Casey Jones

30 April 1900  

On this date in 1900...

Trying to make up time from a late departure, legendary railroader William Luther “Casey” Jones was killed when his Illinois-Central #382 engine collided with a parked train at Vaughn, Mississippi.  Jones was the only fatality and stayed at the controls until impact.  His heroism is credited with preventing the deaths of his passengers.

Other Years:

• 1562 - The first French colonists in North America, led by Jean Ribault, arrived in Florida.
• 1682 - French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle a four-day stay with the Tensas Indians on Lake Saint Joseph in Louisiana and signed a peace treaty with them.
• 1803 – The U.S. signed the the Louisiana Purchase Treaty and doubled the size of U.S. territory in exchange for $15 million.
• 1812 - Louisiana became the 18th U.S. state.
• 1860 - Manuelito and 1000 Navaho warriors attacked Fort Defiance in Northwestern Arizona which had been built on Navaho grazing land. During the day long fight the Navaho captured a few out buildings before the cavalrymen regrouped and drove them back.  
• 1864 - Confederates fought in waist deep water at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas to drive federal General Frederick Steele's invaders across the flooded Saline River and back to Little Rock. 
• 1871 - White and Mexican settlers attacked Chief Eskiminzin's Aravaipa Apache camp in response to raids near Tucson in what became known as the “Camp Grant Massacre” in Arizona Territory. More than 140 were killed.

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