The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-03
TRAVELLERS SLAIN.

p1unges Over Trestle and Down Nine
~ Feet to y Creek Heiow-Twenty Dead
Bodies Taken from the Ruins and II Is
Thought the Number Of Victims VIII
Reach Forty.
New ORLEANS. Aug. as-The Times
Democrats Charlotte IN. c. special
says: The most dreadful railroad dis
aster in the history of the state is To be
recorded: the story of the total de-
struction of the entire passenger train
on tn. Western North Carolina road.
an accident in which engineer, fireman.
all the brakemen and probably forty
passengers were dashed to instant
death-a wreck from the debris Of
which only one man. the conductor.
emerged able to walk back to the
nearest station and give news of the
disaster.
1t met its fearful doom at the high
bridge over Third creek. ? miles west
of Statesville. The bridge was built
years ago of solid masonry. 1t is 20
feet high and is arched for the passage
Of wagons on the roadway beneath as
well as for the waters of the creek. 1t
is as safe as bridge could be-in fact,
a track on solid ground could be made
no safer Trains. therefore, do
not slack speed upon approaching it.
In the center of the bridge there was
gap in the cleaning line of rails
The engine struck the gap, gave
great bound and fell down into the
space. Along with it went every car
in the train. one after the other. with
their human loads, crashing upon
the hard ground 20 feet below
Every car was smashed into kind
ling wood and the wreckage was
heaped in a confused and disordered
pile. Down under were the torn and
mangled bodies of the crew and un-
fortunate passengers.
In the fall the Pullman ear had leaped
the air and striking the ground with
terrible effect away in front of where
the engine lay. 1t was mashed as one
would crush an egg by throwing it
against a stone wall.
From the debris Of the passenger
cars people were brought out, mangled
in all sorts of ways, only two or three
bodies being brought out intact. Three
ladies in the first-class car were killed
and every passenger in the sleeping car
met death-not a living soul escaping.
The deaths may reach forty, as it is not
believed that all the bodies have vet
been taken out.
The night was dismal, and to add to
the horror of the situation the water in
the creek was high. 1t was only
through the most heroic efforts of those
who had hurried to the scene of
the wreck that the injured were
not drowned. Twenty bodies are
now lying in warehouse at
Statesville. The injured are having
the best of care at private residences
and hotels in that city. 1t is believed
by some that malicious persons spread
the rails so that the train would leave
the track and dash into the viaduct
An east-bound train had passed over
the viaduct only an hour and half
previously.
from Asheville who were returning
from firemen's tournament at Dur
ham. Col. Cameron, who is among the
injured. is state inspector general of
small arms practice. He saved Auditor
Sanderlin's life.
William II. Houston, of Greensboro,
Who was killed, was leading mer-
chant of his city. Mr.. and Mrs Link,
of Lexington. who are among the i'm
jured, were married Wednesday night
and had Just began their wedding tour.
Rev. j. NJ. Skies, who was killed,
was graduate of the South
western Presbyterian university of
GAINESVILLE, Tenn. DIR. Skies had
been assigned to missionary work in
China and was to have left for that
country September rs. He was mar
ried. Mrs. Poole was drowned before
aid could reach her. Three bodies have
not been identified. One of these is an
old lady: another is a lady with
ticket in her pocket which
reads: Mrs. George Mccormick and
mother. Elmwood, n. G., to Alex
andcr. N. c." The third is also a
lady. Upon her finger is ring en-.
graved I. II. w. to NJ. r. Il. 1t is
thought that all bodies have not been
taken out of the debris which is piled
up SO high that it is impossible to make
thorough examination. Not soul VIII,
was in the sleeping car is alive. Mis-.
Ophelia Moore, of Helena, Ark, dice
after being taken out of the wreck
The Western North Carolina railroad
extends from Salisbury to Point Rocl
and is owned and operated by thu
| Richmond Il Danville.