River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-09-15

HlSut. 1nIls W dtuIDuIS iistu las h0u5S
and barn burned.
Heavy fires are running along the
railroads between Bridgeport and Birch
Run on the F. and p. M. Railroad
Sunday and Monday gargs of men
were trying to stop fires, which ragged
all about carrying destruction Def IRE
them. At 2 p. m. to-day telegram
was received in this city stating that
Clio was threatened with humiliation
and asking for steamer. 1t was not
possible to accede to the request. II
was learned at 5 o'clock that the village
was still safe.
The total losses in Tuscola County
will reach $4,000 lost by. about thirty
farmers. Families have had to utilize
wells as places of refuge. The story Of
distress in one part of the county is
duplicated in others. Vassar is safe il
the wind does not change. Caro- is in
danger. Men have been fighting fire
for thirty hours without respite.
- -
A Narrow Escape
Canada is fast becoming famous for
its railway accidents. In addition tc
the collision near Lancaster on the
Grand Trunk, there was q collision on
Grand river bridge, one hundred feet
above the water, west of Toronto, on
Saturday evening, when five cars were
preclpitated from the bridge into the
river. The passengers had extraordm-
airy escapes, one man especially most
miraculous one. On being asked for
information, he said: "Well, had a
most providential escape. | was read
ing book in which took very deer
interest, and when on the bridge / no
ticed several passengers get up hastily
and run out on the platform. looked
out of the window, and / noticed 8
mans hat fly out of one of the windows
but thought it was small matter to
make so much fuss about, so | went or
with my book. A moment later,
heard a shrek, and looking up found
l was alone ON the car. Very hurriedly
| ran out, and as soon as | got to the
platform | saw this other train coming
right down on us. To my horror l saw
the engineer and fireman jump from
the engine. Then | knew there was nc
hope of avoiding the accident. / start
ed to run, but had only gone few steps
when the shock took place. / instinct
lively seized the guard-chain of the
bridge, which gave away with me, fol
the first car had gone off the track, and
broken it. 1t let me down twenty-five
| feet, where | was suspended in mid
air. Part of one of the posts hold
ing it was broken off with it, and by let
ting myself down little got my legs
over it so that / could have hung there
for several hours. One by one the
freight cars passed over me, each one
coming little nearer, and SHOW or o
| splinters hailed down." The man bore
several scars received from these, one
of them painful cut behind the lef
ear. Continuing, he said, "In this pc
sition / called for help, and younl
man with whom l was travelling, anC
was looking for me, saw me and brough
me assistance. They first let the bell
rope of the train down, telling me to lie
myself down with it, but was afraid
| They then fastened chain to the bell
rope and pulled it up to me from be
low, where quite a crowd had by thu
time assembled. fastened tne
chain to my chain and began the de
scent. | got down to the end of the
chain, and could then touch the hands
of the crowd with my feet, so | let &c
and was caught by them. 1t was Ger
tainly narrow, should say providen
tai, escape" The gentleman is from
Lawrence, Kan. In every detail thu
account of his escape is corroborateC
by the passengers.
A Mrs. Page, from Boston, was injur
ed, and also Miss Winks, formerly o
this city, who was coming from Winni
peg. Her wrists were bruised in jump
ing from the car down the embank
ment. The cars which went over are {
complete wreck.