The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-30
HORRIBLE.
A Train of cars Breaks Through
a Bridge IS Feet High.
And Falls Into the Ice and
Takes Fire.
Over a Hundred People Supposed to be
Killed.
And as Many More Wounded,

CLEVELAND, Ohlo, Dec. Z9, 9:lU p. NJ
An accident has occurred at Ashtabula, o.,
on the Lake Shore road, It is reported
that seven coaches and all the baggage
and express cars were burned. About
one out of every five persons were killed.
The scene of the accident is few rods
east of the depot An iron bridge spans
Ashtabula Greek IS feet above the wate;
On both sides are high banks. The snow
has been falling almost constantly for the
past forty-eight hours and now driving
storm is raging, making it very difficult to
get news from the wreo ked and burning
train, No. Conductor Hean left Erie
for Cleveland one hour late and neared the
bridge at Ashtabula about 8 o'clock
SECOND DISPATCH.
The storm has somewhat abated, bnt
the weather is fast growing colder. Ii
seems that the falling train and bridge
smashed the ice in the creek and those not
killed by the fall or burned up by the
burning cars were held down by the wreck
| and drowned before they could be extri-
Gated. Many, too, will be or have been
| frozen, All the citizens of Ashtabula are
at the wreck and as many as can are work
ing to rescue those not already dead, while
hundreds OF strong arms and steady
brains stand ready to relieve those who
become exhausted The work goes on
very slowly.
A special train with physicians, nurses
and everything for the comfort of the
wounded at the wreck left the union depot
at l0:30 O'Clock
The weather is still growing colder at
Ashtabula. Only four bodies so far have
been taken from the debris. The night is
quite clear and now the snow has almost
stopped makes it almost as light as day.
1t estimated that there were l75 pas
sengers on the Inflated train. At least one
third of these were burned TO death Or
frozen. The train was drawn by two en-.
gines. One engine remained on the bridge.
Everything else went down.
THRU DESPATCH.
The weather at Ashtabula is growing
colder. The wreck is still burning Nc
more bodies have been recovered than al.
ready reported. 1t is impossible to gel
,, the names Of the killed The list oi
wounded will be swelled considerably
: Public and private houses are thrown
! open 10 the wounded and destitute A:
: near as can be ascertained ffty-two per
sons were wounded. How many escaped
i unhurt it is impossible to find out a
this hour. 1t is reported that the fire i:
: still burning, bat going down. The fas
express car was mashed to splinters ant
is now burning The train is known a:
Z the Pacific Express. There were si1
:, coaches and one or TWO drawing room cars
y The wreck has not burned down but
!, will be daylight before much can be don
Il toward getting out the dead.
The special train with surgeons
5 stretchers, blankets, etc., which left her
at 1880, was drawn by two engines, bu
lowing to deep snow on the track wa
two hours getting to Painesville, thirt
miles from here, aud exactly half way bt
t.. cen Cleveland and Ashtabula
2:30A. M-The very latest gives sixt
as the number Of wounded and 100 killec
ts LATEST.
Saturday l. P. M-We have received
: sheets of names OF killed and missing bu
have not room to publish them to day.
te CLEVELAND, Dec. 30.-The Leader
he pecal from the wreck at Ashtabula say:
rs At the base of the arches of the bridg
&c great heaps of ruins covered the deat
E, whole charred bodies lay where they ha
been placed while men went about In vii
excitement seeking some trace of lo
u one among the wounded or dead. The Ii
OF saved and wounded having been alread
III sent, the sad task remains of discoverin
who may be among the dead. The LATTE
cir task will be the most difficult of all,
ssi All the witnesses so far agre
sw as to the main facts of Il
accident. 1t was about o'clock and II
:: train was moving along at a modera
rate of speed, Ashtabula Station beir
lust this side of ravine, when suddenl
aud without warning, the train plung'
into the abyss, the forward locomoti
). alone getting across in safety. Almo
tod Instantly the lamps and stoY
set fire to the cars and many who we
doubtless only stunned and who mig
to Otherwise have been saved fell victims
be the flames.
uFe On the arrival of the Cleveland ira
Z. the surgeon of the road organized
ers. corps of assistants and made tour OF t
mi various hotels, where the wounded We
attended to, such help being given to ca
e. as was possible The people of Ashtabl
= lent willing hands and all that hum
n. skill and mercy could do to save life
lat ease pain was done.
a The Cleveland train, which came for t
82Nf purpose, Was Lum0ulabOiJ poOhoA Iuto !
sition and long before daylight the le
SSn e. wounded were being prepared for tra
see portation to Cleveland to be sent to
acs hospital or home. The scenes among
7. wounded were as suggestive, almost, as
nex wreck in the valley. The two hotels ne
est the station contained majority
these. AS they were scattered about
IA temporary beds OF floors of dining roor
MI parlors and Offices varous scenes
SN horror were trauspiring, while over it
&a there brooded that awful quietness, VIII
always accompanies such calamities.
sea ward morning the cold increased and
on wind blew fearful gale, which, with
nee snow which had drifted waist deep
rY points along the line, made all work
r0o. tremely difficult.
At six O'Clock the beds in the sleep
- car of the special train were made
"a and such of the wounded as could be m
Hi ed we're transferred.
|IH From an interview with Collins. ch
civil engineer of the road, learn that
LAM bridge was Howe Truss, built entirely
ehi, eRIy iron and Ii years DID, 1t was SO I
adj above the water and had an arch J
rials i. feet long in the clear. the whole length
= aad Of the bridge being l57 feet, 1t has b
tock tested with six locomotives, and at
are sn time of the disaster was considered as
just ing 10 perfect condition. 1t was bull
Pqts ID the Cleveland shops. Mr.. Collins gives
ana opinion as to the cause OF the accident,
New pressing himself as being utterly unable