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Our other old Engine had failed a week before, though I had Men in St Louis trying to repair it. So our work was very pressing for the one engine. However at 4 P.M. we were in order and started to commence our day's work. Mitchell & I both came up here to Ducoign on the Train. As it was a night Train great care requisite & absolutely necessary to be back to the River to load again before 7 the next Morning to bring up Mr Mason & his party. One or more of us would keep with the Train. I had intended to go up myself leaving Mitchell to sleep till the Train came along back: but I hardly know how it went differently, from some impulse of Mitchell's I believe, for I certainly wanted & intended to go up. But I did stay & Mitchell went on with the Train. It was then just dark. Three miles above here a cow jumped suddenly on the Track immediately before the Train, and in less probably than half a minute, that train engine & gears was one Mass of ruins. It was doubtless within 10 minutes from the time it left this station. I was soon there with lights and help Dr Ray who lives here & other Drs sent for. Mitchell and the Men on the Engine (who were not seriously hurt) had already removed the wounded. There were 15 men on the Train. All were more or less jarred & shocked. 5 picked themselves up and went off, these were laboring men. Two others were knocked senseless but removed to a house, and soon got over it, are really unhurt There were three on the Engine. Our Engineer & fireman jumped off and were uninjured. The other Engineman & Machiner's from the 1st Div. staid on the Engine to the last, was jammed up against the Firebox & bruised a little. It is a wonder he was not killed. If he had jumped off on the side he was on he must have been killed, though that would have been called his chance for safety. By neglecting it he was saved. The other two happened to jump just right. Thos Taylor, the Brakeman was picked up, his thigh dreadfully crushed.