The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-01

train, was standing on the main track near the
station. The tender stood on the bridge near the
middle of the span which remained standing
This was all that was visible of the train which
had entered the fatal bridge only an hour and q
half before The burning timbers lying in the
river concealed the rest of the sickening horror.
Below the gap of $50 feet, where the frghtful
plunge was made, lay mass of smoking debris,
and group of twenty or thirty village people,
gathered ON the river bank, were silently watch
ing the awful spectacle. They seemed stuper
fed with horror, and gazed idly on the scene.
Two men in a skiff were rowing about the ruins
with no apparent object but the qualification of
curiosity, and the iend like flames We're
being fought by one strong man, who
stood alone at the base of the stone
pier in the middle of the river dipping water
from the stream with bucket and throwing it
over the burning timbers. After the arrival of
the relief party, others joined in the fight against
the flames, and line Of men with buckets was
formed for passing up water, after the manner
of the village bucket brigade. But the three
cars which had gone down in the trap of death
had by this time been reduced to ashes, and only
the iron skeleton of their structure remained.
The flames which still fingered lazily over the
charred tlmbers lying in the water were subdued
with little difficulty, and the old man who had re-
the stone pile, climbed out on the
mass of ruins to search for the remains of the
men who had perished in the wreck.
RECOVERING THE BODIES.
Here's body!' was the cry which came to
the silent spectators on shore, and the old man
drew from among the debris a charred and
shapeless form, -unrecognizable as the frame of
human being, supposed to be the remains of J.
q. Ricketts, the baggage-master. A moment
after several charred pieces were picked out
from among the ruins i'll about the place where
it was supposed Abel Smith, the express agent,
had perished, and were sent ashore in the skiff,
where they gathered together by the un-
dertaker. Here's the engineer!" was next called
out, and the trunk of a body, from
which dangled the gnarled shape, ali that
remained of one leg, was laid across the skif and
borne to the shore, wherehe was placed beside
the Others Another cnder of human flesh was
taken tOut of the wreck, and this was supposed
to be all that the flames had left of the body of
George Lowry, the young brakeman Two more
bodies were known 70 be yet missing.
While the small group of spectators were
watch ~ the progress of the search from the
shore, young man drove rapidly up to the scene
and alighted from his horse. The news of the
disaster had reached him an hour before, when
several miles away, and he had hurried to the
place to learn the particulars little think
ing, however, that it of such ap
palling nature. As he approached the
waters edge, the charred trunk of
a man was drawn from the debris The legs
and arms had been entirely burned away Only
a small patch of gray whiskers on the cheek was
lett TO lX the identity OF the lncinerated corpse,
and as the remains were placed on a board and
pushed over the ice to the shore, one of the
searching party called out ''That is probably
the body of John Bray" ''NIy God, it is my
father!" shrieked the young man who had just
joined the group of spectators, and for several
minutes he gave vent to his grief in Wild hys
telical screams His cries were piteous, and it
was deeply affecting scene. The remains were
placed III a spring wagon, and were taken to the
home Of the deceased, in Hamilton county.
For several minutes the son hung over
tin wagon in the widest grief, exclaiming, MY
God this is horrible! 1t is too much" but was
finally led away from the CHASTITY and sickening
sight.
The belly of Thomas Parr, the bridge foreman,
was still missing, but as it was known that he
was her IA tide wreck, there was little hope of
recovering his remains, and the search for the
time continue no further
The safe of the express messenger was found
with the door open and all of its contents de
strOyed. 1t is probable that at the time the ac-
cident occurred the messenger was engaged in
''booking" for the end of his trip.
Surgical aid was rendered to the passengers
who had received injuries, and provision was
made by General Agent Brecount for the care of
those who were unable to be removed The re
lief train returned to this city ut 2:30 o'clock
bringing in all the passengers who had been only
slightly injured