New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-07
THE DIABOuCAL OUTRAGE IN MISSOURI,
A TERRIBLE SCENE OF SUFFERING.
Men, Women and Children Crushed to Death.

THE h .ccoun. received Of th. fsndh outrage WIN be
HuDsos. No., Friday, Sept 6. 1861.
The following additional account Of the terrible dis
aster on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad is fur
nisbed to TIE 81. Louis Republican:
The catastrophe occurred at Little Platte River
bridge, miles east of St. Joseph. The bridge was
substantial work Of 100 feet spsn and about IS feet
above the river The timbers Of the bridge had been
burned underneath the track until they would sustain
but little more than their weight, and the fire was
then extinguished leaving the bridge a mere shell.
The train bringing from IS to 100 passengers including
women and Children reached the river at Ii o'clock
at night and the bridge locking secure passed I'M but
no sooner had the locomotive measured its length upon
the bridge than 40 or so yards OF the structure
gave way, precpitatng the entire train into the abyss
below All the seats in the passenger coaches were torn
and showed in front, carrying men, women and children
in cyomiscuous heap down the declyity and buryiDg
them bepea:h the crushed timber, or throwing them
ont Of the cars cngh The broken sides. Some were
maugled by the machinery tearing through the TIM
bers; several were caught bstweeS panks, pressing
together like vice. Others were struck >; pafs oi
the roof as il came down with mighty force, and sth
others were cut with pieces Of glass; In the midst OF
this confusion the two last cars Of the train went down,
pitching the passengers into the wreck, or throwing
them into the water which at this point Is about foot
and half in depth. Only three persons-J. w. Par.
ker, Superintendent of the United States Express Mr.
Mars, Mail Agent, and Mr.. Hager-were able to afford
assistance to the ruerng-the remainder Of those who
were not killed outright being so disabled as to be
helpless. After doing all that was possible for those
requiring immediate attention, Dir. Hager at midnight
left the wreck to go 10 81. joseph for medical and
other assistance. lie walked five miles Of the way,
when be found a hsnd-car, upon which he proceeded
the remainder Of the journey. Two hundred yards
west Of the bridge he discovered heavy oak railroad
tie strongly strapped acIoss the track and two miles
further on he found the trestle work over small
stream on fire. which however, bad not as yet been 20
badly burned that trains could no, pass over or could
not be easily extinguished
Aniying at 81. Jcseph, the alarm was soon spread
throughout the city, and, although it was o'clock at
night, IS men, including all tie physicians in the
neighborhood, volunteered their services, and at 81
O'Clock train fully equipped, supplied with medical
stores and other necessares was at the scene OF the
disaster.
The wounded had emerged from the wreck, and
were lying Oh the banks and upon sand bar IN the
river Seventeen dead bodies were recovered, and 1t
s believed that this number embraced all who were
Killed up TO that time. Two 81 badly maDgled that
II was not expected they would survive TIL morning,
while many others were dangerously wounded, aud
would have to be well taken care Of TO recover.
Many who will escape with their lives, will be manned
and crippled
Mr. Hager. our informant did not remain to finish
the embarkstion Of the wounded for 81. Joseph but
was dispatched to Bfookfeld, which is east Of the
bridge, for another train 20 90 to the wreck. When
he left the names Of the wounded were being taken
down, and also such of the dead a. had papers or
other articles about them by which they could be
Identified.
Fifteen miles cast Of the Plat River, Mr. Hager
found sno,hsr bridge over Smiths Branch almost en-
trey burned having been tired after the train passed
West thus preventing assistance being sent from the
East.
L.ut Shaw Of the sth Kansas regiment, killed, sno
bIr. Lounsberry snd Sidney Clark, wounded are the
only additional names have at present.