Railroad accident at 102nd Street

The Pere Marquette was a railway that carried passengers to resort and vacation areas in Michigan. On the morning of Monday, June 14, 1920, the Pere Marquette “Resort Special” was passing through the East Side neighborhood, returning passengers from Petoskey and Traverse City, Michigan. At approximately 8:45 am, it ran head on into a slow moving freight train in the rail yards near 103rd St and Indianapolis Boulevard. According to newspaper accounts, the “locomotives were locked while the first coach was telescoped.” The conductor was killed and the injured were taken to South Chicago Hospital. Fortunately, a fire caused by the crash was quickly extinguished. The crew of the passenger train was arrested and taken to the South Chicago police station. The accident was blamed on confusion in switching orders.