Joseph "Warren" Shannon joined the 33rd Illinois Infantry, Company G as a Sargent on Aug. 20, 1861. His detail report records he was 20 years old, 5'9" tall, with black hair and blue eyes. He was single and worked as a stone cutter. Warren served for 3 years, mustering out at Springfield, IL on Oct. 11, 1864.
Returning home, he went to work as a brakeman on the C. & St. L Railroad. On May 18, 1865 a terrible accident occurred. The train was about 14 miles south of Chicago on its way to St. Louis when an engine boiler exploded--killing Warren, the engineer Peter Lynch, and the fireman Daglen Salmon. All three men lived in Bloomington and were brought home for burial after the coroner's inquest in Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune noted that as a soldier Warren had passed through 27 battles without a scratch, then entered the service of the railroad company only to die. The Tribune said he was just on his second trip, but the Pantagraph believed he had been working on the railroad for several months. It was thought that he was standing on the engine at the time of the explosion. The engine was a very powerful one, and believed to be one of the safest on the road. It had been but recently overhauled, and put in thorough repair.
"Mr. Shannon was an old member of the 33d, who served his whole three years, and was honorably discharged. We knew him well as an intelligent, upright and industrious young man who was a useful member of society. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows in this place. The accident happened in Cook County, and an inquest will be held today over the remains. The corpses will arrive tonight or tomorrow. We shall try to learn more particulars of the sad disaster for our next paper. "
-The Pantagraph 19 May 1865, Fri Page 4 & 20 May 1865, Sat Page 4 (includes Chicago Tribune account)
Returning home, he went to work as a brakeman on the C. & St. L Railroad. On May 18, 1865 a terrible accident occurred. The train was about 14 miles south of Chicago on its way to St. Louis when an engine boiler exploded--killing Warren, the engineer Peter Lynch, and the fireman Daglen Salmon. All three men lived in Bloomington and were brought home for burial after the coroner's inquest in Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune noted that as a soldier Warren had passed through 27 battles without a scratch, then entered the service of the railroad company only to die. The Tribune said he was just on his second trip, but the Pantagraph believed he had been working on the railroad for several months. It was thought that he was standing on the engine at the time of the explosion. The engine was a very powerful one, and believed to be one of the safest on the road. It had been but recently overhauled, and put in thorough repair.
"Mr. Shannon was an old member of the 33d, who served his whole three years, and was honorably discharged. We knew him well as an intelligent, upright and industrious young man who was a useful member of society. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows in this place. The accident happened in Cook County, and an inquest will be held today over the remains. The corpses will arrive tonight or tomorrow. We shall try to learn more particulars of the sad disaster for our next paper. "
-The Pantagraph 19 May 1865, Fri Page 4 & 20 May 1865, Sat Page 4 (includes Chicago Tribune account)
Joseph "Warren" Shannon joined the 33rd Illinois Infantry, Company G as a Sargent on Aug. 20, 1861. His detail report records he was 20 years old, 5'9" tall, with black hair and blue eyes. He was single and worked as a stone cutter. Warren served for 3 years, mustering out at Springfield, IL on Oct. 11, 1864.
Returning home, he went to work as a brakeman on the C. & St. L Railroad. On May 18, 1865 a terrible accident occurred. The train was about 14 miles south of Chicago on its way to St. Louis when an engine boiler exploded--killing Warren, the engineer Peter Lynch, and the fireman Daglen Salmon. All three men lived in Bloomington and were brought home for burial after the coroner's inquest in Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune noted that as a soldier Warren had passed through 27 battles without a scratch, then entered the service of the railroad company only to die. The Tribune said he was just on his second trip, but the Pantagraph believed he had been working on the railroad for several months. It was thought that he was standing on the engine at the time of the explosion. The engine was a very powerful one, and believed to be one of the safest on the road. It had been but recently overhauled, and put in thorough repair.
"Mr. Shannon was an old member of the 33d, who served his whole three years, and was honorably discharged. We knew him well as an intelligent, upright and industrious young man who was a useful member of society. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows in this place. The accident happened in Cook County, and an inquest will be held today over the remains. The corpses will arrive tonight or tomorrow. We shall try to learn more particulars of the sad disaster for our next paper. "
-The Pantagraph 19 May 1865, Fri Page 4 & 20 May 1865, Sat Page 4 (includes Chicago Tribune account)
Returning home, he went to work as a brakeman on the C. & St. L Railroad. On May 18, 1865 a terrible accident occurred. The train was about 14 miles south of Chicago on its way to St. Louis when an engine boiler exploded--killing Warren, the engineer Peter Lynch, and the fireman Daglen Salmon. All three men lived in Bloomington and were brought home for burial after the coroner's inquest in Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune noted that as a soldier Warren had passed through 27 battles without a scratch, then entered the service of the railroad company only to die. The Tribune said he was just on his second trip, but the Pantagraph believed he had been working on the railroad for several months. It was thought that he was standing on the engine at the time of the explosion. The engine was a very powerful one, and believed to be one of the safest on the road. It had been but recently overhauled, and put in thorough repair.
"Mr. Shannon was an old member of the 33d, who served his whole three years, and was honorably discharged. We knew him well as an intelligent, upright and industrious young man who was a useful member of society. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows in this place. The accident happened in Cook County, and an inquest will be held today over the remains. The corpses will arrive tonight or tomorrow. We shall try to learn more particulars of the sad disaster for our next paper. "
-The Pantagraph 19 May 1865, Fri Page 4 & 20 May 1865, Sat Page 4 (includes Chicago Tribune account)
