The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-04-12
TRAIN DISASTER.
An Iowa Train Goes Through Bridge
into the WapEs River.
An Engineer and Two Passengers
are Drowned.
A Mrs. Johnson Murders Her Hus-
band at Midnight.
A COlOrsd Boy Breaks the Limbs of =
Pair Of Twins.

ST. PAUL, April 5.-A dispatch from
Hampton, Ia, says a terrible railroad
accident occurred about four miles west
of this town, on 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 at l1:30 yes
terday morning and was due here at
2:I3 this morning passed here nearly
on time, and when about four miles
west plunged into q creek, the bridge
of which was washed out. The creek
was swollen by the immense amount of
water which has been running OF for
the past few days and in addition to
this a gorge Of ice was formed which
previous to 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 stream while running
at full speed. The engine and coaches
were thrown into the creek and were
Immediately submerged in the torrent
of water which overhowed the banks,
a scene of wild confusion ensued, and
those Of the train crew and passengers
who escaped death or injury were i'm
mediately called into service to relieve
the drowning and imprisoned passen-
gers. 1t was with great difficulty 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 al
most entirely submerged were taken
from the windows some MANNED to
such an extent that they were power
less to help themselves while others
were nearly drowned before aid could
reach them. AT this hour
I'll my six dead bodies have
been taken out from the wreck
and three more are known to be under
meath the debres, through which the
water is madly pouring, and 1t is DIFF
fcult to reach them. It 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 diff
cult to secure reliable information.
In addition to the passengers known
to be killed from fifteen to twenty
have been rescued that are more or less
seriously injured. A number are Sc
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 dis
patched to this station and
a relief train was telegraphed
for from Mason City. kilograms for
relief were also sent to Charles City
and other near by places, but it was
not until several hours after the acct
dent that train arrived with physi-
clans to care for the injured, and adj
ditional helping hands to aid in rescu-
ing 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 under
stood that a relief train has been sent
from the west and number OF the in
jured removed to Charles City, sixteen
miles west Of the scene of the accident
Names of the killed and injured will
be telegraphed as soon as they can be
learned.
The baggage 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 en-
tirely under water and the baggage
car is almost covered by water. Thirty
people were in the smoker at
the time, four of whom were
killed, so far as known,
besides the engineer who was crushed
between the car and smoker. The fire
man escaped unhurt. There were
about twenty-five wounded, though
none fatal. The belief is that there
are three more bodies under the WrecK.
The baggage man and route agen
were well wet up but escaped through
the window without much injury. TIL
names of the dead as far a
are known, are as follows: VIM. An
d erson, G. Stevenson, j. Denies. Jane
s eazell, engineer, of Mitchell, Dakota
and Dora Heidicker Letta, a girl abou
4 years old. The mails and baggage ar
in the river.