Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-06
A TRAIN PLUNG Es INTO A CREEK

A TRAIN FLUNG ES INTO A GREEK. At Least DOzen Persons Killed and Fifteen or TWeRty ID1ured-A Terris ble Scene at the Wreck.
 ST. PAUL, Minn., April 5.-A special to the Dispatch from New Hampton, Iowa, says: A terrible accident occurred this morning about four miles west of this town on the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad by which at least dozen persons lost their lives and from fifteen to twenty injured. The train, which left Chicago at 11:30 yesterday morn ing ard 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 of for the past few days, and in addition e gorge of ice was formed which previous to the arrival of the train carried away portion of the bridge. There was nothing t@ 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 overdowed the banks. A scene of the widest confusion en- sued, and those of the train crew and pas sengers who escaped death or injury were immediately called into service to relieve the drowning and pinioned passengers. It was with great difficulty that the passen- gers could be reached owing to the rushing of the waters through the ! car windows. Those who were rescued from ! the smoking car, which was almost entirely submerged, were taken from the windows, \ some mained to such an extent that they could not help themselves, while others were ! nearly drowned before aid could reach them. \ At this hour 11 8. m.) six dead bodies have \ been taken out from the wreck and three more are known to be underneath the debris, ! through which the water is madly pouring, and it is difficult to reach them. It is
 also stated that the engineer and ! fireman were instantly killed or were | caught in the cab before aid could reach them, but the confusion and excite ment is so great that it is difficult to secure | reliable information. In addition to the passengers known to be killed from twelve
 to eighteen have been rescued that are more \ or less seriously injured. A number are so dangerously hurt that it is feared that they ' cannot recover. As soon as @ train hand who escaped injury could be spared he was | despatched to this station and relief train | was telegraphed for from Mason City. Tele- grams for relief were also sent to Charles City and other near by places, but it was not until several hours after the accident that 8
 train arrived with physicians to care for the ! injured and additional helping hands to Aid ! in rescuing those still confined in the wreck.
 The Cause of the Accident.
 CHARLES CIrY, Ia., April 5.-The wreck
 on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul rail- road some claim was caused by ice on the
 track, while others say it was by spreading
 of the rails. The engine jumped the track
 first and the baggage car and tender plunged over the engine into the water. The smoker
 struck on top of the engine and was smashed.
 The engine is entirely under water and the
 baggage car is almost covered by water.
 There were about thirty people in the smok- CT at the time, four of whom were killed so far as known besides the engineer, who was crushed between the cab and the smoker. The
 Gremen escaped unhurt. There were about
 twenty five to thirty wounded, though none
 fatally. The belief is that there are three or
 more bodies yet under the wreck.
 The names of the dead that have been
 learned are as follows: w. Anderson, O..
 Stevenson, J. Denckles, James Scagel, en-
 gineer of Mitchell, Dak.; Dora Hiedecker, \ Letta, a girl about fourteen years old. O. B. Allen and H. Sears, both of Nora Springs,
 were among the wounded. One Chicago | travelling man and the conductor kept the
 passengers quiet till they could help them out.
 The wounded are mostly hurt by burns from
 the engine The mails and baggage are in \ the river.