Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-28
A "FLYER" OFF THE TRACK.
Terrible Disaster ON the 81. Paul Road
Thirteen Persons Killed.

Thirteen Persons Killed.
MILwAUKEE, WIS, Oct. 2S.-The limited
passenger train on the Chicago. Milwaukee and
ST. Paul railroad, which left here last night at
10 O'Clock, was deraied at Rio when about
three hours out, and thrown into an old stone
quarry. Particulars are herd to get, but il is
admitted at the general office of the company
In this city that one coach and three sleepers
We're wrecked and five or six persons killed.
Physicians left this city on an early train for
the scene of the disaster.
Later it was reported that out of ten persons
who occupied the passenger coach, seven were
Killed. A gentleman from Chicago, and two
ones saved from the passenger coach. None OF
the occupants OF the sleepers were injured.
STATEMENT BY AN OFFICIAL.
Assistant General Manager Tucker, of st.
ment: "Our limited express ran into an open
switch fifteen miles this side Of Portage, Wis
last night. The baggage and mail cars were
demolished, and SO far as we know five people
were killed. We dc not know who they are as
get. We do not think any more were killed.
don't know how many were injured or how
badly. The demolished cars caught fire and
were burned up. One sieeper was also destroyed
by fire. We have sent out two special ira
and everything possible is being done. don't
know what the loss Is. That is of no conse-
quence the loss of lite is the trouble.
WILD STORIES IN CIRCULATION.
So far particulars are very meagre There is
reason TO believe the loss OF LIE is greater,
although the widest stories are in circulation.
1t is said the most distressing and narrowing
scenes took place after the wreck. The accident
is the first one TO the new limited express which
runs at a very high rate OF speed.
A PASSENGERS STORY.
Engineer Searie, at first reported killed, was
only slightly hurt. He arrived here a, a. m
He says that when the crash came lie was
thrown down with two large packing cases
resting across his body. His lungs were filled
with smoke, and he at first thought he was in
jured internally and that he was bleeding at
the lungs. He was taken from the debris. how
ever, without serious injury and was able to
render assistance to the other unfortunates.
B. Loewenoach, a job printer of this city, was
on the wrecked train. He says the scenes after
the accident were narrowing. The passenger
coach, which he says contained between Is
and 20 persons, was telescOped at both ends,
and the fire and smoke that enveloped the
wreck prevented the imprisoned and injured
passengers from escaping.
SIcKENING SCENES OF HORROR.
Passengers from the sieepers gathered around
the blazing cars, but they were poweriess to
seen tearing their hair i'm the agony OF the mo-
ment, and irighttuI screams issued from the
death trap. One heavy woman in particular,
he says, tore up one of the seats with almost
superhuman strength and end avored to break
her way out of the flaming pyre, but her
strength failed and she fell TO the foor and met
a horrible death. Only three persons escaped
from the passenger car, Mr.. Loewenoach says
a man and two children. The man was OBJ
lator on top OF the car with all the clothing on
his body from waist downward burned of and
his neSh roasted and bleeding from cuts in.
flicted by broken glass.
THE BODIES OF THE VICTIMS BURNED.
Every one OF the wrecked cars were consumed
with the exception of the last sleeper, which
was cut away from the burning wreck. All
bodies OF the victims were burned In the wreck
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE WRECK
special TO the Evening Wisconsin from Port
age says: There are two side tracks at East Rio,
and at the time the train was due there last
night both were occupied by freights. One re-
port says the rear brakeman, whose business it
was to close the switch after train No. l.
which had just pulled in K allow the express
to pass, for some reason neg giec:ed altogether To
do SO. The other and the more probable story
before he could reach ii he limited which does
not stop at any except large places, came tear
ing down grade at fifty miles an hour and left
the rails at the open switch. The siding is in a
cut where the road curves. The engine left the
track, ran a short distance and brought up
baggage car and two regular coaches followed
while lOur sleepers kept the rails.
THIRTEEN, THE EXACT NUMBER KILLED.
The engine and the cars that went OFF were
stoves; and Engineer Little and Fireman
Egan crawled out from under the locomotive
badly bruised aud scalded. The baggageman
ers got out uninjured, except slight bruises.
but in one day coach, thirteen were pinned in
and literally burned to death. Many Others
were injured by the severe shaking. The
names OF the victims are not yet known. The
whole train, excepting one sleeper, which they
burned up. wrecking train with surgeons
went from this city and did all possible To al
leviate suffering and save life. Conductor
Hankey. of the freight. No. IA, was SO de-
mOralized by the accident, the responsibility of
which rests on his crew, and thus also on him
that he took to the woods in despair, leaving
his train. He has always been a most careful
and efficient man. much trusted by the CON-
pany, 1t was a most horrible aud sickening
spectacle, the roasting people making the night
hideOus with their yells, while by-standers were
unable to render assistance. 1t was the worst
wreck known I'm the