Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-09
A BROKEN BRIDGE
Over the Missouri River
Causes Destruction to
Life and Property.
A Cattle and Grain Train PreCip-
Itated into the Water, Falling
a Distance Of 65 Feet.
An Appalling Horror Graphic
ally Described by the
Survivors.

ST. LOUIS, December 9.-The i'll
fated train which went down through
the st. Charles railroad bridge over
the Missouri river last night, was
freight No. II, eastward bound. By
schedule it itcrOsSesjust before the War
renton accommodation, meeting the
latter at Brotherton, and the passing
engine and tender, with thirteen cars
loaded with live stock, and eighteen
with other freight and caboose, went
down. Three of the six men on the
train when it started over the bridge
accompanied it on that wild leap Of
sixty-fve feet into the river channel.
That two of them escaped to tell Of the
awful experience seems a miracle.
Five of the six are accounted for and
one is missing. Jack Kirksley, en-
gineer, stuck to his post. His body
may still be in the cab with his
hand on the throttle, or il
may have been washed away.
That is mystery yet
unsolved. Fireman H. Chamberlain
was beside Kirksby but somehow he
was forced through the cab window
and up on top of the wreck just above
the surface Of the water, where be
clung, calling for help, until Charles
Spinks and A, Dolson, the latter q
bridge watchman, had manned a skif
and rescued him. He was a fit sub
ject for the surgeon. Both bones Of
theIlelt leg below,th knee were frac-
tured. Drs. Stumburg and Kirschnel
made him as comfortable as possible
and he was put into the best bed in
the Gait House. Brakeman Charles
Oberlinger lives to be pointed out as
the other Of the tive men who wen
down into that awful abyss. He wai
on the third Car from the engine anC
he felt all giving away beneath him
He dropped fat on top Of the car anC
touched the footboard. Then the cal
he was on doubled over the car il
in front and stood out Of the watel
halt of its height. His cries brought
one OF the numerous skifs manned
as soon as the alarm was given, ant
he was brought ashore. Hal
"a dozen cuts and some aggrcvatet
bruises compose the extent of hi
injuries. He was cared for at tn,
Gait House and there was every pros
pect that he will be out soon. These
we're the only men who accompanied
the train to its destination. 0ber
linger has a family at Maberly. Cham
berlain's home is at Tyre, Mo
Kirksby's body, if found, will be taker
back to Maberly 1t was long train
engine and tender with thirty-tw,
cars and the caboose. When the en-
glue was nearly across the span whic
fell the caboose was aWav hack o
span No. 3, just leaving tn
st. Charles side of the river
The span which went down, did so il
its entirety AS the two survivor
tell it, the bridge seemed to drop ou
from under them in one piece, an
down went the forward third of th
train, and then the remaining porto
followed so slowly that those wh
witnessed it say it seemed to almoi
stop. Car after car toppled over th
| brink until not one was left.
brakeman was on top Of car we'll t
ward the rear. He saw the yawniu
chasm, jumped to one side, caught IL
trestle-wofk, climbed down and wake
bash to the Charles side, his face ashe
and his limbs trembling. Less sens
tional was the escape Of W. G. Ande
son, of Paltensburg, NO., and Pl
Crane, of Howard county, two stocl
men, and Conductor Durfeld, wi
we're in the caboose. The successic
of jerks warned them and they jumpc
off the rear platform upon the bridl
and stood looking at the slowly dissl
pearing train. Durfeld says thi
simultaneously with the uneven motto
Of the train came the cry of MedcaI
who shouted to the occupants of th
caboose, For Gods sake jump She
going dswn"
The ferry boat dropped down to Il
scene of the wreck, but it was impoi
sible to do anything. Skifs had a
ready taken off the surviving trai
men, and the utter hopelessness
any search for poor Jack Kirksby vi
apparent at the first glance. Ju
above the surface of the water coul
Be seen the corner Of the cab, al
piled in and around it were cars brok,
and twisted out Of all shape, and feac
to be washed away in fragment
Others are almost intact. Perhaps
sCant third Of the train is left abo'
the surface of the river. Against Il
: piers on citker side Of the break a
masses OF rolling stock. These pa
italy submerged portions contain sOr
Of the stock cars, and at midnight t
squealing Of the imprisoned swine al
!, the hoarse believing Of the catt
could be heard up town, mile aw
from the wreck.
A month ago the State Railro
Commissioners made a report Il
. the bridge was perfectly sa
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