Photos
Domonick Paflinski Train Robber "Domonick Paflinski planned the train robbery and wreck in which an engineer was killed in 1894 between Bradley and Heafford. Sentenced to 25 years, Paflinski went to Northern Hospital for the criminally insane where he died 5/12/1927." [wisconsinhistory.org]Leverette C. Hazelton Train Robber "Leverette C. Hazelton and partner wrecked and robbed a train between Heafford and Bradley in 1894; killing the engineer. Hazelton was sentenced to 20 years at Waupun and died of Tb in 1899. [wisconsinhistory.org]
"Train wreck of Soo Line" Wisconsin Historical Society hosted by: [wxpr.org]
Heafford Junction depot, 1939 "Looking westbound along the Soo Line, the depot is surrounded by a broad platform."This was the Combination Station for the Milwaukee Road and the Soo Line. [wisconsinhistory.org] Wisconsin Historical Society
Northern Hospital for the Criminally Insane "In 1870 a law was passed authorizing the creation of The Northern Hospital for the Insane, opening its doors to patients in 1873 for a total cost to the State of six hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars." [wisconsinhistory.org]
Passenger trains at Bradley, 1900-1918 "The MTW ran a passenger train twice a day to Bradley until Oct. 1918, connecting with the Soo Line day trains between Pembine and the Twin Cities. About 10am one morning, westbound Soo Line train #85 is exchanging a few passengers, some mail and mounds of express with the one-car MTW train." [wisconsinhistory.org]
Plat map, Lincoln County, pre-1900 "T35, R6E, Lincoln County, pre 1900. Plat map showing tracks of MSP&SSM, Wisconsin and Chippewa and Milwaukee Road at Tomahawk, Bradley, and Heafford Junction." [.wisconsinhistory.org] Also available at Merrill's TB Scott Library local history section as "Plat Book of Lincoln County Wisconsin c. 1895" from Fred Smith's collection (Merrill: Merrill Historical Society, 2010) page 53.
Entz Sources
Gary R. Entz "Image and Reality on the Kansas Prairie: "Pap" Singleton's Cherokee County Colony" Kansas History Summer 1996 [kshs.org]--- "Zion Valley: The Mormon Origins of St. John, Kansas" Kansas History Summer 2001 [kshs.org]
--- "Review Essay Series: Religion in Kansas" Kansas History Summer 2005 [kshs.org]
--- "The Bickertonites: Schism and Reuinion in a Restoration Church, 1880-1905" Journal of Mormon History Vol. 32, No. 3 (Fall 2006), pp. 1-44
Bill Sroufe and Gary R. Entz "'Thy Brother's Blood': William Walthall, Commodore True, and a Thanksgiving Tragedy in Hiawatha" [Kansas History] Winter 2013
--- Llewellyn Castle: A Worker's Cooperative on the Great Plains Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2013.
--- "A Northwoods Moment in History" 11 May 2018 - 26 January 2022 Rhinelander: WXPR Radio and Madison: Wisconsin Humanities Council.
--- "1894 train robbery turned tragic accident in the Northwoods" A Northwoods Moment in History 22 September 2021 [wxpr.org]
Transcript: On Sunday, October 7, 1894, the eastbound Soo Line Passenger train passed safely over a 20-foot-long trestle north of Tomahawk between Heafford Junction and Bradley and continued to its destination. One hour and forty minutes later, the Soo Line Limited Westbound No. 7 approached the same trestle at 30 miles per hour. This time it buckled.
There had been no sign of danger, and the collapse caught the crew completely off guard. Because the train was moving at a relatively slow speed, the wreck was not as terrible as it could have been. As the trestle collapsed, the locomotive toppled over and went crashing down the 25-foot embankment. The train consisted of a baggage car, smoking car, day coaches, and two sleeper cars. Those also tumbled over and slid down the embankment.
As the locomotive went over, Engineer James Dutch was thrown about twenty feet. His leg and nose were broken, and his face badly cut, but he had no other serious injuries. Fireman Charles Cottrell was not so fortunate. Cottrell was caught beneath the falling locomotive and crushed to death. Amazingly, there were no other casualties or critical injuries. The passengers and crew behind the locomotive were bruised and battered by the fall, but otherwise unhurt.
