Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-01
SAD SCENES AT RIO,
Graphic Account of the Wreck BY Oae
OF the Survivors The Brakeman Who
Left the Switch Open in Part. I'M
known.
NILMAukEE vi. Oct 80

FILvAUKEE. Wis. Oct. 80.
The body Of those killed bv the Rio rail-
roak wrech are nov in al sid building in
that town. They are placed upon sheets and
articles found near them in the wreck are
LAID upon the remains for the purpose OF
identification.
Fireman Thomas Eagan, who received a
terrible scalding, will recover. All mail mat
ter, excepting papers, in the wreck have been
recovered, including the registered packages
and letters, and have been forwarded TO their
destination. An inquest was begun yester-
day afternoon. twill be several days be-
fore the proceeding are concluded.
Brakeman Wells of Milwaukee, who left
the switch open, causing the derailment of
the train, has fed and his whereabouts are
, unknown. No effort. have been made to re-
capture him Assistant Superlntendent
Earling te.egrsphed General Manager Miller
tate last nlgn giving the total number of
dead. positively identified so far. as nine.
Earring says thar to the list of those positive
lv Identified possibly five more will be iden-
titled This brings the total number of per
sons killed in the crash up to I6 in ALL
Charles Smith, Cnlcago medical student
and the only man who escaped alive from the
passenger coach is still lying at hotel in
Columbus. Wis, unable 10 be moved He
back ur and above his temple, and great
many cuts aud bruises above his face, and
also broken arm. He tells the fol owing
story:
| had double seat to myself in about the
middle OF the car and was sleeping at the
time the crash came NV first thought was
that some one ned thrown pounded glass into
my face and eyes NV mouth was full of it
and | knew that my ace and head were bleed
ing badly and then became partially uncon-
scIous tor moment or two, but on opening
my ewes again saw that my lamps were out
and that blaze lighted no the whole car and
was rapidly approaching me. Bv desperate
effort | released my-elf from the rubbish aud
broken seats which held me to the floor of the
car and c, uid see the passengers all about so
thoroughly wedged IN among the seats,
which were smashed. that il Wa. Impossible
to extrica,e them. The top of the car seemed
10 have fallen in at either end and almost, or
quite, rested upon the ruins beneath and PIN
ned the passengers to the floor. AS soon AS
| was released | attempted to extricate
those near me but found my right arm help
less. A woman just in front of me who had
little child begged me to help her, and put
NV left arm around her shoulders and pulled
with all my strength but was unable TO move
her. She and all the rest seemed TO be SO
wedged in that even If | had both arms
don't think could have helped them. Ia
the moment | had to spare the flames had
spread so rapidly that | could not remain
longer and with the greatest difficulty crept
through crack between the top and edge of
the car and then dropped to the ground. As
| climbed the bank close by | could see that
the flames were already surrounding the
screaming womea and children, just where |
was but moment before. The sights and
sounds were most terrible to see and hear
think there must have been twenty or
twenty-five passengers in all and only three
escaped TO my know ledge.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Oct 81,
At Portage this aiternooo services were
held over the charred remains of the East
Rio disaster victims. The Congre gstional,
whore the obsequies took place, was crowded
and many were unable to gain sdmlttsnce.
The remains Of the two Catholic sisters were
taken 10 Winous, Mimi, and will be buried
there. The inquest will be resumed tomor-
row.