The Legend of Bloody Run- Epilogue

For the last three days I’ve provided for you Mike O’Connor’s account of The Legend of Bloody Run that was found in the Michigan Holiday News from 1989. I would now like to make a few observations about this event.

Most people are probably unaware of the fact that in those days it was the conductor that was in charge of the train and not the engineer. However that particular conductor’s “Loco-Motive” of taking over the train and replacing the engineer was crazy. Their argument had to be overheard by the lumbermen and I wonder how they felt about the inexperienced conductor taking over for the engineer? I wonder how many of those lumbermen chose not to continue onward with that train?

Also how many of those lumbermen might have jumped the train before it ran off the track? Were there any survivors at all? One also has to wonder about the last thoughts of the conductor as he saw the train out of control? I would take it that the engineer was not around for that ride so what were his thoughts?

I found the speculation of Mr. O’Connor in regard to his after thoughts about the incident intriguing. Do local residents still hear errie sounds relating to that accident even today? Does that creek really run red on the day of that anniversary or are some locals helping that along with some cherry Kool-Aid?

Has anyone reading Big Bass Lake and Beyond been to that scene of late especially at night? I would be most interested in your observations.

The Legend of Bloody Run by Mike O’Connor- Part Three

NOTE: This, again, is not a picture of Bloody Run, but of a similar rail accident. And, in Part 4, Dave Noreika will be bringing you his thoughts on Bloody Run.

How is the Legend of Bloody Run taken yet today? Many of the people of this area believe the area of Bloody Run is haunted. In the blackened night the rumble of a phantom train can be heard in the distance by the sound of an errie whistle followed the crash of thunder from the gully where the accident occurred.

On stormy days the sounds of loons can be heard and they are oftentimes confused with the wails and cries of the tormented men who lost their lives in that train derailment. But whether or not you believe the legend of Bloody Run is up to you! And whether or not you believe that the ghosts of those men still roam about Bloody Run Hill is also up to you.

Can you explain why the creek runs red every year on the anniversary date of the Bloody Run tragedy? Tomorrow the conclusion to the Legend of Bloody Run.

The Legend of Bloody Run by Mike O’Connor- Part One

A man by the name of “Peters” was logging this part of Michigan with a crew of 100 men. A narrow gauge railroad terminating at Manistee served to haul the logs. That time was long before compressed air had ever been thought of to check the speed of trains. The only means then known was “hickery” and the old fashioned hand-powered brake wheel, rod chain, and shoe.

It was a raw day in mid-winter and the rails were slippery with snow and ice. The trains, consisting of a long string of flat cars, had been daily loaded, or rather over loaded, near Peacock, and the conductor had issued his orders for the engineer to pull out. An argument ensued with the engineer vividly pointing out to the conductor the danger involved in trying to move the string of flat cars under those dangerous conditions. The argument developed into a controversy, but the engineer, who apparently understood his business, was adament and finally refused to run the train.

The conductor, incensed at the position taken by the engineer, and in a spirit of bravado, announced that he would take the train down by himself. Riding each flat car and astride the pinnacle of the pyramidal piled logs, was human freight. That freight was lumbermen of every nationality. They were all expert in their field. They were clad in mackinaws of color, calked boots, heavy trousers, and caps.

Now they were enjoying a brief respite from their labors, all joyous and unaware of the awful fate in store for them at the bottom of the ravine ahead. And, that will come tomorrow afternoon in Part Two.

The Legend of Bloody Run by Mike O’Connor- Part Two

NOTE: This is not Bloody Run but something similar to the grade. This legend should serve to prove why a conductor should NEVER engineer a takeover!

The legend continues! These poor lumberjacks were about to ride to their doom through the blunder of the conductor who had taken over the train. “Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die”.

With smoke belching from her funnel, the train started, gradually acquirring headway, then quickly picked up speed upon reaching the head of the slope and became a mad runaway thing. The inexperienced conductor, his control of the train lost, was powerless to prevent the catastrophe to follow.

Rushing down a30% gradient, the engine was bounding and crazily lurching over the rough roadbed being hurled forward by that irresistable momentumof the big load of logs upon her. At the bottom of the valley and over a little trout stream, when the light engine began to make its climb into higher ground, the heavily loaded flats behind buckled, the forward ones catapulted in a nose dive into the sandy soil, coupling pins broke, cars piled up, stakes were smashed from their sockets, huge binding chains snapped, and flew through the air like small pipe stems.

The logs, released from their fastenings, rolled down the embankment, splinters and bark showered the air, and with it all was the sickening crunch of human bodies mngled in an extricable mass of arms, legs, heads, snow, and debris, accompanied by the groans and shrieks of dying men whose life blood now crimsoned the clear waters in the brook.

A score or more of human lives was the horrible toll exacted in payment for the terrible mistake of the conductor, and thus did the locality claim the name of “Bloody Run”. This story has run its course but that is not the end of the matter and Part Three coming your way tomorrow will tell the rest of the legend.