The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
THE WRECK AT BLUE RIVER.
Additional Details OF the Horrible Ac-
cidcnt on the L., n. A s. G.
The Fireman's Story of How the Accident
OcCurred-StateinentS of Passengers
Oh the Wrecked Train.
Louisville Courier-Journal.

tend er to get some coal to throw into the
furnace, when the engineer, Vaughan,
called to him that the bridge was giving
way. 1t appeared to him that the bridge
did not commence to give way until they
were almost over it. Before he could hardly
realize what Vaughan was saying they were
on the south side of the bridge, with the en-
CINE turned over. He looked back and saw
the cars on fire in the creek, but was unable
for time to realize what was going on.
The accident came upon the passengers so
suddenly that no one person can tell when he
first realized the gravity of the situation.
The engine had gotten over safe, but the cars
were piled down the embankment the bag
gage car being crushed to pieces almost. The
buffet sleeper "Avoca," did not quite reach
the middle OF the creek, and the rear end
stood on the bank. This enabled the passen-
gers to get out before the car caught fire.
Tue passengers in the regular coaches had to
6 It odt as best they could. Some had to
swim or wade ashore, but the unfortunates
who were too badly injured to move were
burned to death and drowned.
Mr. II. w. Wheeler, of Chicago, was in the
sleeper at the time the accident happened.
Il was in the sIeepingcar," said he, talk
ing with Mr.. Jennings, a friend of NINE
when the accident occurred. The bridge
broke down before the engine had crossed.
but its momentum carried it and the tender
over in safety The middle part of the train
fell down at once but the only effect it had
upon the coach in which we were was to
give it slight jar We heard cries, and
jumping up, l hastily put on my clothes,
III
coat pockets Mr.. Jennings and | lost
no time in getting out, and when we
did so were Mortified at seeing the wreck
whose full extent he could not then realize.
The main part of the train had fallen into
the stream, and several passengers were
caught in the debris. One man who was
near us was struggling frantically to get free,
and seeing his condition we pulled him out,
with the assistance of Colonel Friedley an at
torney of the road Owing to the position
in which the cars had fallen they cOught fire
almost Immediately from the stoves in the
smoker, and the whole train was soon in
flames l never saw anything burn so rap
idly. A man was caught in one of the lowest
cars and would have certainly persisted had
it not been for Win Virden, the Pullman
conductor. When the crash came he crawled
out of the window of his car, and going to
this man managed to get him out of the
river. The water was deep enough to have
drowned him, but Virden showed out some
thing which he caught and kept ahoat with
till he was picked up. In the meantime
the flames were spreading rapidly, and
almost before | knew it they were upon
me- / had to scramble like everything to
get out of the way, and even as | was l had
my hair slnged and hands and arms burned.
| was glad to get off with my life, and it
was the closest call l ever had. Mr. Jen-
ningS, in trying to get out of the way of the
flames, fell, and was badly hurt on some tim
bers.
Another horrible accident would have
occurred if it had not been for the presence
of mind of Ham. Armswell one of the brake
men. A through freight train was following
only a short distance behind us, and Arms
well happened to think of this as soon as he
got out of the car. Catching upa lantern he
climbed up the bank and ran back to meet
the freight, which was running along at its
highest rate of speed. The conductor and
engineer, OF course, had no idea of the wreck,
and Armswell had just time to signal them
so that they could stop within few feet of
our rear car. lie deserves more credit than
anybody else there.
81 never saw anything burn half so RAPIDLY
as those cars did after the fire got started.
From the position in which they lay draught
was created, and everything was soon in
flames All the cars-everyth was de-
stroyed."
Mr. George w. Chandler, well-known
Chicago lawyer, was also on the train with
his wife and child.
1--WE were all in the sleeper" he said,
when We felt slight jar, and heard cries
for help. Looking out of the window could
see the fire, and heard some who were
caught screaming in the most agOnZing man.
ner got out and, running to the edge OF
the abutment, saw the whole extent of the
disaster, The fire had already started, and
the car was ablaze in minute. ran back
and bel ped my wife and child out. There
was only one door out from the sleeper, and
to reach it we had to pass through the mar
row saloon. Had the car been full of pas
sengers it would have been impossible for
them all to have escaped. AS it was, if the
bridge had been forty feet longer, 1 think
every passenger would have been called.
Some shocking incidents occurred. AS
we got out, several who were caught in the
wreck began screaming for help, the flames
beginning to reach them. 1t made my blood
run cold to hear them screaming and be able
to give them so little help, One man | saw
| managed TO crawl out of the cars. He fell
into the river, and managed to swim a few
feet in the icy water, after which he sank.
He must have been severely wounued, and |
do not think his body was recovered. | saw
several Others caughtIn the smash OF the cars,
and only wonder that more we're not killed.
Colonel Young, Mr.. Keller ard the other
officers were ndefatgable in their exertions
for the comfort of the passengers, and
| think no possible blame can be attached to
the road. The accident could not possibly
have been foreseen. All the baggage we had
was lost the car which contained it being
one of the first burned"
Mr. John Brockenbrough, of Lafayette,
IND, another passenger, said
81 was in the sleeper at the time. The
first ntimation we had was the slight jar
which followed the settling of the cars into
the river. 1t was very peculiar about the
trucks, which were dragged back but did not
bring over the engine. When l got out l saw
several caught in the cars that were in the
water. l think 1 saw two or three who were
so badly hurt that they could not get out by
themselves. The officers OF the road did
everything in their power to relieve the suf-
ferers"
Another man who was in one of the mid