The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-24
A DELUGE.
Last Nights Great Rainfall.
A Bridge Washed Away, Through
Which Train Falls with Fatal
Result.-.Other Wash0uts.

~ hhS t1ou ehiA OLA iOuio OhC vi bhC |
heaviest rain falls that has been known
here in years has occurred. Commencing
at 10 o'clock Saturday evening the rain
fell without cessation until o'clock Sun
day morning when the sun came out
and there was no more rain until
about 8 O'Clock in the afternoon, when
the clouds began to gather again and by
the time the church bells were ringing |
for evening service the water was coming
down in torrents, nor did it cease all |
night Very few ventured out last
evening With the exception of those
whose duty or vocation compelled them
to venture out of doors, people remained
in the house and retired early, and when
one was awakened during the night by the
loud and continuous peals OF thunder, |
the constant falling of the water could be
heard making almost as much of roar as
the artillery of heaven. 1t seemed as if |
the clouds were weeping for all the sins
that had ever been committed on this little |
orb
To the early riser this morning it was
evident that more or less damage had
been done by the immense water fall |
The street cutters were filled with roarS
| ing streams of water and along |
the streets and in vacant lots
were great pools of water. Out in the
country the fields along the low lands
were fairly ahoat. One result-pro0ably
the most serious in this re9ion-was an
accident which occurred on the Rock Isl
and Il Mercer County road this morning
As the regular Gable and Rock Island
freight, coal and passenger train was APP
preaching Milan, at $50, aud when with
bridge number 8 went down, prccipitat~
ing the train
INTO THE STREAM.
distance of eighteen feet. The engine
had passed over in safety, hut the bridge,
the piers of which had been washed
away, went down as the first car got
nearly over Ten coal cars, well loaded
fell with terrible crash piling upon each
other. Frank Purse, brakeman, who
was on the train. fell through with the
wreck and was
| INSTANTLY KILLED.
The rear car was passenger coach, and
but for the timely action OF passenger
named Mr.. Oliver Schurr and brakeman
the name of Joseph Stevens, who rushed
to the platform of the coach, put on the
brakes and broke the coupling, the loss
of life would have been much greater.
There were five passengers in the coach
who were thus saved,
The locomotive was No. 3,-John
Keeleys engine-but Mr.. Kelley was not
at the throttle; his home is in this city,
and he remains here over Sunday, allows
ing his fireman to make the trip to Gable
Saturday night and return Monday morn
ing. So Robert Mcknight, the fireman,
was in charge, Purse, who is brakeman,
was acting as fireman. He had just fired
up and started back TO the middle of the
train to down brakes upon slight de-
. | x.hioh bo
car of coal and the coach, together with
the locomotive, was all that was saved.
James NJ. Palmer was the conductor, and
he was in the coach. As soon as the news
of the disaster reached the city, a con-
; structiOn train was ordered by Snpt. Sud-
I low, and he. with Dr. Plummer, hastened
TO the wreck
THE UNFORTUNATE BRAKEMAN
was taken to Milan. where the body will
remain until after the inquest, which is
? being held at the wreck this afternoon
He was % years of age, and leaves a
, wife and two children at Gable. He was
member OF the A. o. L. w. society at
that place. He has been in the employ
: of the road number of years, and was a
5 trusted and faithful hand, respected by
1 all who knew him Besides broken
s neck. his body is terribly bruised in seye
| eral places.
- TIE ERIDGE
= was comparatively new one, twenty
1 feet in length, and has always been con~
5 sidered sAfe The cnmpanY is very care