White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1872-06-13

INST saturday night terrible accident occurred on
@ A'chis'n and Nebraska Road between Iowa Point and
station about miles north Of the latter place
near the residence Of Mr. Major FErH the Super
'enoen had been the road inspecting the damage
cone by the late rains his return to Aehison
ON the mail train tFKxD. RIcEs) IL almost dark
when they le White Cloud and about O'Clock they
10 bridge gully spring branch that had heen
undermined by the water, and which workmen had Just
been repairing heavy engine and train of freight
had just passed it, hut Mr. FIRrH suspected the
bridge and approaching the place went out upon the
pilot .cow-cateherr examine. accompanied by his
private Secretary young named ALLEN. The engin
Ger had stopped the train but Mr. FIFTH gave him signal
to go ahead which he did slowly When the engine was
fairly the bridge the structure suddenly gave way the
engine being precpated head foremost ten or doz
en- feet into the gully The pilot timber and was
bent back against the head Of tho engine taking the two
men with it. ALLEN crushed to death instantly and
FIFTH caught by the right arm and forced down into
the mud and water. The engineer JAMES SrRAHAx and
fireman. N T. DKrNNoSD, leaped of being but slightly
bruised and DRrNMoND at looked the unfortunate
men. He lifted FIRTHs face from the mud and water
barely i'm time to prevent him from suiocans and pro-
curing chopped away such portions Of the obstruc
tons he could giving FIErns body relief from its
painful position But the held fast andhis Shout
der held tightly against the the hot engine and
Wac dreadfully burned There also bad cut on his
head Still he was sensible and gave directions relative to
the work and in this horrible condition he remained
n hours, before he could be rescued One of the men
ran to Iowa Point where be got hsndcar and came to
White Cloud, where engine standing Taking Dr.
PuGsLEY he FASTENED hack the wreck GRAVES train
which had just passed the bridge standing at
highland Station awaiting orders and the engine of this
was dispatched to Atcson for assistance and returned
with Drs BURGE and COCHRAN FIRTH was at length got
out in an insensibe condition taken to Atchi-an
where his right arm amputated the shoulder
The cut his bead and burn his back very serious
Hopes entertained Of his recovery chances are
doubtful He man Of wonderful vitality but the
shock he received terrible and being pinned down
for hours between burning engine mire Of
mud and water left hut little life in him. remains Of
ALLEN East.
The conduct Of all hands under the trying circumstan.
is his highly spoken o They did all that could
do in such critical time and darkness Of the night
DRuMMoSD especially Efficient and doubtless saved
FIgTH's life.
Maj FIRTH Of the efficient railroad men in
the West There limit his energy and push and
this road under his has gone ahead with
rapify rarely eqnalle at the time being built
stanally 1t this energy keep work moving and
to personally that everything the best condition
that has cost him this calamity if his Mr. FIRTH
could not well be spared from the Atchson aud Nebraska
Road