On June 1, 1906, just east of the Mazomanie mill, two freight trains collided head-on after a misplaced switch sent them onto the same track while each crew believed it was on its usual different track. One was the way freight from Prairie du Chien, train #96, under Conductor T. Kane, pulled by engine #830 with Engineer John Harrington and Fireman Adolph Merz, and the other was the westbound fast freight from Milwaukee known as the Cannon Ball, under Conductor James Luft and Engineer James McShane, with engine #655 and Fireman Fred Bird. A curve in the line kept the danger from both crews until it was too late to avoid the crash, but both engineers and other trainmen saved their lives by jumping, and because the wreck happened within the village, people quickly used the wrecked cars and engines for a major photographic opportunity.