In the scorching October heat of 1913, a tale of horror unfolded in the small town of Mexico, Missouri. A troop train, carrying the Eighth Regiment’s finest, careened out of control through a treacherous ravine near the State Line, Missouri. The engine tender’s steel heart was pierced by a tree tie, sending the train plummeting 60 feet into the abyss. The aftermath was a scene from a nightmare: 20 brave soldiers were killed, their bodies twisted and broken like the steel that had failed them. Over 100 others were injured, their screams echoing through the ravine as they struggled to free themselves from the wreckage. Sixteen of the injured were rushed to hospitals, where they clung to life amidst the chaos. Tragically, at least four more bodies were pinned beneath the wreckage, their fate a grim reminder of the unforgiving power of nature.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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