The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-06-24
THE FATAL BRIDGE.
Further Particulars in Regard
to the Plattsburg Ca
tastrophe.
The Manner in Which the Fire.
man, Austin, and the Pas
serger, Curtis, Net
their Deaths.

1t Cannot be said the sad catastrophe
near Plattsburg night before last was the
result OF carelessness or criminality on the
part Of either the conductor or engineer OF
the Inflated train, except perhaps, that the
former should have known better than to
run at the usual rate OF speed during the
heavy storm, which was then prevailing.
Never before had that portion of Missouri
witnessed a heavier or more destructive
hurricane of wind and ram than that which
swept over the Rock Island railroad Fri
day afternoon and evening, and the mist and
darkness were so thick and binding that
even by the aid Of the headlight could the
engineer see more than ten feet ahead.
There are several bridges between here and
Plattsburg, and as the locomotive flew
swiftly forward bearing behind it its pre-
cious freight of passengers, an involuntary
tremor seemed perceptible in each successive
frail structure which spanned roaring
below, "a the laundering and heavy cars
passed over. 1t is wonderful that the loss
Of life was not greater than it was. As the
shrieking locomotive plunged headlong in
10 the creek the baggage and express car
and two coaches followed, piling in a pro-
miscuous heap one upon the other, the
sleeper alone keeping the track. The fire
man, Thomas Austin, was hurled with i'm
mense force toward the boiler, the
great lever striking him diagonally across
the face, MASKING in his forehead and kill
ing him instantly. His body was found on
the left hand side Of the cab, completely
submerged in the water. 1t was taken to
Trenton, where he formerly resided he has
no family. The engineer, Thos. Hilton, as
soon as he felt himself and and engine GO
ing down, attempted to jump into the wa
ter to save himself, when his clothing was
caught by one of the stop-cocks of the en-
CINE, and there he hung suspended while
enyeloped in a cloud of steam. He was severe
ly scalded about the face, chest, and under
the armpit he is not dangerously hurt, and
will recover. Mr.. Joseph Irwin, express
messenger, is the only employe on the train
that was injured seriously. His nose was
broken and both eyes bruised by coming in
contact with some heavy substance which
flew through the express car Immediately
after the shock. The force OF the blow rem
dered him senseless, and knew nothing until
he found himself stretched upon the ground,
with the ruins OF the train below, and the
men bending over him. The passenger,
Curtis, a young man lately from New York,
and who was on his way back East, came
to his death in a singular manner He was
standing near the door OF the second car
conversing with some fellow travellers when
the fatal plunge was made. The shock OF
the conclusion was 80 great that the doors
flew open, Curtis fell backward into the
seething, boiling waves, and without a mo-
ment's warning was hurled into eternity.
His body now lies at Plattsburg, where it
awaits the disposition of friends or rela-
tives in his native city, who have been no.
titled Of the sad occurrence by telegraph
A car, containing the wounded arrived in
the city early yesterday morning, and
Joe Irwin was taken Immediately to his
on Usage street, where he now
lies He suffers considerable pain, but il is
probable that he will be able to be around
in about a week.
LATER-Engineer Hilton is in sleeping
coach on the side track at the Union De-
pot, in a very low condition, and fears are
that he may never recover.