The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-05-12
WITHOUT A WARNING.
SEVEN PEOPLE KILLED IN A
SANTA FEE WRECK.
In the Midst of u HnwIinS Storm tho
Transc"ntinental Express Iiunges
Through a Brisige-Thc Disaster Caused
by u Tremendous Rain-Fail.

Through n lSrfIge-Thc Disaster Caused
by u Tremendous Rainfall.
Eswm 10 Death.
Without a word of warning, in the
midst of frightful storm, the east
bound transcontincntal express on the
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fc, filled
with human beings wrapped in slumber,
plunged through a trestle weakened by
rain to dea'h at about 1:45 Thursday
morning, Ictween Revere and Mcdill in
Missouri, about 2G5 miles from Chicago.
1t WAS irig i,ful night, the rain fell
as it never fell before, and only an occa-
s:onll fash of lightning could be seen
in the gloom. The great express had
come through from San Francisco. Los
Angeles, and Mexico to Kansas City on
ii ne. On arriving at Kansas City at
4:n Wednesday afternoon orders were
received to ho'i 1t until $40, and run to
Chicago on the time Of the Denver
limited, which was very late. At $40
the train, which was composed of a p s.
tai car. Il baggage car, smoker, chair
car, tourist sleeper, and two Pullman
coaches, commenc. d its run to Chicago.
All Wen: Well until pile and trcs,le
bridge over the Fox River near Revere
was reached. This bridge was about
115 feet long and 30 feet high. Two
hours tc'ore the transcontinental ex-
press struck the bridge heavy freight
train rassc,i over it in safety, but the
pouring rain had swollen the raging tor
rent which rushed ben ath the rails to
a miniature Niagara, which finally car
| ried the bridge out Of line, yet left it
standing and, SO far as the engineer On
tie locomotive could see, all right.
With wheels turning slowly for safety's
sake, for the storm was terrific, the
train crawled slowly on the bridge Tho
engine crossed in safety. Then tie
bridge went down. Only the engine and
rear sleeper were not precipitated into
+ the swiftly flowing waters which coursed
, through the ravine below. Five ears,
with their load of human freight wearied
into deep sleep with long trip, and the
remains of the fridge sank together in
one cong.omerate mass of crushed TIM
bers, torn and twisted i1on work and
mansled humanity. Then came wild
cry from the wounded and dying rising
above the noise of the storm. Lighted
to their work of rescue, the engineer
ard fireman from one side of the stream
and the uninjured occupants of the rear
sleeper from the opposite bank hurried
to give what aid was possible to those
in the ravine. Men sprang from the
windows of the wrecked cars. and fight
ing their way through whirling waters
| filled with debris reached the banks and
| fell exhausted. Not less than seven and
possibly nine or more sank in the wreck
to die. Twenty-Five are known to have
been injured
| Telegraph w.res went down in the
storm and only meager information
| reached Chicago regarding the wreck.
| Third Vice President ]. ID. Springer of
| the Atchison, ana ". +. White, the pas
scnser traffic manager, useI every effort
to obtain full details of the accident,
AMI freely furnished all information in
their power to the reporters and anxious
relatives of passengers who hesieged the
Atchison Offices demanding information.
1t was with great difficulty that mes
sages could be put through, but the
/ Atch;son officials received the following
| list of dead and il. urcd. which was at
once male public:
k1LLED-William Hynes. Oklahoma
City, Ok; Lou Markell cor Markeel Kan
sas City. Mo-; Luther Cornelius, Kirk
Vile, Mo-; s. Z. Verkler, Westport, Mo. !:
John c. Groncs, Macon, Mo-; lady and
! child, names unknown.
! 4 press dispatch confirms this list, and
| adds an unknown child, the engineer,
and fireman as kiIlei. This is not con-
! firmed by the Atchson report from the
officers on the ground to Vice President
Springer, and regarding TIL engineer
and fireman was denied, as the locomo-
tive crossed the bridge in safety
INJURED. j. Tucker. conductor,
Downers' Grove: Ma tin Eegan, brake
man; W. 4. Isham, brakeman, River
| side; Andrew J. Roman. express mes
sengcr: Claud Bel! and Il. T.. Dutche~,
postal clerks: Mrs. Jane Hisay. River
siGe; J. {. Winslow. II. NJ. Cutter II. &.
CowiinS. and \. Lancaster, Chicago;
". \. Allen and Mrs. T.. r. Allen, Ath-
ems, Pa: Robert Schultz, Lexing ION
Junction, Mo-: J. F. Hartgcn, Reading,
/ Pa: William Adams. q. l.. Boys, J.
Gunthcr, W. b. Barnes, J. H. Snider,
S. II. Laugh, J. Mason. f. Graves. and
". G.. Smith.
III addition TO this there is an unc on
firmed report that an Italian woman and
child were injured. The extent of the
in iuries could not be as .crtancd. The
Atehison was in very bal shape. Super
intcndcnt II. c. Ives started for the
wreck early. hut was confronted with
three feet of wat r on the track at Lock-
p 1T. The road was also under water
east of Fort Maids on. tctween
Fort Madison AMI the wreck, and
wires We're down in places for many
miles in length. The clst -hO3nd Den
Yer express, which followed the trans.
continental cypress. attempted to run
around the wreck on the keokuk ant
Western brar ch of the Burlington, but
was stopped hy a anlslidc few miles
out of ktokuk.
The .cidcnt seems TO have been one
of those unfortunate svcr.ts that human
foresight can not guard against. The
bridge was as strong as such a structure
could be built. hut tn, heavy rains ol
the last few we. Ks. crowned by tht
awful storm of Wednesday night, SC
weakened it that it went under. The
accident will cost the Atcaison ovcl
$l0o,Goo, and probably S15e,0oo.