The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-03-30
mlanitowof pilot.
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1882.
GENERAL NEWS.

GENERAL NEWS.
BISMARCK, OAK, March pa special
from Manden gives the details of the
railway disaster as follows: About 1880
o'clock last evening the snow pillow and
work or boarding train and passenger
left Sweet Briar in the order named.
The snow pillow passed safely over the ten
bent bridge which spans Sweet Briar
Greek. The work train was composed of
fiat cars next to the engine, followed by
two sleeping cars for thirty men each. a
dining car, kitchen car and store car
The train was going at about ten to fif
teen miles per hour, and the engineer
hearing jar, Immediately reversed his
engine, but before he had time to think
the terrible crash came and eight human
souls were launched into eternity. 1t
seems that wheel on the head truck of
fat car of the work train broke, and the
whole truck had jumped the track. The
evidences of it's course upon the ties ex-
tends back nearly mile from the wreck.
AS the short curve leading to the bridge
was reached, the strain upon the car was
so great that the truck must have been
broken in numerous pieces, some of the
more tenacious striking the ties on the
bridge and showing them before it. The
iron being left without support, the
sleeping car was Immediately precipitat-
ed into the river thirty feet below, strik-
ing on its side. This was followed by
sleeping car No. 2, which careened over
and finally assumed similar position as
No. 1. The dining car followed, crash
ing into both the others. After this was
the kitchen car, which remained upright
against the dining car. The Office and
store car was but partially off the track.
Four bents in the bridge were broken
into splInters and their sleepers COM
pletely demolished.
There were about fifty men on the train
at the time of the accident, and the es-
cape of even one seems miraculous after
viewing the wreck. In sleeper No. /
were about twenty four men. Some were
Iying in their hunks asleep, others read
ing and smoking, and some playing cards.
As soon as the car overturned, the bed
ding caught fire, and the men crushed
aud dying were roasted almost beyond
recognition. The only deaths were
among those in this car. Those who es-
capped Immediately grasped such buckets
as they could find, and worked like he
roes to extinguish the flames, but the
straw bedding, blankets and other com
bustible materials made it impossible.
1t is supposed that seven of the eight
men killed were killed instantly before
being burned, as but the voice of one
man crying 'help" was heard He was
lying with his feet to the flames, and held
n the tolls of broken pieces of timbers.
lis comrades could do nothing and were
obliged to see him gradually roast to
death. Scattered here and there pro-
niscuously among the burned blankets,
valises, clothing, broken car wheels and
ron rods were the charred remains of
he unfortunate victims. One peculiar
feature Of the accident was the fact that
but two of the twenty three injured aud
not killed were seriously hurt. They
mad their shoulder blades dislocated. and
one of them had broken arm.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The cases of
the United States against Thos j. Brady,
ex Senator S. W. Dorsey, Fl. M. Vail
and others, defendants in the star route
cases, were called in the Criminal Court
this morning. None of the defendants
we're in court. Counsel for the defense
said they were not prepared to plead.
Col. Bliss said the Government had wait
ed long enough. He understood that
one of the principal defendants had
shown his appreciation of the Importance
Of the charges against him by leaving the
city for New Mexico. He stated that
Stephen W. Dorsey had not been placed
under bonds, and asked the court to com
pei his attendance. Col. Ingersoll said
there was no need of such proceeding;
there was nothing in the charges to cause
Dorsey's flight. "He is no more afraid
of them than is hunger of mince pie"
The prosecution, however, insisted upon
Dorsey's arrest, and the court said it was
heir privilege to have an order issued
The hearing was then postponed until
Saturday next.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 23-The
ug-boat Henry @. Spratt exploded her
boiler this morning, killing four men.
George Scully, the captain, was blown
over the housetops in Water street. The
dead bodies of Bernard Mccain and
Patrick Flanagan, fremen, and a man
named Maloney, have been recovered
John Lyons. the engineer, and two others
are missing.
Immediately following the explosion
flames broke out IN all directions. Pier
No. 8, occupied as passenger and freight
station by the Philadelphia and Atlantic
City Railroad, took fire and was destroy
ell. The tug Ella, lying at the wharf
below, also took fire, and sank after be.
ing well burned.
Windows were shattered in all direc-
tons for squares. Three dead bodies
were found III the street. The front of
the ferry house building was blown out,
and the Waterman came near losing his
life. The loss is $50, 900.
NEW ORLEANS, March 24-The pilot
Richie, on the river for thifty-fve years,
says this year land is oyerdowed never