The alarm was raised in Heafford, and a special train was sent out from Pennington carrying a doctor and a railroad detective. By the time the detective arrived, the surviving train crew had already discovered what had happened. Someone had taken a saw and cut through the timber stringers and braces supporting the railroad ties. With those cut, the only thing holding up the entire trestle were the rails themselves, and that could not support the weight of a train.
Residents across the Northwoods were outraged. This was no prank. Who could knowingly set a death trap for so many people and why? Someone had made a similar but unsuccessful attempt on September 30 at Prentice, so detectives felt the guilty parties might still be lurking around.
On October 4, three men were arrested in Rhinelander and charged with the September 30 incident. The allegation against them was that they had a coat stolen from a railroad handcar and other purloined goods. It was flimsy evidence and ultimately incorrect. On October 6, Levitt Hazelton of Brainard, Minnesota, and Frank Williams, alias Paflinski, were in Rhinelander purchasing supplies. The next day is when the timber stringers were cut.
On October 11, Sheriff Patzer received a telegram from a Soo Line station agent informing him of two suspicious-looking characters skulking around the area. That night, the sheriff followed the tip and captured the two heavily armed men. They were jailed on concealed weapons charges while the case could be investigated.
Soo detectives retraced the two men’s steps, and by October 26 with evidence mounting Hazelton confessed. Their plan had been to cause a high-speed wreck where everyone would die. With no witnesses, they would then rob the safe in the express car. When survivors emerged from the wreck, they fled south toward Merrill.
Hazelton and Williams were convicted of murder and sentenced to the state penitentiary.
--- A Northwoods Moment in History Rhinelander: White Pine Community Broadcasting, 2021.
Official Histories
Burg, Thomas E. Bob Storozuk Route of the North Woods Hiawatha: The Milwaukee Road's Wisconsin Valley Line Merrill: Merrill Publishing Associates, 2010. 77.Lydon, Jim quoted in "Soo Line Official Tells Story of Railroad" The Escanaba (MICH) Daily Press 4 January 1949 page 7
Rosholt, Malcom Trains of Wisconsin Appleton: Graphic Communications Center, 1985. 90-94, 97, 108-109, 113.
Period Newspapers
Merrill, WI Merrill Advocate 9 October 1894
BURIED IN THE RIVER -- Passenger on the Soo Line Goes Through a Bridge Near Tomahawk. The Fireman Killed and the Engineer Badly Injured -- No Passengers Hurt.
RHINELANDER, WIS., Oct. 8.--Nothing but unaccountable good luck prevented the worst passenger wreck of the year on the "Soo" line last night. The Boston-Minneapolis limited west bound train which leaves here at 1:40, went through a trestle between Heafford Junction and Bradley. The stringers had piles had been sawed after the east-bound limited passed the place an hour and forty minutes before. The rails were left with no support and the engine crashed through.
The train was going thirty-five miles an hour, and instead of dropping into the opening the engine struck the solid embankment. The engineer, James Dutch, of Minneapolis, was thrown 20 feet ahead. He sustained a broken leg, bad cuts on the head and was badly bruised about the body. He will recover. He was taken to his home. Charles Cottrill, the fireman, was pinned under the heavy engine, which was terribly smashed, and up to noon to-day men were still working to release his body. He was instantly killed. He leaves a wife and two children at Minneapolis. THe baggage car and sleeper left the track but none of the occupants were badly hurt.
THe trestle is some 20 feet high, but as the company has been filling in with sand the later made a soft place for the cars to strike. The job of cutting the stringers and piles was exactly the same as done in Prentice last week. Whoever did it last night was evidently surprised in their work by the train's arrival, as they let an overcoat and the saw. Every suspicious character in the country will be made to explain his whereabouts last night. In the overcoat were certain articles which will help to identify them. The saw was stolen from the [? house] near the wreck.
The Soo company has offered a reward of $500 for information leading to the capture of the guilty parties. Engineer Dutch was on the train which narrowly escaped being wrecked in the same manner last week and he thinks it is someone who aims at his death. The officials think it was done by tramps for robbery.
