The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-06
4 Train With Many Passengers
Plunges Into a Stream.
Great Loss of Life and Several
People Badly Injured.
Cars Completely Submerged and
Great Confusion Ensues.
Names of the Victims--AnOther
ChatwOrth Horror.

Nrw HAMPTON, IA, April GA ter
,;Lle accident occurred about four miles
ns., Of this town on the Milwaukee 4
St Paul road, by which at least dozen
nsrsons lost their lives, and from fifteen
n twenty were injured. The train
which left Chicago at 1880 yesterday
morning and was due here ut 2;l5 this
morning passed here nearly on time
and when about four miles west
nIupyed into n creek, the bridge oil
which was washed out. The creek was
swollen by the imme nse amount oil
water which had been running OIL ior
the past few days, and in addition, a
yorre of ice was formed, which previous
10 the arrival of the train carried away
= norton of the bridge. There was
nothing to show that there was danger
ahead, and the train plunged into the
swollen stream while running ut tull
speed. The engine and three coGches
went into the creek and we're Immediate
IL submerged in the torrent oi water,
which oyerdowed the banks. A scene
of the widest confusion ensued, and
those of the train crew and passengers
who ESCAPED death or injury were i'm
mcliately called into service to relieve
the drowning or pinioned passengers.
If If was with great ditiicultySthat the
passengers could be reached, owing
10 the
RUSHING OF TIE WATERS
,h,ouvh the car windows. Those who
were rescued from the smoking car,
which was almost entirely submerged,
were taken from the windows, some
maimed to such an extent that they
were powerless TO help themselves,
while others unhurt, were nearly drown
cd before aid could reach them. At this
hour m o'clock Il. m.) six dead bodies
have been taken out from the wreck,
AMI three more are known to be under
meath the debris, through which the
water Is madly pouring, and it is diff
cult to reach them. 1t is also stated that
the engineer and fireman were instantly
killed or were caught inthe cab and
drowned before aid could reach them,
Int tho confusion and excitement is so
"rpat that il is difficult to secure relia-
Ile information. In addition to the pas
senrers known to be killed, from fifteen
10 twenty have been rescued that are
more or less seriously injured. A NUM-
ber are so dangerously hurt that II is
feared they
CANNOT POSSIBLY RECOVER.
As soon'as n trainman who escaped
injury could be spared, he was dis
patched to this station and relief train
was telegraphcd for from Mason City.
Telegralns for relief were also sent 10
Charles city and other near by places,
hut it was not until several hours after
the accident that train arrived with
physicians to care for the injured and
additional helping hands to aid in rescu-
ing those still confined in the wreck;
Some claim the wreck was caused by
ice on the track, while others claim 1t
was by spreading OF the rails. The en-
gine jumped the track first and the bag
gage car and tender plunged over the
engine into the water. The smoker
struck on top OF the engine and was
badly smashed. The engine is entirely
under water, and the baggage car is al
most covered by water. There were
about thirty people in the smoker at the
time, four Of whom were killed, so far us
known, besides the engineer, who was
crushed between the cab and smoker.
The fireman escaped unhurt. There
were about twenty-five TO thirty wound
ed, though none fatally. The belief is
that there are three or more bodies un-
der the wreck.
The names OF the dead that have been
learned are as follows: Mr., w: Ander'
son, Mr.. c. z. Avinsen, j. Dencler, Jas;
Seagcl, Dora Meidecke, Lotta, girl
about four years old.
Everything is being done by both the
railway company and citizens OF this
city to care for the injured, and alleviate
their suiIerings that is possible.
Five surgeons were at the scene OF the
wreck early this morning, and great
hopes are entertained that the number
Of the killed will not be increased BY
further developments. The wreck is IN
about six orseven feet OF water.
nsIN