Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-09-11
THE w AR.
NEWS!
FIENDISH OUTRAGE.
DESTRUCTION OF A RAILROAD
TRAIN.
About A Hundred Passengers
Mangled and Killed.
HUDSON, Mo-, Sept. 5.


Abe Hocer, baggage master on the
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, fur
nisbes to the st. Louis Democrat, the
following account of diabolical outrage
OH that road day before yesterday. The
passenger express train bound west, Sep.
Sd, was thrown headlong into Platte
River the timbers of the east end of the
bridge of that stream having been burn
ed nearly through. The entire train
went down, the engine turning overland
the baggage, freight, mail, and two pass
engcr aches on the top.
The following in an additional account
of the terrible disaster on the Hannibal
and St. Joseph railroad, which is furnish
ed to the st. Louis Republican: The
catastrophy occurred at Little Platte liv-
er, on a bridge nine miles east of ST. Jo-
seph. The bridge was substantial work
of one hundred and sixty feet span, and
about thirty-f five feet above the river
The timbers of the bridge had been bum
ed underneath the track until they would
sustain but little more than their own
weight, and the fire was then extinguish-
ed, leaving the bridge a mere shell.
The train bringing from 90 to 100
passengers, including women and child
rem, reached the river at ] at night, and
the lridge looking secure it passed OH
But no sooner had the locomotive meas
urcd its length than the structure gave
way, plecpitating the entire train into
the abyss below. All the seats in the
passenger coaches were torn loose and
showed in front, carrying men, women
and children in promiscuous heap
down tho declivity and buying them
among the crashed iimbcrs or throwing
them out of the cars through the broken
sides; jagged pieces of flooring impa!cd
some, aud some were mangied by ma
chiriery through the timbers; several
were caught between planks press NJ to-
gether like vice; others were struck by
parts of the roof as it camo down with
mighty force; still others were cut with
pieces of glass, while wounds and blood
and agony prevailed amidst the frighlful
scenc-shrieks of pain were mingled with
cries of terror.
In this fearful manner the two last cars
of the train went down, pitching the
passengers into the wreck or throwing
them into the water which at this place is
about foot and half in depth. Only
three persons-Mr. Parker, Superinten-
dent of the U. S. Express Company, Mr..
Marc. Mail Agent, and Mr.. Hager-
were able to afford assistance to the suff
ering. The remaiEder-t. ose who were
not killed outright being so disabled rs
to be helpless-after doing all that it was
possible for those requiring immediate
Interchangeable. Haze at midnight, left
the wreck to go to st Joseph for med.
zeal and other assistance. He walked
five miles of the way when he found n
hand car upon which he proceeded the
remainder ofthe journey. Two hundred
wards west of the bridge he discovered a
heavy oak rail road tie strongly strapped
across the track, and two miles farther
on he found the trestle work over small
stream on fire, which however, had not
as vet been so badly burned that trains
could not pass oyer it or could not be
easily extinguished. Arriving at st. Jo-
sepll, the alarm was soon spread through
the city, and although it was one O'Clock
at night, IS men, including ali the physi-
clans in the neighJorhood, quickly volun-
t cred their services, and at half-past
three o'clock train fully supplied with
medical stores and other necessaries was
ut the scene of the disaster. The wound
! ed had all crawled from the wreck, and
were lying on the banks and upon q sand
bar in the river. Seventeen dead bodies
were recovered, and it is believed thai
this number embraced all who were kill
ed up to that time. Two were so badly
wounded that it was not expected they
would survive till morning, while many
others were dangerously wounded, an
would have to be well taken care of tc
recover.
Many who will escape with their lives
will be severely wounded and crippled
Mr.. Hager, our informant, did not re-
main to finish the embarkation of tbs
wounded for St. Joseph, but was des
patched to Brookfield, which is east Of
the bridge. for another train to go to the
wreck. When he left the names of the
wounded were being taken down. and
also such of the dead as had articles by
which they could be identified. Fifteen
miles east of the Platte river Mr.. Hager
found another bridge, over Smiths
branch, almost entirely burned, having
been fired after the train passed west
thus preventing assistance be sent from
the east.
Lieut.. Shaw, of the lst Kansas regi
mcnt, is among the killed.