A man answering the description of one of the parties that is supposed to have sawed the timbers in the bridge passed through this city to-day and Undersherrif Keys, Chief of Police H.W. Boyer and John Martin went after him and captured him about two miles down the road. The fellow gave his name as Chas. Saulsbury, but apparently gives a straight account of himself.
Merrill, WI Merrill Advocate 16 October 1894
Got Them.
Last Friday night, Sheriff Patzer, Under-Sheriff Kyes and Deputy Sheriffs H. Rusch and and F.X. Hotz arrested two men on suspicion of being the men that caused the wreck on the Soo railroad last week, mention of which was made. Last Friday evening Sheriff Patzer received a telegram from Irma, stating that two suspicious looking characters were seen on the railroad about a mile below Irma, heading for Merrill, and to be on the lookout for them. Sherriff Patzer, with assistants mentioned above, went out to where the road to Lake View crosses the railroad, anticipating that the travelers would show up there about 11 or 12 o'clock. In this the Sheriff figured right, for between 11 and 12 o'clock the men came along and were arrested. They gave their names as L. Hazeltine and F. Williams. Williams and Hazeltine were heavily armed when taken into custody. Besides they carried a few cooking utensils. Detective Roberts of the Soo road was in the city Sunday, but left again to return today.
Merrill, WI Merrill Advocate 13 November 1894
NOT HIS TRUE NAME. Something About Frank Williams, the Alleged Soo Train Wrecker.
Appleton, Wis., Nov. 10.--Frank Williams who is under arrest at Merrill, Wis., on a charge of being implicated in wrecking the train on the Soo line near Rhinelander, was formerly a resident of this county. The fellow's real name is Dominick Paflinski, but he has never lived under that name. His father dying when he was young he was adopted by Valentine Schwalbach and lived under that name while working in the woods of Michigan, till [sic] ten years ago, when it was reported that he was drowned. Williams has respectable relatives in Darby, Little Chute and Menasha. He sticks to the story that he is not guilty, but further than that he refuses to talk.
Merrill, WI Merrill Advocate 20 November 1894
Twenty Years at Waupun.
At the time of the preliminary examination of the "Soo"wreckers, at which time the young man, Hazeltine testified in corroboration of his confession, it was understood that he might, if he desired, enter a plea of guilty an dreceive immediate sentence. Such he concluded to do, and yesterday he was taken before Judge Bardeen at Wausau; in company with Sheriff Patzer and Dist. Attorney Anderson, and entered his plea of guilty to manslaughter and received a sentence of twenty years in the state prison at Waupun, and was takne to that place immediately. His partner, Plafinski, or Williams, [as?] he calls himself, will stand trial.
Veroqua, WI Vernon County Censor 21 November 1894
"Frank Williams Located. Frank Williams, who is under arrest at Merrill, on a charge of being implicated in wrecking the train on the Soo Line near Rhinelander, was formerly a resident of Appleton. The fellow's real name is Dominick Paflinski, but he has never lived under that name. His father dying when he was young, he was adopted by Valentine Schwalbach and lived under that name while working in the woods of Michigan, till ten years ago, when it was reported that he was drowned. Williams has respectable relatives in Darboy, Little Chute and Menasha. He sticks to the story that he is not guilty, but further than that he refuses to talk."
New Ulm, MN Der Fortschritt 22 November 1894 [img]
Chippewa Falls, WI The Weekly Herald 16 January 1895
"ON TRIAL FOR MURDER. Paflinski Who Is Accused of Wrecking a Train on the Soo Road. The trial of Trainwrecker Dominic Paflinski began at Merrill yesterday morning, Judge Bardeen presiding and is attracting attention, the court room being crowded all day. The prosecution is conducted by Dist.--Atty. Porter, assisted by ex-Dist.--Atty. Anderson. The prisoner is defended by John Van Hecke, appointed by the court. The forenoon was consumed in securing a jury, which is finally selected and is composed of well-to-do farmers and business men. The testimony this afternoon was given by the assistant superintendent of the Soo road, Mr. Willard, Bridge Foreman Wallworth, Roadmaster John Collie and ex-Sheriff Patzer. Their testimony related to the location of the bridge and how piles and stringers were sawed so as to wreck the train. Conductor Lewis of the ill-fated train, testified to the wreck on the morning of Oct. 8, which resulted in the instant death of Chas Cottrell, engineer, for the willful murder of whom the prisoner is charged. Deputy Warden of state's prison John C. Gebhard is here with Leverett (sic) Hazelton, the companion in crime of Paflinski, who pleaded guilty and is serving a twenty year sentence in Waupun. The trial will probably be concluded Thursday.
