, 1861-09-07
AVlCT0RY FOR MISSOURI SEp0YS
The Indian SepoyS Made Humane
by Comparison.
The Missouri Seeessionists Burn
Bridge by which Twenty Lives were
Lest, including a number Of Women
and Children.


ST. LOUIS, Sept. 6.-The following addi-
tloIal scconas Of The terrible disaster on the
Ha1 nibal & St. Joseph Railroad is furnished
to the st. Louis Republican:
The catastrophe occurred at3 Little Platte
Ti7er bridge, nine miles east ef st. Joseph
The bridge Was substantial work OF one hun
dfed snd sixty feet span and about thirty: five
tett above the river. The timbers Of the
bridge had been burned underneath the track
until they would sustain but little more than
their oFn weight and the fire was then ext;n-
gaished, leaving the bridge mere shell.
The train, bringing from IS to 100 passen-
gers, including women and children, reached
The river at II O'Clock ct night, the bridge
locking secure. But no sooner had the loco.
motive measured its length upon the baidge
than some 10 or 50 yards Of the structure gave
way, prtcipitating the entire train into the
ahyss below. Alth SEATS in the passenger
coaches were torn off and shoved in front,
carrying men, women and children in pro-
miscaous heap down the deelivity and bury
ing item among the crushed ti1bers, or
throwing them cut Of the CATE, through the
broken sides. jagged pieces Of flooring inl-
Faled come; come were mangied by machine
~ tearing through the timbers; seyera! were
caught between planks pressing together like
9 vice; others we're struck By parts Of the
sccfss it came down with mighty force still
Others were cut with pieces Of glass, while
woErds, 2.d L1ood and agony prevailed all
cEer tie frlghtful scene, and shrieks of pain
EE1e mingled with cries Ct terror. In this
wsy the two last cars Of the traia went down,
pitching the passengers into the wreck or
throwing them into the water, which, at this
point, is about foot and = haIf in depth.
Only three perzons, Mr.. Geo. Parker, Super
iatendent at the United States Express; Mr..
Meze: Mail Agent and Mr. Hager, we're able
to fffcEd ASSISTANCE to the suffering, the re-
nsiuder of those who were not killed out
light being go disabled as to be helpless.
After doing sll that it WAC possible for those
,equ;1ing immediate attendance, M. H2ger,
6. 14ic night, lett the wreck to 90 to 81: Joseph
fl E1e ed:2a3 and other assistance. He walked
tive niles Of the way when he found a hand
car upon which he proceeded the remainder
Of The journey.
Two hundred yards west Of the bridge be
discovered heavy oak railroad tie strongly
strapped across the track, and two miles fur
ther On he found the trestle work over small
stream on fire, which, however, had not Is Jet
been SO badly burned that trains could not
pass ovsr it or it could not be extinguisAed.
Arriving at st. Joseph, the alarm Was soon
spread throughout the city, and although it
Was one O'Clock at night, seventy-dve men, in
Guiding all the physicians in the neighbor-
haod, quickly volunteered their services, and
at half past three O'Clock train fully supplied
with medical stores and other 1ecessaries,
was at the scene Of the disaster. The wound
ed had all emerged from the wreck, and were
lying On the banks and upon sand bar in the
river. Seventeen dead bodies were recovered,
and il is believed that this number embraced
all who were killed up TO that time. Two
we're SO badly margled that it Was not expect
ed 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
severely MANNED and crippled.
Mr.. Hager, cur informant, did not remain to
| finish the emba1 kation of the wounded for st,
| Joseph, hut was dispatched to Brookfa1d,
whichis east Of the bridge, for another train to
| go to the wreck. When he left, the names ol
the wounded were being taken down, and also
such Of the dead as had papers or other arti
c!es about them by which they could be iden,
! tilted.
Fifteen miles east Of the Platte river, Mr.
Hager found another bridge over sm:th'e
Branch almost entirely burned, having beer
fired after the trsin passed west, thus prevent
ing assistance being sent from the east.
Lieut.. Shaw Of the First Kansas Regiment
killed, and Ar. Lownsbury and Sidney Clark
wounded, are the only additional names o
| those injured We have at present.