, 1884-02-01
Terrible Accident to a PasSen-
ger Train
On the indianapolis & Chicago
Air Line.
Many Persons KiIIed--Fright-
full Scenes.
Death on the Rails.

January -
Monon passenger train, due here at
1890, met with a terrible accident at
the bridge across White river, nine
miles from this city. High water un-
dermined the abutments and the loco
motive and two cars dropped down
into the river. The engineer, fireman
and two other train men are reported
drowned, and six passengers missing.
Wrecking trains, surgeons and other
assistance have been sent from this
city. The details are not obtainable at
present.
The missing and supposed killed in
the accident are George Lowery, brake
man; j. E. Ricketts,, baggageman,
Louisville; John Brewer, engineer,
Lafayette; Smith, express messenger.
indianapolis; Parn, bridge foreman;
John Bray, passenger, Westhld; seven
passengers are said to be wounded.
LATER-The south bound accommo-
dalton train on the indianapolis &
Chicago air line, due here at 1920 to-
day met with a terrible accident when
seven miles from this city at Broad
Ripple. AT that point the railway
of two spans, each one hundred feet il
length. The engineer had gone to the
baggage car for a drink of water, and
the locomotive was in charge of the
| Arannn VVhnn tho locomotive raoohal
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 available
steam. The engine sprang forward
with great force, breaking the coupling
between the tender and baggage car.
The locomotive kept the track, but the
baggage, smoking car, and coach
dropped through and piled up in a mass
at the foot of the piers. The wreck
was partially submerged, but tho por-
ton 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 smoke was OBJ
scuring the scene.
News of the wreck reached the city
in a short time, and a wrecking train
with surgeons and other assistance was
at once made up and sent to Broad
Ripple. On reaching the wreck a cha
otto scene was presented. The bridge
and cars were yet burning, and those
present were so lacking in presence Of
mind as to be unable to %extinguish the
flames or afford relief to the sufferers.
The officials of the road vent to work
vigorously and systematically, and In a
short time the hre was extinguished
and search for the bodies began.
Six persons were either killed out
right or burned to death. The remains
recovered were burned and charred al
most beyond recognition, being horri-
bly, mutilated, and the only mean of
Identification was the finding of incom-
bustible trinkets known to be the prop
erty of the dead men.
The following is a list Of the dead:
John Brewer. Lafayette, Ind, engineer;
J. E. Bricketts. New Albany, baggage
master; George Lowry, Buena Vista,
Ind, brakeman; Thomas Parr, Indian
apolis, bridge foreman; A. T. Smith,
indianapolis, American express mes
senger. The only passenger killed was
John Bray, a stock dealer, residing at
Domingo. Ex-Sheriff Semsn, of No
blesville, had his right arm broken and
was injured badly about the head and
body. Lynn Clark, of Westfeld, Ind,
was injured internally and will die.
Frightful screams came from the
ruins near the pier as the wreck was
} being consumed by fire. A patch Of
/ gray beard led to the identification Of
John Bray. A train order in the vest
pocket led to the belief hat a handful
OF bones to which were hanging a few
mains of Engineer Brewer. A button,
or a half inch of suspender or under.
garment led to the Identification Of
others. 1t is believed that all the killed
. have been. recovered except Thoma.
n Parr, who was working on the bridge
Q and whose remains are supposed to bt
8 at the bottom Of the river. The bridg,
and train are entirely destroyed.
g A number of passengers were seri
1t ously injured. A gang Of workmen OF
the bridge were all more or less hurt
The accident is now attributed to a de
% fective thread Oh the supporting rod
d Of the bridge, the nuts on the ends o
the rods fitting 80 closely that tn
10 bridge was unable to support the weigh
Of the train.
il The attractions at Quincy s. PIERCE
/" continue frst-class.
"