Wichita eagle., 1888-04-06

CHICAGO, April 5.-A special from New
Hampton, Ia, says terrible disaster oc-
CURED seven miles west of New Hampton
this morning, whereby the passenger
coaches on the west bound Milwaukee &
St Paul road were precipitated into the
Wapsie river 1t was caused by the CIV
ing away of the bridge. The engineer and
two passengers are known to be drowned
and il is supposed that the balance OF the
passengers met the same fate.
ST. PAUL, April 5-h dispatch from
New Hampton, Ia, says terrible railroad
accident occurred about four miles west of
that town on the Milwaukee & st. Paul
road by which at least a dozen persons
lost their lives and from fifteen to twenty
We're injured.
The train which left Chicago at 1130
yesterday morning and 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. The creek was swollen
by the immense amount of water
which has been running off for the past
few days and in addition a gorge OF ice
was found which previous to the arrival of
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 were thrown into the creek
and were Immediately submerged in the
torrent of water which oyerflowed the
banks. A scene of wild confusion ensued
passengers who escaped death
or injury We're Immediately called
into service to relieve the drowning and
imprisoned passengers. 1t was with great
difficulty the passengers could be reached,
owing to the rushing of the water through
the windows. Those who were rescued
from the smoking car, which was almost
entirely submerged, were taken from the
windows, some MANNED to such an extent
that they were powerless to help them
selves, while others were nearly drowned
before aid could reach them. At this
hour C1l a. NJ six dead bodies have been
taken ont from the wreck and three more
are known to be underneath the debris,
through which the water is madly pour
ing, and 1T is difficult to reach them. 1t is
also stated that the engineer and fireman
were instantly killed or were caught in the
cab and drowned before aid could reach
them, but the confusion and excitement is
so great that it is difficult to secure relia-
BILE information. In addition to the pas
StnSerS knoWn 10 DE killed, from
fifteen to twenty have been rescued
that are more or less seriously injured
A number are so dangerously hurt that it
is feared they can not possibly recover As
soon as a train man who escaped injury
could be spared he was dispatched to this
station and relief train telegraphed for
from Mason. kilograms for relief were
also sent to Charles City and other near
10y places, but it was not until several
hours after the accident that train ar
rived with physicians to care for the in
jured and additional helping hands to aid
in rescuing those still confined in the
wreck. Your correspondent as yet has not
been able to learn the names of any of the
killed and injured. 1t is understood re-
lief train has been sent from the west and
a number removed to Charles City, sixteen
miles west of the accident. The names of
the killed and injured will be telegraphed
as soon as they can be learned.