The New York herald., 1877-08-30
TWENTY PEOPLE KILLED
List OF the Wounded, Missing
and Rescued.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
Tx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I

vcrely and seriously wounded. The accident took
place on Four Mile Creek at point three miles
west OF Altoona and seven niles east OF this city.
THE CREEK SWOLLEN.
At the time OF this disaster tremendous rain
storm was prevailing, and the creek, which, in
ordinary times, is but u small stream, had been
swollen to many times its usual depth. The creek
is spanned by an arched culver, and this, in turn
was supported by wooden pillars, which had
been placed in as precautionary measure.
THE TRAIN.
The train which was suddenly thrown to de.
struction was loaded with passengers and con-
sisted In addition to the locomotive OF an advertis
ing car belonging to p. T. Barnum, which was fol-
lowed by the baggage car OF the train three pas
senger coaches and q sleeping car. The train was
running at the speed customary to the Pacific ex-
press, and when the cuivert was reached the en-.
gine ran partially across.
THE CuLyERT GIVES WAY.
1t was at this point 1t now appears, that the cut
vert gave way. There was sudden and loud
crash. and oil the cars, with the exception Of the
sleeping coach, went into the chasm anu the boil
ing stream below. by some means the sleeping
car became detached probably by the sudden
1t was this tact which lessened to a great degree
the terrible list OF fatality which is even now very
great.
THE TERRIBLE FALL
In going down the engine went Gear across the
opening and fell upon the furthermost embank.
ment. Following this came the Barnum adverus.
ing car, which was thoroughly wrecked, as the
baggage coach was forced clear through it, the end
OF the latter resting the bank hey and reach.
ing q point alongside the engine
=, ~ sspss rEikscorED COACHES
The two passenger coaches completely tclescoped
each other, anu the two together went more than
halt way through the third coach, the three rest
ing with their ends in the water. The
scene was one Of complete demolition, the
entire train, with the exception Of the
sleeping coach, being wrecked most utterly.
Fortunately the lamps In the cars did not set
fire to the woodwork and other infiammable ma.
terial, else the loss Of life would have been simply
frightful.
ASSISTING THE WOUNDED.
AS soon as the fact Of the accident became re.
ported in Des Moines this morning everything that
could be was done to give assistance to the
wounded and make them as comfortable as possible.
Those who were so badly wounded that removal
Tor the time being was rendered impossible were
transferred to neighborng farm houses and the
best of medical attendance given them. When the
work Of removing the b0lies OF the dead and
wounded began the bodies were taken out with
great rapidty The wounded were, in the main,
able to help themselves, although some were so
badly hurt as make it impossible to give any as
sistance to Others
SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED
Before daylight the wounded had all been extrl-
Gated from the wreck, and 1t was at that hour def
nitely known tnat, ut least fifteen were lying dead
in the wreck 1t was impossible, however, to do
anything looking to their extricauon until means
could be secured to lit the debris This came with the
morning Division superintendent Ray happened
to be the Inflated tran ana fortunately was not
injured. He at set about to the utmost of his
ability. to secure the dead bodies and to extend aid
to the injured
RECOVERY OF THE BODIES
All day long the work OF removing the dead has
gone on body after body being lifted from the
water and laid out in ghastly array alongside the
road Up to night eighteen bodies had been re-
covered. superintendent Ray has prepared the
following hist OF killed and wounded which Is as
near correct AS can be obtained at this hour
KILLED.
WILLIAM RAKEsTRAw, engineer, stuart Iowa.
WILLIAM CUNNING, newsboy.
ALICE. daughter of Mrs. r. Bolt, aged eight years.
Mrs EMILY BABCOCK, OF Andalns III.
THOMAS DUNAwAY, OF Dcs Moines.
Mrs. W. l.. CROW, OF Des Moines.
TWO BODIES not Identified
GEORGE ROCKWELL, in Bagnum's car.
JOHN PURCELL, in Iiarnum's car.
JOHN BKEESE, In Barnums car
CHARLES THOMPSON. in Barnums car
a. MACK, in Barnums car.
7. b. BAKER, in Barnum's car
WOUNDED.
A. j. PARTRIDGE, conductor, Davenport Iowa,
seriously
u. H. TRUCKS, fireman. Stuart Iowa, seriously
on hip
L GRAHAM, Des MONIES, Iowa, about he al and
arms.
Mrs. j. l.. GRAHAM, slightly
JACOB SPRING, Albany, Athens county, Ohio
head and arm. not seriously
Colonel 9. w. LOwRIE, slightly.
Mrs. LOwRIE, severely on limbs. not dangerously.
W. I. HUME, Des Moines. slightly.
:. r. SPENCER t.athrop Iowa, seriopslv