Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-09-12
HUDSON, Mo-, Sept. 6, 1861

III regard to this inhuman outrage.
HUDSON, Mo-, Sept g, 1861.
The following additional account of the
terrible disaster Oh the Hannibal and ST. 10.
seph Railroad is furnghed to the St. Louis
Repr5Ltcani-
The catastrophe occurred at Little Platt
river bridge, niue miles east of St. Joseph
The. bridge was a substantial work OF one
hundred feet span, and about thirty five feet
above the river. The binders of the bridge
had been burned underneath the track until
they would sustain buL little more than their
own weight, aud the fire was than extinguiShed
leaving the bridge q mere she'll The train,
bringing from eightyfye to one hundred pas
Sengers, including women aud children, reached
the river at eleven o'clock at night, and the
bridge looking secure, passed in but no soon
er had the locomotive measured its length
rpon the bridge than some forty or fifty yards
OF the Structure gave way precipitatiUg the
entire train into the abyss below. All the
seats in the passenger coaches were torn aud
showed in front, carrying men, women and
children IN prOmscuOuS heap down the de
ciIvIty and burying them beneath the crushed
timber, or throwing them ont Of the cars
through the broken sides. Some were man
gled by the machinery airing tn ough the
tmberS several were caught between pIanks
pressing tCgeather like vice others were
struck y parts of the roof as it came down
with mighty force still Others were cut with
pieces of glass, while wounds aud blood and
agony prevailed all over the frightful scene,
and Shrleks of pain were mingled with the
cries of terror
ln this manner of the two last cars Of the
train went down, pitching the passengers in
to the wreck, or throwing them into the wa
ter, which at this point is about foot and a
half in depth.
OuIy three persons, J. W Parker Superin-
tendent of the United States Express MIR
Mars, mail agent, aud Mr.. Hager, were able
to afford assistance to the suffering, the re-
mainder of those who were not killed outright
being so disabled as 10 be helpless After
doing all that was possible for those requiring
immediate attention, Mr. Hager at midnight
left the wreck TO 20 TO St Joseph for medical
aud other assistance. He walked five miles
OF The way, when he found hand car upon
which he proceeded the remainder of the Jour,
ney. Two hundred yards west of the bridge
he discovered d heavy oak railroad tie strong
Iy strapped across the track, and two miles
further on he found the treStle work over
small stream on fire, which, however, had not
as yet neen so badly burned that trains could
not pass over or could not be easily extiu.
guShed.
Arriving at ST. Joseph the alarm was soon
spread through the city, aud although it was
one O'Clock ut night, seventy-fve men, iuclud
Ing all the physicians in the ueig hborhood
volunteered their service, and at hat,past
three O'Clock train. fully equipped, Supplied
with medical stores aud other uecessarieS, was
at the scene of the dsater.
The wounded had emerged from the wreck
and were lying on the banks and upon a sand
bar in the river. Seventeen dead bodies were
recovered and it is believed that this number
embraced all who were killed up to that time
Two were so badly mangled that it was not
expected they would survive till morning,
While many Others were dangerously wounded
and 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 embarkation OF the wounded for
st. Joseph, but was despatched to Brooklin.
which is east of the bridge, for another train
to 60 to the wreck. When he left the names
of the wounded were being taken down and also
such of the dead as be had paper or other
articles about them by which they could be
identified
Fifteen miles east of the Platt river Mr.
Hager found another bridge over Smiths
branch almost entirely burned, having been
fred after the train passed west, thus prevent
ing assistance being sent from the east.
Lieutenant Shaw, Of the Eighth Kansas
regiment, killed, and Mr. Louusberry and Sid
ney Clark, wounded, are the only additional
names we have at present
ANECDoTE OF VALLANDIGHAM-Pre to