The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-02-09
DOWN TO DEATH.
A Passenger Train Drops Through
Bridge---A List of the Killed and
Wounded.


INDIANAPOLIS, January S1.-The
south bound accommodation train on the
indianapolis and Chicago Air Line, due
here at 10:30 this morning, met with ter
rible accident at Broad Ripple. At that
point the railway crosses White river on
truss bridge of two spans, each $50 feet in
length. The engineer had gone to the bag
gage-car and the locomotive was in charge
of the fireman. When the locomotive
reached the center of the bridge the fireman
felt the structure sinking. He had his hand
on the throttle, which he opened, giving
the locomotive all the available steam.
The ongine sprang forward with great
force, breaking the couplings between
the tender and the baggage car.
The locomotive kept the track, but the
baggage, smoking-car and one coach
dropped through and piled up in mass at
the foot of the piers. The smoking car was
partially telescoped in the baggage car. The
wreck was partially submerged. The por-
tion above water Immediately took fire. The
fireman states that when he looked, after
the locomotive reached the south end of the
bridge, the cars were on fire, the smoke OBJ
securing the scene.
The wrecking train, with surgeons and
other assistance, sent to Broad Ripple, on
reaching the wreck found the cars yet burn
ing, and those present so lacking in presence
of mind as to be unable to eXtlnguish the
flames or afford relief to the sufferers. The
officials of the road went to work systematic
ally, and in short time the fire was eXtin-
guished and search for the bodies begun.
Six persons were either killed or burned to
death. Their remains were recovered,
burned and charred almost beyond recogni-
ton and horribly mutilated. The only
means of Identification were incombustibe
trlnkets known to be the property of the
dead. The following is list OF the dead:
John Brewer, Of Lafayette, Ind, engi-
neer.
j. Z. Ricketts,, baggage master, of New
Albany.
George Lowry, brakeman, of Buena Wis.,
ta, Ind.
Thomas Parr, bridge foreman, OF Indian
apolis.
A. T. Smith, American express messen-
ger, of Indianapolis.
The only passenger killed was John Bray,
a stock dealer, of Deming.
Ex-Sheriff Seman, of Noblesville, had his
right arm broken and was injured badly
about the head and body.
Lynn Clark, of Westfeld, Ind, was in
jured internally and will die.
The others injured are:
Joseph Clayton, of frankfort, cut on the
head.
A. T. Peddigo, of Frankfort, body
bruised.
W. P Hawk, of Westfeld, head badly
cut.
W. T sweigart, Of Carmel, skull frac-
tured.
Mrs. Sullivan and babe, of Carmel, slight
ly injured.
A. B. Snyder, Of Trohoon, Ind, slightly |
hurt.
A gang of workmen had been making re-
pairs ON the bridge, all of whom were
slightly injured.
OF the passengers Seman and Clark were
left at Broad Ripple and the others brought
to this city.
uc dCCluCul 10 dllliDuiCu W uClCCtlfC
thread on the supporting rods of the bridge.
1t is believed that all the killed have been
recovered except Thomas Parr, who was
working on the bridge, and whose remains
are supposed to be at the bottom of the
river. The bridge and train are entirely
destroyed. The scenes around the wreck,
with no appliances for extinguishing the
flames, while the imprisoned victims cries
for aid resounded through the burning
mass, were heartrending. Clark was pin
ioned by a beam, and managed to escape
after the beam was burned off. The mes
senger said that II he had had one bucket Of
water at the beginning he could have extin-
guished the flames.