Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-09-11
Diabo1icaI Outrage.
HupsoN. Mo- Sent. g.

HUDSON, Mo-, Sept. b.
Abe Hager. p. M. on the Hannibal and
ST. Joseph Railroad, furnishes to the ST.
Louis Democrat the following account Of
4 diabolical outrage Oh that road, on the
4th inst
The passenger express train, bound west,
was thrown into Platte Riyer--the tiinLsrs
Of the east end Of the bridge over the
stream having been burned nearly through.
The entire train went down, the engine
turning over and the baggage, freight,
mail and two passenger coaches piled on
top.
The passenger coaches were completely
smashed, and was nearly the only one on
the train that escaped unhurt. After get
ting out Of the baggage car, | commenced
taking out the passengers that were not
killed from the wreck.
The following adslitional particulars Of
the terrible disaster are furnished to the
st. Louis Republican,:
The catastrophe occurred at Little Platte
River bridge, Q miles cast o. st. Joseph.
The bridge was a substantial work Of 100
feet span, and about IS feet above the
river. he tinbeIs of the bridge bad been
burned underneath the track until they
would sustain but little more than their
own weight, and tho fire was then extin-
guishei, LEAKING the bridgea mere she'll
The train was bringing from So to 100
passengers, including women and children.
They reached the river az eleven o'clock at
night. and the bridge looking secure they
passed on, but no sooner had the locomo-
tive measured its length upon the bridge
than some 40 or SO yards of the structure
gave way, preclp itating the entire train into
the abyss below.
All the seats in the passenger cars We're
torn up and thrown in front, carrying men,
women and children in a promiscuous heap
down the declhity, and burying them
among the timbers or throwing them out
Of the cars through the broken windows.
Ragged pieces Of flooring impaled some;
some were lnangled By machinery; several
were canght between pIanks, pressing to-
gether like wee. Others were struck BY
parts Of the roof as it came down with
mighty force; still others were cut with
pieces of glass, while wounds and blood
and agony prevailed all over the fiightful
scene, and skreks Of pain were mingled
with cries Of terror.
Only three persons, Mr. j. w. Parker,
Superintendent Of the IT. S. Express, Mr..
Mars, Mail Agent, and Mr. Hager, We're
able to afford assistance to the suffering,
the remainder of those who were not killed
outright being so disabled as to be help
less. After doing all that it was possible
to do for those requiring immediate atten-
dance, Mr.. Hager, at midnight left the
wreck to 90 to St. Joseph for medical ana
other assistance. He walked five miles OF
The way, when he found a hand car, upon
which he proceeded Tire remainder Of the
journey.
Two hundred yards west Of the bridge
lie discovered heavy ok railroad tie
strongly strapped across the track, and two
miles fartheron be found tressle work over
a small stream on fire, which, however,
halnot as yet been So badly burned that
trains could not pass over il, or so far but
that il could be easily extinguisbed
Arriving at St. Joseph, the alarm was
soon spread throughout tile city, and al
though it was one o'clock at night, seven
ty-f,e men, including all physicians ID the
ueghborhood, quickly volunteered their Ger
vices, and at half past three o'clock train
fully supplied with medical stores and 9th
er necessaries was at the scene of the disas-
aster.
TIE wounded had all emerged from the
wreck, and Were lying on the banks and
upon a SIND bar III the river Seventeen
deal BODIES were recovered, and it is be-
lieved thai this number embraced all who
were killed up to that time.
Fifty miles east Of tie Platte River, Mr.
Hager found another bridge over the south.
branch almost entirely burned, having been
fired after the trained passed west, thus
preventing assistance b"ing sent from the
east.