New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-09-11
Particulars of the Missouri Railroad
Disaster,

ET?soN, No. Sept 6.-The following additional
account Of the terrific disaster On tie Eann al
Gnd st. Joseph Railroad is furnished to the St.
Louis Republican
The catastrophe occurred at Little Platte bridge,
nine miles east of st. Joseph. The bridge was
substantial work of 100 feet span, 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 tie fire was t-an e. t;npuished, leaving tie
bridge mere she'll The train with eighty to
hundIe9 passengers On hoard, including women
and childien reached t. river at II O'Clock ct
night, and the bridge looking secure, the train
passed or. But no sooner haG the locomotive
measured its length upon the bridge than some
forty yards OF the struC ture gave way precipitat
ing tire entire train into tie abyss below. All the
seats IN the passenger cars were torn and showed
in front, carrying men, women and children. in
promiscuous heap down tie decliyity, and bury
ing them among the crushed tnlbers, or throwing
them out of tie cars through the broken sides.
Jagged pieces of flooring impalGd some. Some
were mangled by the machinery tearing through
the tinnbers. Several were caught between the
planks pressing together like a vice.
Others were struck by parts OF tic roof as it
came rafting down with mighty force. Still 9TH
ers were cut with pieces Of glass, while wounds
and agony prevailed all over the frightiul scene,
and shreks of pain we're mingled with cries OF ter
ror. IN the way the two last OF the train went
down, pitching the passengers into the wrecE, or
throwing them into the water, which at this point
is about foot and half deep, only three pasgen-
| gers, Mr. j. W. Parker, Superintendent of the u.
| S. Express, Nj. Mars, mail agent, and Mr. Rager,
were able to afford assistance to the suffering, The
remainder of those who were not killed outright
| being so disabled as to be helpless: After doing
all it was possible for those requiring immediate
attendance, Mr.. Hager at midnight left the wreck
to go to ST. Joseph for medical and other attend-
| ance. Mr.. Hagcr walked five miles Oh the way,
| when lie found hand car, upon which he pro-
| ceeded the remainder OF the Journey. Two hun
| dred yards west of the bridge he discovered a
heavy oak railroad tie strapped across the track,
and two miles further on he found the trestle work
| over small stream on fire, which had not, how
ever, yet been as badly burnt that trains could
not pass it could not be easily extnguished.
| Arriving at St. Joseph's, the alarm was soon
| spread throughout the city, and although it was
| O'Clock at night, seventy-1ive men including all
| the physicians in the neighborhood, quickly vol
unteered their services. At 3 O'Clock, train,
fully supplied with medical stores and other neces-
saries, was at the Of the disaster. The
wounded had all emerged from the wreck, and
were lying on the bank and upon the 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 of the
wounded 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 NVeS Will be
| MANNED and crippled.
| Mr. Hager, our informant, did not remain to
| finish the embarkation of the wounded for St.
| Joseph but was dispatched to BrOOkiiald, 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 papers or other articles about them by which
they could be identified Fifteen miles east of
| Platte river Mr.. Hager found another bridge, over
Smiths branch, almost entirely burned, having
| been fired after the train passed West, thus pre-
venting assistance being sent rom the East. Lieut.
| Shaw, OF Tue Kansas Regiment, was killed, and
Mr.. Lawnsberry and Sidney Clark, wounded, are
the only additional names of those injured We have
| at present.