The wreck happened on July 19, 1910 when two Pere Marquette trains met head on. The southbound train was called the stone train because it was carrying limestone from Petosky. The northbound train was an extra from Traverse City.
The stone train had been forced to "double the hill" northeast of Mabel, and after leaving part of the train at Williamsburg, engine 160 went back with the caboose to pick up the other half.
Both trains were running fast when they met on a blind curve half a mile from Mabel. By the time the two engineers spotted each other it was to late to stop and both crews jumped.
Walter Beeman of Elk Rapids got caught in the wreckage and was killed. The other crewmen were only slightly injured.
Cause of the accident, Misinterpreted orders.
Mabel never was much of a town. In typical Northern Michigan fashion it had a sawmill, shinglemill, general store and a post office. When the timber ran out just about everbody left. It stll appears on USGS maps though.
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