The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-01
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
Train lfunges Into Rivera Num-
Der Of Lives Lost.
my telegraph to the pispatch.l


INDIANAPOLIS, 1ND.. January 31.-The
passenger train due here at 1890 A. NJ.
from Monon, met with a terrible accident
NJ bridge across the White river, seven
miles from this city. High water had un.
dermined IN abutment and the locomotive
and two ears dropped into the river. The
engineer, fireman, and two other train
men are reported drowned, and six pas
sengers are missing. A wrecking train
with surgeons and other assistance was
sent from this city.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
INDIANAPOLIS, January 31.-Thc accident
to-day at White river occurred on the In
dianapolis and Chicago Air Line. The
road crosses White river at Broad Ripple
on a truss bridge of two spans, each 100
feet in length. The engineer of the south
bound train had gone to the baggage-car
Tor drink OF water, and the engine was in
charge OF the fireman. When the engine
had reached the centre OF the bridge the
fireman felt the structure sinking. He at
the time had his hand on the throt-
tie, which he opened, giving the
locomotive all available steam. The
engine sprang forward with great force,
breaking the couplings between the
tender and baggage-car. The locomotive
kept the track, but the baggage and
smOk'ng-cars and passenger-coach dropped
through the bridge and were piled up in
one mass at the foot OF the pier. the
smoking-car beng partially teleScoped by
the baggagc-car. The wreck was partially
submerged. bat the portion above water
Immediately took fire from the stoves. The
fireman states that when he looked back
after the locomotive had reached the south
end OF the bridge the cars were on fire
and the smoke was obscuring the scene.
The news OF the wreck reached this city
shortly after IL occurred, and wrecking
train. with surgical and other assistance,
was sent TO Broad Ripple. On reaching
the wreck the bridge and cars were yet
burning. and those persons present were
so lacking in presence OF mind rs to be
unable to eXtinguish the flames or relieve
the sufferers. The officials Of the road
worked vigorously and Systematically, and
in a shor. time the flames were eXtin-
guiShed.
Then the search for bodies was begun.
Six persons had either been killed outright
or burned to death, their bodies being
charred almost beyond recognition and
horribly mutilated. The only means Of
identification was by incombustible trink-
lets known to be the property OF the dead.
Five Of the dead were employees OF the
road. One was a passenger. Two pas
sengers are so badly hurt that they will
probably die. Seven other passengers are
more or less seriously but not fatally IN
iured.
The accident is now attributed to defects
in the supporting rods OF the bridge, the
nuts on the ends Of the rods fitting so
badly that the bridge was unable to sup
port the weight OF the train. The scenes
ut the wreck were extremely distressing.
The dead were in the ruins OF the smoker
and baggage-cars. and these, one on top OF
the other, were in deep water. \ skitl' was
used for transferring the bodies from the
ruins of the cars to the land.
Il. J. White, who was working under
the bridge when the train went over, says
he thinks that the rods pulled through the
nuts. letting the bridge down. To all ap-
pearances one OF the breaks occurred with
in fifteen feet OF the pier, and another
about midway OF the span. Whites escape
was marvellous: standing on the ice, the
falling ears and bridge struck him on the
head and drove him through the ice and
down to the very bottom Of the river.
The timhers did not rest on him. however,
and he swan out. more dead than alive,
covered with bruises but able to walk.
Tue newsbov Of the train says he could
have eXtinguished the fire with single
bucket OF water, but it was not to be had.