Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-14
Thought to Have Caused the
Oregon Wreck.
The Disaster Was Awful in It's
Extent.
Only Few People On the Train Es-
capped Uninjured.
Five Deaths Have Resulted and tht
Number May Reach Ten-Scores
of Persons Wounded.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated PreSS D1spatcnes.
SALEM, Ore, Nov. 13.-The first news
of the wrecking of the south bound
Southern Pacific passenger train at Lake
Bisla, last night, was brought to Salem
by an Indian student of the Chemawa
Indian school, which is half a mile
south of the scene. He reported hun
dred people killed, and at once every
physician in the city, large number of
helpers and hundreds of curious people
hurried to the scene. A relief train was
ordered from Albany, being part of the
Albany express that passed over the
deadly trestle few minutes before the
ill-fated train went down, and wreck
ing train was started out from Portland.
The bridge was 800 feet long, and the
trestle was from sixteen to twenty feet
high. 1t is supposed that the engineer
felt the trestle give, for as soon as the
engine struck it, he gave short whistle
and set the brakes. The train went
ahead about fifty yards as it went down.
The engine was overturned and al
most buried in the mud. Following
it came the tender, mail, baggage and
express cars. The frst-class coach was
saved from going over by alighting with
its front end on an old tree broken off
even with the trestle. But the interior
of this car was completely wrecked. In
the tourist sleeper were thirty passen-
gers, only three of whom escaped unin-
jured. In the Pullman car Alatia were
seventeen passengers, only three of
whom were uninjured. In the Pullman
Roseburg were fifteen passengers, only
four OF whom escaped with slight in
juries. In the smoker and day coach
every seat was occupied, and the proper
ton of injured was large. A tramp who
was riding on the trucks ON the express
car, was found mangled, making the
fourth victim. but the number of deaths
will probably reach ten, as several are
believed to be fatally injured. Fires
were built near the wreck, and the
physicians and others did all possible to
alleviate the sufferings of the injured.
A train arrived this morning from the
scene, bearing the killed and wounded.
The Willamette hotel was converted into
a temporary hospital. 1t took an hour
to unload the two cars of unfortunates,
and the scene was pitiable. The injured
number about twenty-five. Their in
juries range from scratches and bruises
to broken limbs.
M. V. and J. A. Nichols, of San Diego,
were on the train, but were unhurt.
H. T. Wolf, of Los Angeles, had his
back injured.
G. b. Shallenger, of San Bernardino.
had his shoulder injured.
w. M. Rea, of Cotton, had his head
slightly cut.
6. A. Covalt, OF Oakland, leg and an
arm hurt.
Hon. James McGarry, United States
marshal, of Utah, was badly cut about
the head, and is in critical condition.
PORTLAND, Ore, Nov. 13.-A special
train bearing those slightly injured ar
rived here this afternoon. They were
taken to the Good Samaritan and st.
Vincent's hospitals, where they are re-
ceiving every attention. Those most
seriously injured, of whom mention has
already been made, were left at Salem.
The number of injured passengers
brought here is twenty-four. 1t cannot
be determined what caused the wreck
until an official investigation is had.
By some the wreck is attributed to
misplaced rail.
Just as the relief train, bearing the
wounded from the scene of the wreck to
this city, arrived in East Portland. G.
Greibel, of Milwaukee, Wis, a travel
ing agent for the Val Blatz Brewing
company, expired, making the number
of dead five. Greibel had both legs
broken and his body badly crushed, also
receiving injuries about his head. The
body was taken to the morgue.
Captain Ednell, of San Francisco, who
had both legs broken, was taken to the
Hotel Portland, where he is being cared
for. The remainder of the wounded
were taken to different hospitals.
1t is thought by the surgeons that
Captain G. E. Bowden, OF Tacoma, who
is at the Good Samaritan hospital, can
not recover. He is suffering from con-
cussion of the spine. He was accom-
panied by his two little daughters, one
OF whom, Ida, suffered broken arm
and a dislocated shoulder. The party
were on their way to Australia.