The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-07

Hudson, Mo :, Sept. &.

ne following additional account of the
terrible disaster on the Hannibal a St 10.
Railroad, is furnished BY the st. Louis
Republican: The catastrophe occurred at
Little Platte River bridge, miles east Of
st. Joseph. The bridge was substan-a
tial work of 100 feet span aud about 35
feet above the river. The timbers of the
bridge were burned underneath the track
until they would sustain but little more
Than their own weight, and the fire was
then extingnished, leaving the bridge
mere shell. The train bringing from IS
to 100 passengers, including women and
children, reached the river about eleven
O'Clock at night. The bridge locking Sc.
cure, the train passed on, but no sooner
had the locomotive measured its length
upon the bridge than some 40 or so yards
OF the structure gave way, precipitating
the entire train into the abyss below. All
the seats in the passenger coaches were
torn and showed in frunt, carving men,
women and children in promiscuous
heap down the declivity and burying them
among the crushed tiInbers, or throwing
them out of the sides of the broken cars.
Jagged pieces Of flooring impaled some.
Some we're mangled through the timbers.
Several were caught between planks press
ing together like : vice. Others were
stricken by parts Of the roof as it came
dpvu with mighty force. Still others
we're cut with pieces of glass, while
wounds. and blood and agony prevailed
all over the frightful scene, and shrieks Of
pain we're mingled with criss Of terror. -
In this way 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 aud d
hxlfan depth. at ks
Three persons, Mr. j w. Parker, Su
pcrlntendent of the United States Express
Mr., Mars, Mail Agent, and Mr.. Hager
We're able to afford assistance to the suffer
ing, the remainder of those who wer.
not killed outright being 50 disabled al
to be helpless. After doing all that it wa
possible for those requiring immediate
attendance, Mr.. Hager at midnight lief
the wreck to 70 TO ST. Joseph for medica
aud other assistance. He walked fv,
miles Of the way when he found han,
| ,rnpon which he proceeded the remainde
OF the journey. Two hundred yards ives
Of the bridge he discoyerei IA heavy oal
rail road tic strongly strapped across tn
track, and two miles farther on he foun,
the trestle work over small stream on fire
whlch however had not as yet been 3
badly burned that trains could not pas
over il or could not be easily extinguished
Arriving at ST. Joseph, the alarm Va
soon spread throughout the city, aud Al
though it vas one clock ut night, 7 ) rneI
sincluding all the physicians IN the neigl
borhood, quickly volunteered their Service
and nj half past three o clock train full
supplied with medical stores aud 9th,
Eneeessaries was at the scene OF the di
Naster, The wounded had all e,nerg
from the wreck and were lying upon ii
banks and on sand bar in the river. |
dead bodies were recovered, and it is b
llievel that this number embraced all WI
were killed up to that time. Two were
badly mangled that IL was not 'cxpecte
they would survive till morning, viii
= MARY 9t Il Z s,Scsg- as-a..---l raaa4e
: and would have to be well taken care
to recover Many who will escape wi,
their lives viii be severely manned ar
crippled Mr.. Hagcr, our informant, d
not remain to finish the embarkation
the wounded for st. Joseph, but was de
patched to Brookfeld, which is east Of Il
Z bridge, for an engine to 60 to the wrec
When he left, the names Of the wound,
were being taken down, and also such
the dead as had papers or other articl
about them by which they could be ide
!. titled. 10 miles east o. the Little Plat
$ Mr. Hager found another bridge oy
+ Smiths Branch nearly burned, hay
e been fired after the train passed, thus pl
u venting assistance being sent from I
o east. Lieut Shaw, of the Let Kansas RI
It iment, killed, and Mr.. Lowensbury a
& Sidney Clark wounded, are the only ad,
e tional names Of those injured We have
!, present.
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