Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-01
Indiana.

Washed Away By FIOOds-A Train Goes
 Through a Bridge and Seven Men
 Are Killed.
 INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 31.-The accommoda- tion train on the Monon Air Line due here at 1O:45 this morning met horrible accident at the bridge of the White river at Broad Rip pie, ten miles north of this city. It appears that one of the abutments of the bridge had been badly cracked during last month and that the recent floods had so undermined the other abutment as to make it unsafe. It had not, however, been considered unfit for traf- fc. Just as the engine had crossed the bridge the crash was heard and in second the baggage car and two coaches went through down twenty feet into the river. News of the disaster was immediately tele- graphed to the city and a wrecking train with surgeons and others was at once despatched to the scene, but could render no aid. The railroad officers are reticent but it is understood that the following is the correct list of casualties: Killed-John Brewer, en- gineer, who was in the baggage car at the time He was a native of Lafayette and president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen of that district. Abraham Smith, American Express messenger, Madison, Ind J. B Ricketts, baggage master, Monon, Ind; George Lowery, brakeman; John Brah, pas senger, Demipg, Ind Thomas Parr, foreman of the Indianapolis Bridge company, and Lynn Clark of Westfeld. The bridge was a Howe truss, one hundred feet spar. The river is quite high and swift at that point and if any of the unfortunates were swept away by the tide it may be days be- fore their faith is known.
 The injured are: W. P. Hawk of Vest f.. and ribs broken: w. T. Swegart, Carmel, skull fractured, hip dislocated; B. J. White and Charles Parker, bridge repairers, cut and bruised; Mrs. Sullivan and her baby; J. B. Horton, burned and bruised. In all seven are dead and eight wounded. The relief train left this city in thirty minutes after the news of the accident was re- ceived. The scene at the wreck was horrible. The wreckers formed in line and buckets of water were rapidly thrown upon the blazing cars and smouldering debris of the bridge so that the work of recovering the bodies was soon begun. The dead were in the ruins of the smoker, filled one on top of another in deep water. When the car took fire those who had not escaped were speedily consumed or drowned. A skiff was pressed into service and was used to ferry the remains to the bank of the river. It was sickening work. Six oharred bodies, formless and unrecognizable, were dug from the ruins. The conductor says: within five minutes after the train went down it was ia flames. k Frightful screams were heard by those standing on the pier, but with no boat or axes we were powerless to act and all we could do was to close our ears and pray for death to relieve our comrades from their agony" The bridge was nearly new, having been in use less than 8 year. It broke in two places. A freight train had just passed over and the men who were repairing one of the spans drew some bolts, but they claim they had temporary rods and bolts in place. This is not believed. It will cost about $15, ,000 to repair the damage.