The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-08
A SLEEPER IN ICY WATER.
Twenty Passengers Rescued From The
Yellowstone River.
THg ROSEBUD ACCIDENT DESCRIBED.
A cble,yoan Tells How the Northern Pacific
Train That Bore Fred. *. Scott
Plunged Into the River.

the following vlVlu accouuO VI Iho ioNO"' ~
cident on the Northern Pacific railway. which
will be interesting to Richmond people, as
Mr.. Fred. Il. Scott, tho well-known railroad
president, and Mr. Francis Murphy, the tenn
perance lecturer. were passengers on the
wrecked train:
The most vivid account of the remarkable
escape of twenty passengers from death last
Thursday night near Rosebud is given by T..
Benninghoven. of Chicago, who was IN the
Pullman that plunged into the Yellowstone.
He boarded the train at ST. Paul for Helena For
two days before reaching Rosebud the Paclhc
express on the Northern Pacific ran through
violent storm. and reports came TO the passen-
gers of heavy rains along the Yellowstone.
he last car on the train was the sleeper
Dickinson, in which were about twenty tray-
elers Among them were Mr.. Benninghoyen.
Major Scott, president of the Petersburg ana
Richmond railroad, of Virginia; Francis Mur,
ply, the celebrated temperance orator. and
wife; Mr. Wiley. general superintendent OF
the Detroit Safe and Lock Company, and
others whose names Mr.. Bennnghoyen did
not Learn. Eight women and three children
we're in the car. In the sleeper just ahead OF
the Dickinson were the Hon. j. II. Hershelu
and wife and Miss Hersfeld. of Helena. re-
turning from an Eastern TIP. Most Oh tns
passengers were DOWN. ibf thc NtN-vhAA O.
Tacoma, Portland and other Pacific COAST
points.
The train was behind time when II arrived
az Rosebud q short time before midnight
Mr. BennnghoYen says the passengers hescu
the trainmen talking about the conditioh Oh
the track. but their remarks did not arouse
any feelings of uneasiness. After leaving
Rosebud the train ran at q slow rate OF speed;
as is usual on the Yellowstone division IN bad
weather. About ii p NJ, when about two
miles west of Rosebud. the passengers III the
Dickinson were all in their Der rs. most OK
them by this time being sound asleep. Mr..
Bennnghoven oc cuped a lower berth. Near
midnight he felt the sleeper sway about.
gently at first which partly awakened nm.
At first he thought he was dreaming. Another
lurch of the car thoroughly awoke him and the
other passengers.
INTO THE ICY RIVER.
Benninghoven jumped out into the aisle.
| The sleeper had left the track and was run
ming close TO the edge Of the bank overlook
| ing the turbulent Yellowstone. Over 1t went,
making complete revolution, landing in the
cold water at a depth of about four feet.
| Just as 1t began TO turn Bennlnghoyen made
| a spring into the aisle but could make no
| Roadway The car lamps went out and the
| narrow aisle was chOked with mass OF
yalises, clothing. car furniture and terror
| stricken passengers tumbllng out OF the
At--~N- f'N+-
| and calls for help.
| iBeuninghoven got back into his berth. He
| had on nothing but his night dress With his
! bare feet he kicked the glass out Of the coach
| window and plunged through the opening
! cutting his left thigh and hands on the Jagged
/ pieces left IN the frame About all the glass
| in the windows was broken out by the bare
| hands and feet OF the men and women IN their
| struggle 10 escape from the death
threatening prison. Prompt assistance
came from the train crew and the
| passengers on the remaining portion OF
| the train standing on the bank. The con-
| ductor and porter Of the Dickinson did heroic
work. turning their attention TO the women
| and children as soon as they recovered from
the shock Of the oyerturning car Several
times the Pullman conductor risked his lite
! in getting women out of the car windows and
taking them through the swift icy current 10
| the shore All of ths inmates of the sleeper
were taken out of the car as fast a. the res
| cuers could assist them and pilot the way
| through the darkness 10 the shore
THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
An Englishman from New South Wales
/ bound Tor the National Park had an expe-
rience which he will never forget, and he can
| thank the traInmen that he did not find
| crave at the bottom OF the Yellowstone. lie
| had state-room. When the car struck the
| river bottom near the shore the door and
| other exits 10 the room We're tightly fastened
| The inmate made desperate attempts to break
| down the door His cries for help were not
| heard until the car began sliding further
| down the sloping side of the river bottom. Ey
| this time the water was above the sllls of the
| coach windows and rapidly climbing up 10
| the transOms. The mufed cries of the i'm
prisOned man were heard through q yentlla-
| tor on the roof by some Of the Tescuers. \
hole was cut through the woodwork with
axes while thecreeping waters ached higher
| and higher. His Iescuers were none TOO
| soon. few minutes more and the yellow
| waters would have been above his head.
sH1vERING. HALF-NAKED PASSENGERS.
| As fast as tho rescued passengers were
| brought TO the bank. shyeIing and cold, IN
| nothing but their night dresses and under
clothing they we're wrapped IN blankets
brought from the sleeper on the track.
| They looked rs if they were coming from
battle" said Mr.. Benninghoven. Blood was
on their wet, clinging garments. which came
from the wounds on their hands ana feet
caused by smashing the glass IN the car
| windows LII was a remarkable escape from
death. The women on the sleeper which was
| not derailed rendered valuable assistance
| i'm dressing the wounds of the rescued
passengers and provided such clothing
| as they could spare to cover the almost
| naked forms of those whose clothing is now
in the submerged Pullman. Mr.. Benning-
hoven rode from Forsyth to Helena clad in a
| wooden shirt. gwen him by one or the tram
! men. and his trousers. which he managed to
grab as he Owed through the car window A
| lady on the train on her way 10 the park gave
| him a soft felt travelling hat. He lost all of
| his clothing except a valise containing his
| linen. His gold watch and chain and s160
| are somewhere in the sleeper. With the
Others il is the same story-about all they
escaped with were their lives and very thank
| ful tor that.
After making sure that no one was left in
the water filled sleeper the train proceeded 10
| Forsyth. where physicians examined the
wounds Of the passengers. Mr. Benninghoyen
! saws that as far as he could learn none re-
| ceiyed any serious in urles The conductor
| Of the Pullman who imperiled his life IN the
work of rescue, had bad cash on his scalp,
which was stitched up. All were suffering
| from nervous shock
| NOVEL INCIDENTS.
Among the passengers IN the sleeper which
went into tue river were a young lady and her
| father. railroad official from Pennsylvania.
| The gentleman, who is about sixty years old,
| but yerv active got out of the car by way OF
| one of the windows and. with his gold watch
| and pocketbook containing $500 IN one hand,
| swan TO the slippery bank. Not seeing his
| DAUGHTER among those already rescued he
stuck his watch and pocketbook into the
mud and swan back TO the car. He got rs
daughter ont safely swan with her TO the