The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-28
DUCKED AND DOUSED.
AVERY QUEER RAILROAD ACCIDENT,
A Sleeping Car and Passenger Coach PrSeIpltatsd
IatO the Detroit River from Transfer
ROat-Ths Lively Struggle Of the
Passengers 70 Escape.

DETROIT, September 97.-About one
O'Clock this morning tidings reached this
city Of u remarkable accident, which bcfell
the day express over the c. IS. railroad
to this city, the train due here about one
o'clock which isthe transferring train across
the river from Amherstbug to Grasse Isl
and. The transfer boat was run with such
force against the dock Oh the island as to
throw forward the sleeper st, Clair, which
ran along its track on the transfer boat and
plunged headlopg into the water in the
slip, the passenger coach running behind.
1t was also forced forward, and the forward
trucks fell off and down. The coupling
between this coach and the one behind it
did not break, however, and SO 1t hung on
the edge OF the boat, tilted up at an angle OF
Is degrees, and one end lust touching
ut once reversed and as 1t backed away
from the step the sleeper which had fallen
into the water rose and turned over on its
side, the tracks attached TO II having gone
to the bottom. All was confusion. The
passengers in the sleeper clung to the side
out Of the water, tried to break through the
windows and cried piteously for help. The
sixty to seventy others who were in the
passenger coach behind were panic stricken,
and rushed pell nell for the end OF the car
farthest away from the water, Some OF
them climbed out ut the sides and fell into
the water. Others of the passengers who
stood OH the deck ofthe boat saw the danger
OF those in the stream and plunged In to
rescue them, AS soon Us possible the pas
sengers and trainmen climbed on the top
Of the coach that was floating in the water,
broke open the windows and pulled out
the dripping occupants. When all
in sight had been rescued, the
work OF comparing notes begun and
It was found that OF the fourteen passengers
In the sleeper, three were missing. The
darkness OF the night, the confusion, and
the faCt TINT nearly all the passengers were
strangers to each other, makes 1t possible
all were rescued, but II also leaves pain
full unct rtNinty as to whether there are not
several persons drowned. Six passengers
went down with the car. They were res.
cued with the exception Of man named
Bloom, who occupied section 2. A careful
search for him was madc, but he had not
been found at last accounts. Fortunately
not single berth had been made up, or
there might have been serious loss OF life.
The following Is the list OF passengers as
near us can be gathered:
Miss Louise Serveas, OF Poughkeepsie,
n. Y; Miss Reed, OF Chicago; Mrs. Dale, q
lady friend OF Mrs. Carroll, wife OF the
General Superintendent Mrs. Douglass
Watson, Philadelphia; Mrs. Rathburn and
daughter; II gentleman and lady, names
unkn0Yn; Mr.. Bloom, John II. Kcef, (Mr.
Bloom Is already mentioned us missing.
w. D. Oliver, Of Chicago, was one Of the
passengers ON the cur and lost all his
baggage. He had on his slippers at the
time and lost his boots. He also describes
the scene us one Of great excitement and
confusion. One passenger gallantly jumped
into the river when he hearl n woman
scream, but was carried down by the cur.
rent. lie was finally rescued by boat
that was lowered. ]. T. Watson, oflielena,
Ark, lost his sltCliel He was standing on
the deck OF the. transfer boat and Baw
that a collision was imminent.
AS the boat approached the dock she was
apparently going ut full speed, and he re-
| ulNI hcN W SllNCI lIIub bllc Nuh SUlllB "
strike the pier. He was standing on tho
bridge OF the boat at the timeund ran down
stairs. He saw some ladies' standing on
the rear platform OF the cur md tried 10 get
them of, but he wAs too late and was hor-
rifed to sec the car go over. Among the
lady passengers In the sleeper st. Clair
who were prccipitated into the water were
Miss l.. Devens, of Poughkeepsle, N. Y,and
Miss Reed, of Chicago. They were sitting
on the side on the side Of the car that
turned uppermost rs the cur fell into the
water. They Clung to their seats and us
the sleeper turned on It's side the water
rushed into thecar, wetting them thorough.
~. They Cungt thelr seats and were soon
rescued through the windows, which were
broken open. They lost all their bgggage
The latest news from the scene Of the
wreck at Grlsse Isle Is more favorable than
the first accounts. II IL now thought that
no lives are lost. The missing man, Bloom,
Is reported heard from, while n visit al q
diver to the submerged car TeVeNla nc
bodies therein. All baggage was also got
out by him. The escape from loss OF life
| tt.nu tynI1 t,tul, n, 4 aan,t1n,tU