The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-06
Terrible Plunge of a Santa Fe
Train in Missouri.
SEVEN KILLED, MANY INJURED.
A Large Part Of Illinois, Iowa, Ohio
and Missouri Inundated.
Bridges Washed Out, Track Under
Water and Trains Delayed-Buiidings
Flooded and Crops Damaged.

FoRT MADISON, Ia. May 5.-A terrible
railroad accident occurred at an early hour
this morning on the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe road twenty-five miles west, near
Dumas, Mo. Without warning, in the
midst of raging storm, the eastbound
transcontinental express. filled with
sleeping human beings, was plunged
through a trestle weakened by rain, re-
sulting in the death of seven people and
the wounding of a number of others.
The Chicago express came through from
San Francisco via Los Angeles and New
Mexico to Kansas City and left there at
GAO Wednesday afternoon. The train was
composed of postal, baggage, smoking,
chair and tourist cars and two Pullman
coaches. The bridge through which the
train plunged was about 175 feet long and
thirty feet high, over Fox river, near
Revere. The heavy rains of the past
month seemed to have reached a climax
last night. and carried the bridge out of
line, yet left it standing. and, so far as
the engineer could see. all right. Owing
to the storm. the train crawled slowly
onto the bridge. The engine crossed in
safety, but not so the balance of the train,
for the bridge went down with the load,
the engine and rear sleeper remaining
on either side of the abutments. The
coaches were precipitated into the roaring
current that was rushing through the
ravine. Five cars, with their load of
human freight, and the broken timbers of
the bridge sank together IN one conglom-
Grated mass of timbers, torn and twisted
iron work and mangled humanity. Then
above the roaring of the storm arose weird
and awful shrieks of the wounded.
The engineer and fireman were unin-
jured, and these, with the occupants of
the rear sleeper, hurried to the rescue.
Some of the passengers in the wrecked cars
escaped uniniured, and, fighting their way
through the swirling waters, reached the
bank and fell to the ground exhausted.
Seven sank in the wreck to die, and
twenty-six are known to have been in
jured. The following is q list of the killed:
WILLIAM HINKs, Oklahoma City.
LON Markell, Kansas City.
LUTHER CORNELIUS, Kirksville, No
Z. VERKLER, Westport, Mo.
JOHN c. GRosEs. Macon, Mo.
A lady and child. names unknown, but sup
posed to be from Los Angeles, where. from pa
pers found. she appears to own considerable
land. Her ticket was for Allegheny, Pa
The injured are:
]. Tucker, conductor, Downers Grove: Martin
Reagan, brakeman, Riverside; Andrew Roman.
express messenger; Claude Bell, postal clerk;
R. E. butcher, postal clerk; Mrs. Jane Hisey,
Riverside; J. c. Winslow. Chicago; H. c. Cow
ling; n Lancaster, Chicago; W. A. Allen,
Athens, Pa; Robert Schultz, Lexington juno
ton, NO.; J. F. Hurlgsn, Reading, Pa:
William Adams; O. l. Boys. J. Gun
ther; w. c. Barnes, W. Fl. Snyder,
8. H. Laugh; J. Mason; F. Graves; W. G. Smith.
extent of injuries not yet ascertained; A. d.
Meads, saltwater, Mimi: l. g. Downs, Okla
homs City; F. W. Moore, Winnebago. Ills; R. Il.
Moellen, Kansas City; Mrs. A. J. Sullivan, Cof-
feyville, Kan; Alice Hughes, Sedan. Kan;
Mrs ]. H. Keating, Ration. N. NJ: Mr.. and Mrs.
W. w. Isham. Riverside, IllA; Italian woman.
unknown.
Some fifty others suffered from slight
cuts and scratches. A relief train was
sent from here at 8 a. m. The train ar
rived after daylight and rendered valuable
assistance to suffering passengers.
In the meantime the Colorado express
came up to Medill and started for Fort
Madison via the Keokuk Il West
ern road. A few miles north
of Keokuk, that train ran into landslide
and narrowly escaped ditching. Many of
the injured are in a serious condition, but
only two fatal Examinations are antici-
pated. Most of the passengers able to
proceed were transferred. 1t will require
several days to clear up the wreck and put
the track in working order.