Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-10
THROUGH A BRIDGE.
A, TRAIN or THlRTY-Iwo CARsyiH
THE MISSOURI RIVER.
Five Men Killed and Others wounded-fsH
Particulars Of the Disaster-A
Hairbreadth Escape Of
Brakeman.
MARROW ESCAPE OF THE SURVIVORS.

ST. LouIs. December 9.-Thc ill-fated
train which went down through the 81.
Charles railroad bridge. over the Missouri
river. last night, was freight No. Il, cast
ward bound. BY schedule IL crosses lust
before the warrenton accommodation.
meeting later at Brotherton. and passing.
The engine and tender and thirteen cars
loaded with live stock and eighteen with
other freight, and the caboose went down.
Three sfth SIX Mea
on the train when it started over ths
bridge, accompanied il on wild leap OF
sixty-five feet into the river channel. Thst
two OF them escaped 10 tell Of this awful
experience seems q miracle. Firc OF tho
six are accounted for, but one Is missing.
Jack Kirksly, engineer. stuck TO his
post. His body may still be i'm the cab
with his hand on the throttle. or IL may
have been washed away. That is mys-
terry yet unsolved,
The fireman, ii. Chamberlain, WAS beside
Kirksly, but some how he was forced
through the cab window and upon the top
of the wreck just above the surface OF tho
water,
where He Clung,
calling for help until Charles spinks and
A. Dolson, the latter bridge watchman,
had manned skif and rescued him. He
was III subject for surgeon, S both
bones Of the left leg below the knee wcro
fractured. Drs. Stumburg and kirchner
made him as comfortable Us possible, and
he was put into the best bed in the Gait
House. Brakeman Charles :. Ablingcr
lives, 10 be pointed out as the other Of the
two men who went down into
That Awful Abyss.
He was On the third car from the engine,
and as he felt il all giving away beneath
him. he dropped Hat on the top of the car
and touched the foot bourd. The car he
was on doubled over the one in front and
stood out Of the water half its height Ills
cries brought one OF the numerous skins
manned as soon rs the alarm was given ana
he was brought ashore. \ half dozen cuts
aud some heavy bruises composed the cS.
tent If his injuries lie was cared for at
the Gait House, and there is every prospect
that he will be out soon.
These wcrr Only Men
who accompanied the train 10 its dcstina-
ton. Oblingcr has family at Moberiy.
Chambcrlain's homcis at atIyrcms. kirkby's
body. il found, will Le taken back 10
Mobcrly.
Il was long train, consisting OF an
engine and tender. thirty-two cars and tho
cabousc. When the engine was nearly
across the span which fell, the caboosc was
away back on span number three, just
leaving the ST Charles side Of the river.
The span which went down dii 50 IN its
entirety. ~ the -
Two survivors Tell 10
that the bridge seemed To drop out
from under them In one piece. Down
went the forward third OF the tram, ana
the then remaining fourteen followed 50
slowly that some who witnessed II say u
4 4, affn raj
plcd over the brink, until not one was LETT.
A brakeman was on the top ot car well
toward the rear. He saw the chasm yawn'
ing and
Jumped 90 One side.
caught the trcstlc work, climbed down and
walked back % the ST. Charles side. His
face was pale and his limbs trembling.
Less sensational was the escape OF w. u.
Anderson, OF Paitonsburg No, and Tat
Crane. of Howard county, two stockmen
and Conductor Durfield, who were on the
| caboose. The succession Of jerks warned
| them and:they jumped of the rear plat
form upon the bridge and ..', stood ''en,ns a,.in
Durfc,d saws that simultaneously With
| the uneven motion OF tho. train came tho
cry Of Midcap who shouted 10 the occu'
| pants Of the caboOsc, "FOr
God's sake Jump.
She's going down" The ferry boat drop
ned down TO the scene Of the wreck, but IL
was impossible 10 do anything. skiiis had
| already taken of the surviving trainmcn.
| and the utter bopelcssncss oi any search
| for poor Jack kirksby was apparent. =.
Just above the surface of the water could
| be seen the corner Of the caboose. Pilcd
| in and around were cars some broken ana
| twisted out Of all shape and ready 10 be
wished away IN fragments. Others were
| almost whole. Perhaps scant third oi the
| train Is left above the surface Of the river.
| Against the piers on either side of tho
| break. are masses 81 rolling stock. These
| partially submgred portions contain some
Of the stock cars, and at midnight tho
| ,aucaling of the Imprisoned swine, and
The Hosrse BeiIo~'
ox.x a. % r. ,".'' 20 ncafd up town mile
a"'S " la the wreck.
4 A month ago the State Railroad Commits.
/ siOnor, made a report that the bridge was
| perfectly safe. and only yesterday one of
sths commissioners was here inspected thu
| structure and went away seemly satisfied.
| The two employees of the road who wer.
| injured, e. IL. OblIngcr, brakeman, and
| Newton Chamberlain. fireman, were soon
| In their beds nj the Gait House to whittier
| they were removed after the accident.