Portage, WI Portage Daily Democrat 17 January 1895
"The Trial of Trainwrecker Dominic Paflinski began at Merrill, Judge Bardeen presiding, and is attracting attention, the courtroom being crowded all day. The prosecution is conducted by Dist.-Atty. Porter, assisted by ex-Dist.-Atty. Anderson. The prisoner is defended by John Van Hecke, appointed by the court. Conductor Lewis, of the ill-fated train, testified to the wreck on the morning of Oct. 8, which resulted in the instant death of Chas. Cottrell, engineer with the willful murder of whom the prisoner is charged. Deputy Warden of State's Prison John C. Gebhard is present with Leverett Hazelton, the companion in crime of Paflinski, who pleaded guilty and is serving a twenty-year sentence in Waupun"
Chippewa Falls, WI The Weekly Herald 18 January 1895
"MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE - Paflinski, Trainwrecker, Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years. The Trial of Paflinski, the trainwrecker, was concluded yesterday afternoon. The jury was out about two hours and brought in according to the court's instructions the only verdict they could, murder in the second degree. The only time the trainwrecker showed an interest in the proceedings was when the jury came in. He then appeared very nervous. Evidently not knowing the law he feared a life sentence. The judge overruled the usual motion of the defendant's attorney to set aside the verdict and immediately sentenced the prisoner to twenty-five years in the state's prison, every 8th day of October to be spent in solitary confinement. The crime for which the prisoner was sentenced was that of wrecking a Soo passenger train near Heafford Junction, Oct. 7, 1894, in which Fireman Charles Carroll was killed. Lexitt (sic) Hazelton was Paflinski's associate, and he confessed his guilt, receiving a twenty years' sentence. The purpose of the crime was robbery. Hazelton is only 20 years old. Paflinski formerly resided near Appleton. He left home several years ago to work in the pineries, since which time he has wandered all over northern Wisconsin.
Portage, WI Portage Daily Register 18 January 1895
"The trial of Paflinski, the train wrecker, was concluded yesterday afternoon at Merrill. The jury was out about two hours and brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree. The judge sentenced the prisoner to twenty-five years in state prison, every 8th day of October to be spent in solitary confinement. The crime for which the prisoner was sentenced was that of wrecking a Soo passenger train near Heafford Junction, Oct. 7, 1894, in which Fireman Charles Carroll was killed. Levitt [sic] Hazelton was Paflinski's associate, and he confessed his guilt, receiving a twenty years' sentence. The purpose of the crime was robbery."
Racine, WI The Journal Times 18 January 1895
"The trial of Paflinski, the train wrecker ws concluded at Merrill yesterday afternoon and the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree. The judge overruled the usual motion of the defendant's attorney to set aside the verdict to twenty-five years in state's prison, every 8th day of October to be spent in solitary confinement. The crime for which the prisoner was sentenced was that of wrecking a Soo passenger train near Heafford Junction, Oct. 7, 1894, in which Fireman Charles Carroll was killed."
Hurley, WI Montreal River Miner and Iron County Republican 19 January 1895
"Hazelton on the Stand. MERRILL, Wis., Jan 16.--The trial of Dominic Paflinski, the alleged train wrecker, began yesterday morning before Judge Bardeen. The forenoon was taken up with securing a jury. After the noon recess the assistant Superintendent of the "Soo," Mr. Willard, Roadmaster Collie, Bridge Foreman Walworth and Conducter [sic] Lewis were examined as to the construction of the bridge and the nature of the wreck and the taking out of the lifeless body of Carles Cottrill, the engineer. Their testimony was further corroborated this morning by other employes [sic] of the road. At 10 o'clock Leverett Hazelton was placed on the stand and gave a complete history of his acquaintance with Paflinski, the defendant, corroborating the confession he made before the police judge in the city last October. He said that he was led into becoming a train wrecker by the prisoner, who represented to him the vast amount of money they were to get. He went into every detail and told the horrible story in a straightforward manner. It will be remembered that Hazelton was arrested with Paflinski, pleaded guilty, and is now serving a twenty-year sentence in the state prison. He is still on the stand. The prisoner is a stolid man, and apparently devoid of shame. Later--Paflinski was convicted."
