The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
NOT A PASSENGER ESCAPED
FIVE CARS DOWN AN ENHANCEMENT
A Serious Wreck on the st. Louis a San
Francisco Railroad Near Sullivan, No.
Forty-Five Persons Badly In
jured, But No One Killed.

jured, But No One Killed.
ST. LOUIS, May 24-The westbound train on
the ST. Louis & San Francisco railroad, which
left ST. Louis last night at s:15, was wrecked
at a point three miles west of Sullivan,
No., which place is sixty-eight miles west
of ST. Louis. Not passenger escaped unhurt,
and forty-five are known to have been seriously
injured though no deaths are Jet reported.
The train was running at high rate OF speed,
when suddenly, and without warning, the track
gave way and the locomotive, baggage-car and
five coaches went over the embankment The
train men and the only slightly injured at once
set to work to prevent the additional horror of
fire, in which they succeeded, and then turned
their attention TO the more unfortunately in
jured, and in a very short time forty-hve pass
engers, all badly hurt, had been released from
the debris. A temporary hospital was impro-
vised az Sullivan and the most seriously injured
were taken there, while others were brought to
ST. Louis on the relief train which was hurried
to the scene of the disaster. The wounded are
under the care of DIR. Mcintyre, chief surgeon
of the road.
1t was 11:25 D. M, when the accident oc-
Cured. The train was travelling at high rate
of speed, and most of the passengers had al
ready gone to Sleep while the few remaining
awake were about to do so. There is curve
in the road about three miles west of Sullivan,
and when this point was reached sudden jolt
and jar was felt all over the train. Everybody
felt it, and the people in the rear cars could
hear the forward coaches rafting and rumbllng
over the ties and the crashing noise of cars
being demolished. \ creek is crossed by the
road at that point, and there is a steep embank-
ment thirty feet high. Most of the passengers
thought the train was going through the bridge,
and feeling of horror chilled their blood.
In an instant all the coaches, except the two
sleeping cars had been thrown from the rails.
People were thrown about in the cars in all
directions and some of them were thrown from
the coaches and down the embankment- One
man. Walter Davidson, who travels for the
Westinghouse air brake, was thrown right out
of window on the opposite side OF the coach
from which he was sitting, and sent rolling
down the embankment to the edge ofthe creek.
His feet were in the water. Another passenger
on the same coach was thrown from the
end of the coach to the forward end, aud in
fact men, women and children were thrown
about promiscuously.
The train was made up of mail car and ex-
press car, a baggage car a smoker, ladies'
coach a reclining chair car and two Pullman
sleepers Back of these sleepers were hitched
five empty coaches of the san Antonio "
Arkansas Pass road, which had been picked
up at some way station. The front truck of
the first sleeper jumped the track,
but the rest of the car remained on and the
rear sleeper and empty coaches behindit never
left the track. Fortunately there were no hres
in any Of the cars, and the jolt extinguished
the lights Immediately. Otherwise cOntagra-
ton would have been caused and there is no
telling how many lives might have been lost.
As il was. most of the forward cars were
smashed into smithereens and the debris
thrown on both sides of the track. 1t was the
worst wreck that has occurred IN this section
for long time.
The explanation given of it by the train-men
10 the passengers was that the spikes and fish
plates had been removed from the rail at the
curve thus leaving the rail loose on the ties.
The forward portion of the locomotive passed
the place all right, but the tender jumped the
track, and was thrown part OF the way down
the embankment. 1t would probably have
gone the entire distance had not the forward
end held il up. Whoever moved the spikes
and plates is not known, but the suppOsltlOn is
the work was done by train robbers who wanted
TO hold up the train. Still, no robbers put in
an appearance, and if the accident was caused
by them they must have either weakened in
their purpose or thrown the wrong train, and
were not prepared TO do their work at that
time Theroad officials claim it is a clear case
of train-wrecking-
On the train was a large body of physicians
returning from Springfield, where the state
medical convention is being held, and they
rendered valuable assistance In caring Tor the
injured. Among the latter was DR.. Russell,
mentioned in the official report, who received
very serious hurts. He had both ears taken
of and was otherwise injured, so badly that he
could not be brought home and is now at Sulli-
van The following is a list of the injured:
ID. S. WEIKERT, Wenzyille, Mo-. both legs
broken four inches above the ankle; may lose
one OF them. 49,
GEORGE S. SIMPSON, Hancock county, Hi
nois. badly cut on left side of face.
PAT O'DAY, aged seven years, fracture of
skull; will probably die.
Mrs. KATE O'DAY, bruised about head,
neck and side and injured internally.
MARTIN O'DAY, cut and bruised on the face,
also cut in the right foot and bruised about the
chest.
WILLIAM DoHERTY, hand cut and bruised.
MRS MARY GRIFFITH Faircreek, ILL.,, in
jured on forehead and right elbow broken.
JOHN OATIEY, ROlla, Mo-, right shoulder in
iured and thumb dislocated.
John T.. HOLLOWAY, Cuba, No.. lower por-
ton right side bruised and cut in forehead.
Mrs. MARY HASH, Bloomington. Ind,
bruised on left side and severely shocked.
CIV. PHILLIPS, Springdale, Ark, fracture Of
arm and cut on shoulder.
DIR. ED s. RUSSELL Tuscsrawas, o., severe
flesh wound ear torn off and cut in head,
severe shock, but rallying nicely.
MRS DIR. T.. ). RUSSELL, also cut in the head.
II. III. NEWMAN, CnDa, Mo-, cut IN the mouth.
ID. RAILEY, New York, arm and leg broken.
d. w. GRAVES, Marsh6eld, No.. arm, leg and
back bruised.
JOHN KENDRIcK, TT. Smith, Ark, slightly
bruised on forehead
JOE z. HARIIN, Cuba, Mo-, cut on head,
bruised on chest, cut on arm and shoulder
bruised
WALTER DAVIDSON, st. Louis, No., cut on
head and slightly cut on finger hip bruised
J. B. SALLY, Rolla, Mo-, bruised on right
leg and arm.
B. B. McINrosH, ST. Louis, bruised on shout
der and side.
slightly.
EMMA PATTERSON, Decatur, Ill, face bruised
Mrs. w. J. WRIGHT, Decatur ILL.,, cheek
bruised.
NJ. LIP, ST Louis, bruised on shoulder, knee
and back.
MARY O'DAY, wrist cut slightly.
I. J. SHAW, Durango, Col, bruised in shout.
der and slight cut on forehead.
ANTON MARX, st. Louis slight cut and
bruised on side.
J.J. BRINToS, Sparta, Mo-, cut on head
right hand and left leg.
u. c. HovELE, Litchfeld. H., cut and
bruised on head, bruised on shoulder and hip.
CRoEL CREsLER, Galveston, Ind, bruised on
foot and arm.
T. L. CoYE Brest, Mo-, cut on head and
bruised in back and shoulder.
HATTIE SHANK, st. Louis, Mo-, light cut on
head.
c. ]. WRIGHT, baggageman, bruised on
knee and right side, cut on face.
PAUL Horn, Mt. Pulavi, H., cut on head,