herald A train on the M&St.L. R.R. was wrecked at this place on Sat. afternoon, doing but little damage however. It seems that the engine had pushed a number of cars on the main track, while the engine started back to run up the side track, but before fully reaching the same, the cars came on the engine striking her in the side, partially throwing her from the track. The brakes were not set on the cars backed upon the main track, hence the accident.

Sept 8, 1886 Shakopee Courier An elderly man named Chase, a peddler, was found dead under a M&St.L. R.R. bridge on Eden Prairie last Saturday.

April 13, 1887 Scott Co. Argus Dierberger's "bus line" carried 33 passengers to and from the trestle last Saturday. It appears as if it paid the M&St.L. R.R. to build that little depot and open a ticket office at Shakopee station.

June 15, 1887 Shakopee Courier During the big rain last evening, they had a washout over at the high trestle on the M&St.L. R.R., whereby their trains as also the Omaha, are running through Shakopee today. The wagon bridge below was washed away and several stays out of the central part of the trestle.

Aug 4, 1887 Chaska Valley Herald Marshall Ehrmanntraut and a number of assistants, arresting 6 hard looking tramps, which were on the 10 o'clock freight on the M&St.L. R.R., on Thursday evening. They had attacked the conductor and brakeman on the Omaha train at a small station just below Hopkins the same evening, inflicting bad wounds on the brakeman. Sheriff DuToit kept them in jail until Sat. afternoon, when detective Austin of the Omaha came up after them. They were a hard lot and deserve to be sent over the road for a number of years.

Sept 29, 1887 Chaska Valley Herald A lamp exploded in the gents waiting room in the St. Louis depot Sat. evening, setting the room on fire. Operator being the only person present had his hands full putting out the fire. As it is the room is badly charred.

Oct 12, 1887 Scott Co. Argus A number of Shakopeeans drove over to Chaska last night to see the President and Mrs. Cleveland. A large crowd, headed by the Chaska band, awaited the stopping of the train at the railroad crossing and were rewarded by seeing both Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland.

May 31, 1888 Chaska Valley Herald A vein of soft coal has been discovered on the line of the M&St.L. road near Jordan at a depth of 70 feet below the surface. The deposit is said to be extensive and a company has already been formed to continue explorations and open a mine as soon as practicable.

July 11, 1888 Shakopee Courier A new railroad line has been surveyed within 15 feet of the right of way of the M&St.L. opposite Shakopee. A party of 16 surveyors being now encamped at Reimer's place. The new road starts from New Ulm, passing Merriam Jct, Chaska, ect., and is called the "St. Paul, New Ulm & Southwestern."

July 18, 1888 Shakopee Courier Killed on the line of the M&St.L. R.R., Sunday evening last between Riley's lake and Eden Prairie, Edward Breddy. Engineer of the passenger train saw something lying on the track and blew his whistle but didn't succeed in stopping until part of the pilot had passed over the body. Deceased was about 25 years of age and through the day had been at the lake with some of his friends. He was employed on the same section where killed and is supposed to have a sister at Wayzeta and other friends in Iowa.

July 20, 1888 Scott Co. Argus Edward Breddy, a section hand on the M&St.L. at Washburn, was run over by a passenger train Sunday near Riley's lake and instantly killed. It is said he was under the influence of liquor and went to sleep on the track.

June 14, 1889 Shakopee Courier We are informed by Mr. Tuck, agent of the company at the high trestle that the M&St.L. R.R. have put in new timbers at the upper trestle near his house and have repaired the foundation of the "High Trestle" opposite Shakopee.

Nov 22, 1889 Shakopee Courier Died- William Lagyow, while working on "Walsh's Section" of the St. Louis railway, near the high trestle, on Thursday, 14th, suddenly dropped dead. The coroner came from Mpls. and pronounced heart disease. He was 24 years old and leaves a young wife and child. Was buried from the Luthern church, Shakopee, on Saturday.

July 24, 1890 Chaska Valley Herald The morning train on the St. Louis road on Monday morning, jumped the track just the other side of the summit, without hurting anybody and doing no damage beyond delaying the train a few hours.

Oct 10, 1890 Shakopee Courier The work on the new Shakopee high trestle is rapidly advancing, it being now about half finished. About 25 men are at work thereon. Nov 14, 1890 Shakopee Courier On Wednesday evening, two freights collided near Eden Prairie on the M&St.L., whereby the mails were delayed and the M&St.L. north bound had to take the Omaha via Shakopee.

Sept 10, 1891 Scott Co. Argus Chas. Peterson, a brakeman on the Omaha freight that goes from Merriam Jct. over the M&St.L. road to the cities, fell between the cars just after the train pulled out of Carver last night, about 10 o'clock and had his left arm run over. The train had nearly reached Chaska before he was missed. It went back and the injured man was taken to the Jct. and about 3 o'clock this morning was brought here on the engine and his arm amputated just below the elbow by Dr.'s Dunn and Smith.

Oct 15, 1891 Scott Co. Argus A large number of persons from town went across the river Sunday to view the wreck on the M&St.L. road which occurred about 4 o'clock in the morning between an Omaha freight running over that line from Mpls. and an M&St.L. freight going to the city. The M&St.L. train going in had orders to meet at Summit siding (near Riley's lake) and the other train was ordered to meet at Chaska. They met between the two points with fatal results to the fireman of the M&St.L. engine. The engineer and a brakesman of the St. Louis train jumped and called to the fireman to do so. He was too late and was caught between the tender and the cab and crushed to death. The engineer and fireman of the Omaha both jumped and were practically uninjured. The wreck occurred on the heavy grade between the two high trestles and owing to the slow speed of the two trains, was not a very serious to rollingstock. The two engines were interlocked but only partially left the rails and though two cars were telescoped, they were not thrown from the track. The railroad was clearing by evening.

Oct 15, 1891 Shakopee Courier -Special to the Globe, Shakopee, Minn., Oct 11. A head end collision occurred this morning at 4 o'clock on the M&St.L. road north of this city between an Omaha and a M&St.L. freight. Fireman Thos. Rogers of Albert Lea was killed , being wedged between the cab and the tender. The engineers and other fireman saved their lives by jumping. Both engines are badly stove up and the tenders of the engines are crushed through the first freight cars. The engineer of the Omaha claims that his orders were to run to Chaska and the engineer of the Mpls., that he was to run to the Summit, a mile east of the accident, therefore, they both seem too be blameless.

Oct 15, 1891 Chaska Valley Herald A serious collision occurred on Sunday morning on the summit four miles from town on the M&St.L road, between an Omaha and a St. Louis freight, which essayed the difficult task of passing each other while going in opposite directions. Fireman Thomas Rogers of Albert Lea of the St. Louis train was killed being wedged between the cab and the tender. the other train men saved themselves by jumping. Both engines and tenders are badly stove up. The accident is said to be a blunder by the train dispatcher which ordered one train side track at Chaska and the other at the summit. For some reason only known to the Railroad Co., the body was sent to Albert Lea, before an inquest could be held. What the result may be we do not know.

May 12, 1892 Chaska Valley Herald The work of putting down steel rails on the M&St.L. R.R., has been commenced on the line north of here.

June 2, 1892 Shakopee Courier A fatal accident occurred at Merriam Jct. last Friday, whereby a Swede named Nelson of Carver was killed outright by the train, supposed to have backed down on him.