Huntsville gazette., 1886-05-01
DlABOLlCAL WORK.

| Train Wreckers Cause Missouri Pacific
Freight Train to Plunge Into the Kansas
River at Wyandotte Bluns--The Fireman
and Brakeman Killed--Narrow Escape
of the Engineer--A Costly Wreck to the
Company.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, April 26.-The Mis-
wrecked near the Wyandotte bridge at
half-past four O'Clock this morning and
Ben Horton, the fireman, and George Car
Isle, head brakeman, were crushed and
scalded to death. The engine and four
cars left the track and rolled down an en-
bankment to the edge of the river. Hor-
ton and Carlisle were caught under the
engine, which turned upside down, but J.
II. Fowler, the engineer, was thrown into
the river and escaped with but few
injuries. The accident was caused by
spikes being drawn and the fish plates re-
moved from fifteen rails. The accident
occurred on q curve in the road, and at
point where the train would naturally
plunge into the river if it left the track at
all. On one side of the track was an en-
bankment two hundred feet high, and on
the other side steep plunge OF twenty
feet to the river. Several of the cars
caught fire from the engine, but the fire
department put the flames out before they
had done much damage. The engine and
four cars are total wreck, and the COM
pany's loss will be very heavy.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, April 2G.-At four
O'Clock this morning most terrible and
fatal wreck occurred on the Missouri Pa
cific road on the Kansas side Of the Kaw
river at the Wyandotte bluffs, where a
heavily loaded freight train followed by
engine No. s62, plunged headlong into
the Kansas river, carrying with it the en-
tire train Of fifteen cars, and burying a
brakeman and fireman of the engine be-
meath the ruins, where they were smoth-
cred and scalded to death. The engineer
Jumped and barely saved his life. The
accident was caused by the spreading of
the rails on the narrow ledge between
the bluffs and the river where the Mis-
souri, river track runs at this point.
On examination it was found that the
spikes had been pulled and the rails
merely left laying in their places without
any fastenings whatever, so as to deceive
the engineers. When the heavy engine
struck the loose rails they parted like
reeds, and the engine and train jumped
into the river. The river being low the
bottom at this point was but an OOZy bed |
of mud with little or no water over 1t.
Shortly after the accident three men
were seen making their way rapidly up
the track in the direction of Atchison.
The Waterman and deputies at Pomeroy |
commanded them to halt and fred five |
shots at the flying fugitiyes. The men |
made for the woods and made good their |
escape.
The train left the track at the Wyan-
dotte bluffs between Wyandotte bridge |
and the cypress yards. The track at this |
point is very steep, the grade being over
twelve feet to the mile. AS the engine |
made it's fearful plunge, Engineer Fowler
reversed the engine, set the air brake and
jumped. He just managed to land few
feet off from the engine, which came
Gathering down after him and embedded |
itself in the muddy stream. He was not |
badly hurt.
The fireman, William Carlysle, was in
the cab at the time and was not SO quick.
He was carried with the engine and
thrown under it. His mangled body
was not recovered until nine O'Clock this
morning.
A brakeman named Horn was also
caught beneath the mass of broken cars
and killed.
THE KILLED ARE:
VIM. Carlysle, aged thirty, fireman;
leaves family at Atchison.
John Horn, brakeman, aged thirty
i've; leaves wife and family.
There is large crowd at the scene OF
&C. oC,n
moment. The excitement is intense. A
nan named Converse, while looking at
he wreck, fell from the top of the bluff
md is dying. 1t is not known who the
nscreants were who pulled the spikes,
lor their OBJECT in committing this afro
..iOus and terrible deed.