The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-09-08
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
A Passenger Train Precipitated into a
River in Iowa.
Twenty Persons Killed and Many
WOunded-Scenes and Incidents.

A terrible railroad accident occurred
Oh the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
railroad, caused by the washing out of a
bridge over the east branch of stream
called Four Mile Greek, near Des
Moines, Iowa, on the Goth. The stream
is generally quiet and never before
known to be as high as it was made by
the unprecedented rainfall of the few
days previous to the disaster. The
bridge rested on a stone arch II feet in
the clear, by walls 5 feet thick, and is
approached from the east around curve
and down grade. 1t is believed the
rails were left standing alone, and as the
train approached, the engineer who had
Stacked his speed till he came in sight of
the bridge, supposing that all was right,
stream was 40 or so feet wide,
and the banks about 20 feet
high. The locomotive landed at the foot
of the western side and half buried itself
in the earth. Barnum's car, which was
next to the engine, dropped into the
channel. The baggage and mail car fol
lowed and passed directly over it mash
ing it to pieces but going to the bottom,
bar of iron running clear through it.
The men in that car escaped alive. Even
lamps were not put out. The first pass
enger car was pitched head down into
the channel where the water was at least
Is feet deep. The next car plunged un-
der this, telescoping with it, and the next
ta1ocnnnaI holf III, both Of he
preceding it. The sleeping car did not
go into the wreck. Its occupants were
Jared, but none of them seriously. Most
of the killed were in the car in front of
the sleeper.
The scene at the time of the accident
is described as terrific. Rain was falling
in torrents, accompanied by wind, light
ming and violent thunder crash, which
put out the lights, and the scene of ter
ror ensuing may be well imagined. The
men who were not injured and could get
out went to work at once to rescue the
living and wounded. They had to go a
mile to farmhouse to get axes to chop
them out. They worked heroically and
by daylight had most of the wounded
rescued.
There were many painful scenes and
tender incidents One mother was killed
sitting between her children, who
escaped unhurt. One little girl who
hrd lain in the water for four hours with
a heavy man lying dead beneath her
body was discovered to be breathing and
was rescued and restored and now shows
no signs of injury.
Eighteen bodies were recovered up to
six o'clock on the 29th, and several
bodies could yet be seen in the wreck
1t Is thought that some of the bodies
have foated down stream.
The following is full list of the dead:
Mrs. Emily Babcock, Andalusia, Ill. :;
John X. Bolt and daughter, Boonesboro
Iowa; Mrs. VIM. Crow, of Des Moines;
VIM Rakestram, engineer of the train
Stuart. Iowa; M. Cohen, commercial
traveller, Peoria. ILL.,; J. E. Prince and
d. A. Bronson of Cincinnati, O.; VIM
Canning, newsbov, Des Moines; and the
following were in Barnum's car: Green
berry, Geo. Rockwell, John Purcell
John Bruce, Charles Thomson, A. Mack.
The wounded are: w. Y. Humes,
Des Moines, slightly in the head; A. j.
PatriIcks, conductor, dangerously; Mrs
u. A. Stebbine, Panther Crock, Iowa.
bruised considerably; S. S. Ferguson,
Andalusia, ILL.,, slightly; J. L. Graham
and wife, Des Moines. both slightly; L.
S. Spencer, Lathrop, Iowa, injured
across the breast and both legs; Jarles
Browning, ST. Louis, severely bruised,
burned and knee cut; D. Campbell, wife
and daughter, Tiskilwa county, Ill. NJ.
Harrington, Washington, Iowa, slightly
Dennis Shannon, Iowa City, legs and
breast severely; Mrs. Mary Hoff, Nor
walk, Iowa, in the back and head; Mrs.
G. Follett, Moline, Ill, quite severely;
Ben Truck, the fireman, made a miracu-
lous escape.