Saint Paul, MN The Saint Paul Globe 19 January 1895
"Wrecker Hazelton Sentenced, MERRILL, Wis., Jan. 17.--The jury in the case of Paflinski, who, with Levitt [sic] Hazelton, now serving a twenty-year term in the state penitentiary, wrecked a Soo train at Heafford Junction, Oct. 7, 1894, was today sentenced to state's prison for twenty-five years. The jury was out two hours. In the wreck, Fireman Charles Carroll was killed."
Chippewa Falls, WI Chippewa Herald-Telegram 19 January 1895
"Paflinski, the train wrecker who was on trial at Merrill for the wrecking of a Soo Passenger train Oct. 7, 1894, was sentenced to twenty-five years in Waupun. Fireman Charles Carroll lost his life in the wreck."
Huron, SD The Daily Plainsman 19 January 1895
"Train Wrecker Gets a Long Term. MERRILL, Wis., Jan. 19.--The jury in the case of Paflinski, who, with Levitt [sic] Hazelton, now serving a 20-year term in the state penitentiary, wrecked a Soo train at Heafford Junction, Oct. 7, 1894, has been sentenced to state prison for 25 years."
Lake Geneva, WI The Lake Geneva Herald 1 February 1895
"Murder Trial Ended. The trial of Paflinski, the alleged Merrill train wrecker, was concluded and the jury charged by Judge Bardeen Thursday. The prisoner testified in his own behalf, and belied his looks in that he proved to be an expert witness, whereon the testimony of the prosecution coupled him as being in company with Hazelton without any doubt. He admitted having been with Hazelton, but swore point blank that he separated from the latter in the morning of the day of the wreck, and that he was at Rhinelander when the accident occurred, but fell in with Hazelton again on the morning of the day they were arrested. He had no witness to corroborate his statement. The jury brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree. Motion for a new trial was made and taken under advisement by the judge."
Secondary Sources
Anderson, Nels The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1923.Ashbaugh, Carolyn Lucy Parsons An American Revolutionary Charles Kerr, 1976 and Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2012. 8-11.
Comandini, Adele Dr. Kate Angel on Snowshoes USA: Rinehart & Co, INC, 1956.
DePastino, Todd Citizen Hobo: How a Century of Homelessness Shaped America Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
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Espy File "Executions in the U.S. 1608-2002: The Espy File" Death Penalty Information Center [deathpenaltyinfo.org]
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Frost, Jennett Blakeslee (compiler) The Rebellion in the United States or The War of 1861; being a Complete History of its Rise and Progress, commencing with the Presidential Election. Volume 2 Hartford: Mrs. J. Blakeslee Frost, 1863. 206, 249, 270, 337, 349-50, 368-9
Gedicks, Al The New Resource Wars: Native and Environmental Struggles Against Multinational Corporations Black Rose Books, 1994.
----- Resource Rebels: Native Challenges to Mining and Oil Corporations South End Press, 2001.
----- "Transnational Mining, the Environment and Indigenous Communities" The Brown Journal of World Affairs Fall/Winter 2015 vol. XXII, no. 1. [researchgate.net]
Higbie, Frank Tobias Indispensable Outcasts: Hobo Workers and Community in the American Midwest, 1880-1930 Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2003
Lorence, James J., Gerald J. Boileau and the Progressive-Farmer-Labor Alliance Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1994.
Jones, Jacqueline The Disposessed: America's Underclass From the Civil War To The Present New York, Basic Books, 1992
----- Goddess of Anarchy: The LIfe and Times of Lucy Parsons, American RadicalNew York: Basic Books, 2017. xi-xv
Parsons, Lucy E. "A Word to Tramps" The Alarm Chicago, vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 4 1884), pg. 1 [marxists.org]
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