We all know about the most notorious crimes in Nebraska, like Charles Starkweather’s trail of mayhem. But a mass murder in Lincoln once killed 11 people all at once, and many Nebraskans have no idea it ever happened.
Today, Wilderness Park in Lincoln is known for its beautiful trails and splendid natural setting in the middle of the city. But in on August 9, 1894, it was the site of a horrific train wreck.
By CrunchySkies - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26001509 A Rock Island Railroad train carrying two passenger cars was traveling from Fairbury to Lincoln. Just a few minutes before its schedule arrival, the train was crossing a trestle over what is now the Jamaica North Trail when something went wrong. The train plummeted 40 feet off of the trestle, taking the two passenger cars with it.
The train’s burning coals went flying and a massive fire broke out, but dedicated brakeman Harry Foote worked tirelessly to pull victims from the wreckage. If not for him, the casualty count would have been much higher. Eleven of the 33 passengers died that day.
By CrunchySkies - Took this photo with my phone on 24 March 2012.Previously published: n/a, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21326848 Upon inspection, it became clear that the crash was the result of intentional sabotage. Spikes had been pulled from the tracks, and marks in the ties indicated that someone had used tools to tamper with the section of track. Police found a heavy crowbar near the site, leaving no doubt that this was the work of a saboteur.
Some passengers claimed to have seen local man George Washington Davis holding a lantern near the crash site. Suspicions turned to him, and he was quickly arrested and tried in court.
By Unknown; Public Domain. This is an image of a train wreck which occurred in 1894. - Lincoln Journal-Star file photo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30121898 The first trial was unsuccessful: the jury could not convict Davis of first degree murder. He was tried again and this time convicted of second degree murder. Davis maintained his innocence through both trials, and did not confess even after being sent to prison. A large group of supporters stood behind Davis and campaigned for his release.
After serving ten years in prison, Davis was released in 1905 by then-governor John Mickey. Mickey – along with plenty of other people – had serious doubts as to Davis’ guilt. The governor cited a lack of evidence and an absence of motive in his decision to grant Mr. Davis parole.
By CrunchySkies - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26001509
A Rock Island Railroad train carrying two passenger cars was traveling from Fairbury to Lincoln. Just a few minutes before its schedule arrival, the train was crossing a trestle over what is now the Jamaica North Trail when something went wrong. The train plummeted 40 feet off of the trestle, taking the two passenger cars with it.
By CrunchySkies - Took this photo with my phone on 24 March 2012.Previously published: n/a, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21326848
Upon inspection, it became clear that the crash was the result of intentional sabotage. Spikes had been pulled from the tracks, and marks in the ties indicated that someone had used tools to tamper with the section of track. Police found a heavy crowbar near the site, leaving no doubt that this was the work of a saboteur.
By Unknown; Public Domain. This is an image of a train wreck which occurred in 1894. - Lincoln Journal-Star file photo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30121898
The first trial was unsuccessful: the jury could not convict Davis of first degree murder. He was tried again and this time convicted of second degree murder. Davis maintained his innocence through both trials, and did not confess even after being sent to prison. A large group of supporters stood behind Davis and campaigned for his release.
To this day, no one else has been able to name a motive or another possible perpetrator. Although it was one of the deadliest crimes in the state, we will probably never know who sent that train plunging from the trestle. More importantly, we will never know why.
You can now walk under the ill-fated trestle on the North Jamaica Trail in Wilderness Park and see a historical marker that tells the tale of this awful tragedy.
For another unsolved crime from Nebraska’s past, read this article.
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