The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-06
A TRAINS DEADLY PLUNGE
A Frightful Accident on the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul Railway.
A APassenger Train Rushes at Full Speed IntOa
Swollen Stream-Nine Lives Lost and
Score of Persons More or Less Injured.

NEW HAMPTON. Ia. April 5-A terrible rail-
road accident occurred about four miles west of
this town, the Milwaukee s. St Paul road,
by which at least dozen persons lost their lives
and from fifteen to twenty were injured. The
train which left Chicago az 11:30 yesterday
morning, and which was due here at 2:13 this
morning. passed here nearly on time, and, when
about four miles west. plunged into a creek, the
bridge of which was washed out sThe creek
was swollen by the immense amount of water
which has been cunning off for the past few
days. and in addition gorge of ice was formed,
which, previous Co the arrival of the train, car
ried away portion of the bridge. There was
nothing to show that there was danger ahead
and the train plunged into the swollen stream
while running at full speed The engine and
three coaches went into the creek and were
Immediately submerged in the torrent Of water
which overfowed the banks A scene of the
widest confus onrensued, and those of the trGin
crew and passengers who escaped death or in
jury were Immediately called into service to re-
leve the drowning or pinioned passengers. Il
was with great difficulty that the passengers
could be reached, owing to the rushing of the
waters through the car windows. Those who
were rescued from the smoking car, which was
stsntirely submerged, were taken from the
windows, some mzined to such an extent that
they were powerless to help themselves. while
others were nearly drowned before aid could
, reach them. At this hour I'll A. MI
six dead bodies have been taken from the
wreck, and three more are known to be
underneath the debris, through which the water
is mady pouring, and it is difficult to reach
them. 1t is also stated that the engineer and
fireman were instantly killed or caught in the
cab and drowned before aid could. reach them,
but the confusion and excitement is SO great
that 1t is difficult to secure reliable information
In addition to the passengers known to Do
killed. from fifteen to twenty have been res
eued who less seriously injured.
A number are so dangerously hurt that il is
feared they cannot possibly recover. AS soon
a trainman who escaped injury could
be spared, he was dispatched to this station,
and a relief train was telegraphed for from
Mason City. kilograms for relief were also
sent to Charles City aud other ar-by places,
but it not until several hours after the acci-
dent that train arrived with physicians to care
Tor the injured, and additional helping hands TO
aid in rescuing those still confined in the yxraclr
Your correspondents has not yet been able to
learn the names of any of the killed and injured.
lt 10 understood that relief train has been
sent from the west, and a number of injured re-
moved to Charles City, sixteen miles west of
the scene of the accident
The wreck. some claim, was caused by ice on
the track, while others claim it caused by
spreading of the rails. The engine jumped the
track first and the baggage car and tender
plunged over the engine into the water. Tie
smoker struck on top of the engine and was
badly smashed. The engine is entirely under
water and the baggage car is almost covered by
water. There were about thirty people in the
smoker at the time four of whom were killed.
so far as known, besides tho engineer, who was
crushed between the cab and the smoker. The
fireman escaped unhurt There were about
belief is that there are three more bodies under
the wreck. The baggage man and route agent |
were thoroughly wetted. but escaped through a |
window without much injury. The names or |
the dead have been learned, as follows:
@. sAVENSEN.
JAS, sCAGEI., engineer. of Mitchell, D. T.
DORA HEIDECKER.
LETTA, girl about four years old.
The names of the wounded (only two being |
obtainedl are: o. B. Allen and II. Searr, botn |
of Nora Springs.
The full list of wounded is az follows: |
Jacob Schasrt. ir Sioux Falls, Oak, severe |
wounds on wrist and hand; G. J. Weiiand Ge-
neva, la; Nick GonrinR, Aurora. Wis; j. L. |
Shristanson. OF Denmark; Mr.. ana Mrs. Hell |
decker aud fiye children, the baby being killed; /
James Murphy' OF Ossian. Ia; Arthur White, |
BlacKstene, Mass; John Glausenor Monticello, |
Wis; Frank Studebaker, Boaz. Wis: Henry |
Schnarr, Nora Springs, Ia: Adam Kauch and
wife, Prussia; Gus BehrAnz Germany. FIvrood |
Ewers Marshall. Wis, and Phillip Gross, Fort
Atkinson. Ia.
Everything is being done by both the railroad
company and citizens of Charles CITY 10 care
for the injured and alleviate their sufferinca
that IS possible. Five surgeons were at ,he |
scene of the wreck early this morning, and
great hopes are entertained that the number of
the killed will not be increased by further devei-
opments The wreck is in about six or seven
feet OF water.
One Chicago travelling man and the conductor
kept the passengers quiet till they could help
them out. Tho wounded are mostly by burns
from the engine. The mails and baggage are
in the river.
Run Into by = Freight Train.
HUDSON, Wis, April 5.-A freight train ran
into the rear end Of passenger train on the
Omaha road, at Boardman, fifteen miles distant.
wreckipg the freight engine, and telescoping .
sleeper and passenger coach. The only passen-
ger in the sleeper, lady. made her escape, As
did also most of the occupants of the forward
coach. A Norwegian bad torn from his
body. This was the only casualty. The pas