The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-02-07
BURNED TO A CRISP.
Terrible Railroad Accident on the
Monon Route, Near In.
dianapOlis.
Three Coaches Of Train Fall Through
q Weak Bridge and Burn
Rapidly.
ETC, ETC, Ero.

From Indianapolis papers We CLEAN the fol-
lowing particulars Of the recent distressing
railway accident near that city:
A south bound accommodation tfain on the
Indiana polls and Chicago air line due here az
10 80 d. mi met with terrible accident when
seven miles from this city, at Broad KIppsc.
where the railway cfosses the White river ON
truss bridge OF two spans. each $50 feet In length
The engineer had gone to tho baggage car Tor
drink Of water, and the LOCOMOTIVES was IN charge
center N the bridge the fireman felt the
structure sinking. He had his hand ON the
throttle, which he opened. giving tie iocOm0-
forward with great force, breaking the coup
lings between the tender and the D12gage car.
The locomotive kept the track, but the baggage
aud smoking cars and another coacn uroppe.x
through and piled mp in a mass at the foot q
the piers, the smoking car Eeing partially teie-
scoped on the baggage car. Inc wreck Was
partially snbm .rged, but the portion above 1ne
The fireman declares that when ne locked Dack
after the locomotive reached the ronth end OF
bridge the cars were on fire and smoke was on
News Of the wreck reached this city in q short
time and wrecking train. with surgeons and
other assistance, was at once made mp and sent
70 Broad Ripple On reaching tne mresK rd car.
were vet burning, and those present we're so
lacking In presGf1ce OF mind az to he unaGle 20
extingush the flames or .tford relief 10 the & .u1-
vigorously and Systematically, and IN snort
time the fire was extingnished and the seaicn
for bodies was begun. Six persons were either
killed outright or burned TO death. The re-
mains recovered were burned and charred Al
most beyond recognition, being horribly mutha-
ted. and the only means OF Identification waH
the finding OF incombustible trfnkets known 70
be the property of the dead mcn.
The scenes at the wreck were extremely aus
tressing. The dead were In the ruins oI tne
smoking and baggage cars, and these, the one on
top Of the other, were in deep water. AZ one
end OF the smoking-car lay man with his skull
crushed and life extinct. Across him, close 20
timber binding one leg immovably. {. G.
LOder, one Of the passengers, tried 70 ma the
ax with which each car was provided, but It WAS
water For sFor Gods 81 sake, M don. desert mel cried
Clark We did not desert him., said LOder.
until the flames scorchcd us, and we wefe
almos. snffoca.ed with smoke Before leaving cav 'a,,
him in agony. Presently the flames burned the
timber in two close by Clark. and he crawied
out OF the window which We had broken LOT
him" ;.
In five minutes after the train went down"
said Conductor LOsey, the entire wreck wa
wrapped in flames. In less time than that ~
Frightful screams came from the ruins near the
pier, but with two buckets and no boat we were
powerless. and all that We could do WAS to close
our ears and pray for death to relieve our COM
rades."
patch OF gray heard led to the identification
Of John Bray. train order in vest pocket
led TO the belief that the handful Of bones to
which were hanging q few shreds OF roasted flesh
were the remains Of Engineer Brewer. but
ton or q spared half-inch Of susrender or un-
dergarment led to the identification OF others.
b. ]. White was working under the bridge
when the train went over. He says he thinks
the rods pulled through the nuts. letting the
bridge down. To all appearances cne break oc-
Cured within fifteen feet Of the PIER. ana an
other about midway OF the span White . es-
cape was truly marvellous Standing on the Ice,
the falling bridge and cars struck him on the
head, drove him through the ice, and down to
the very bottom Of the river. The timbers DID
not resf NJ on him. however. and he swan ont,
more dead than alive, covered with bruises. but
able to walk.