Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-05-12
"And the Floods Came"

"And the Floods Came"
Without a word OF warning, in the
midst OF frightful storm, the east
bound transcontinental express on the
Atchison, Topeka aud Santa Fe, filled
with human beings wrapped in slumber,
plunged through trestle weakened by
rain to death at about las Thursday
morning, between Revere and Medill in
Missouri, about 265 miles from Chicago.
1t was frightful night, the rain fell
as 1t never fell before, and only an occa-
sional flash OF lightning could be seen
In the gloom. The great express had
come through from San Francisc Los
Angeles, and Mexico to Kansas City on
time. On arriving at Kansas City at
4:40 Wednesday afternoon orders were
received to hold 1t until $40, and run to
Chicago on the time Of the Denver
limited, which was very late. At GAO
the train, which was composed of pcs
tai car, baggage car, smoker, chair
car, tourist sleeper, and two Pullman
coaches, commenced its run to Chicago.
All went we'll until pile and trestle
bridge over the Fox River near Revere
was reached. This bridge was about
175 feet long and 80 feet high. Two
hours before the transcontinental ex-
press struck the bridge heavy freight
train passed over 1t in safety, but the
pouring rain had swollen the raging tor
rent which rushed beneath the rails to
a miniature Niagara, which finally car
ried the bridge out OF line, yet left it
standing and, 80 far as the engineer en-
the locomotive could see, all right.
With wheels turning slowly for safety 8
sake, for the storm was terrific, the
train crawled slowly on the bridge. The
engine crossed in safety. Then the
bridge went down. Only the engine and
rear sleeper were not precipitated Into
the swiftly flowing waters which coursed
through the raviue below. Five cars,
with their load OF human freight wearied
into deep sleep with long trip, and the
remains Of the bridge sank together in
one conglomerate mass OF crushed tim
bers, torn and twisted iron work and
mangled humanity. Then came a wild
cry from the wounded and dying rising
above the noise of the storm. Lighted
to their work OF rescue, the engineer
and 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 wires went down in the
storm and only meager information
reached Chicago regarding the wreck.
Third Vice President j. ID. Springer Of
the Atchison, and w. F. White, the pas
senger traffic manager, used every effort
TO obtain full details of the accident,
and freely furnished all information in
their power to the reporters and anxious
relatives of passengers who besieged the
Atchison offices demanding information.
1t was with great difficulty that mes
sages could be put through, but the
Atchson officials received the following
list of dead and injured, which was at
once made public:
KILLED-William Hynes, Oklahoma
City, Ok; Lou Markell Tor Markee) Kan
sas City, Mo-; Luther Cornelius, Kirk
vile, Mo-; S. Z. Verkler, Westport, Mo-;
John Q. Grones, Macon, Mo-; lady and
child, names unknown.
press dispatch confirms this list, and
adds an unknown child, the engineer,
firmed by the Atchison report from the
officers on the ground to Vice President
Springer, and regarding the engineer
and fireman was denied, as the locomo-
tive crossed the bridge in safety.
INJURED. j. Tucker, conductor,
Downers' Grove; Martin Regan, brake
man; w. A. Isham, brakeman, River
side; Andrew ]. Roman, express mes
senger; Claud Bell and r. Z. butcher,
postal clerks; Mrs. Jane Hisey, River
side; j. G. Winslow, II. M. Cutler, HI. G.
Cowlfng, and n. Lancaster, Chicago:
W. A. Allen and Mrs. f.. I. Allen, Ath-
ems, Pa; Robert Schultz, Lexington
Junction, Mo-; j. f. Hartgen, Reading,
Pa; William Adams, o. l.. Boys, J.
Gunther, W. b. Barnes, J. H. Snider,
s. H. Laugh, j. Mason, +. Graves, and
w. q. Smith.
In addition to this there Is an uncon-
firmed report that an Italian woman and
child were injured. The extent OF the
injuries could not be ascertained. The
Atchison was in very bad shape. Super
intendent H. G. Ives started for the |
wreck early, but was confronted with |
three feet of water on the truck at Lock- |
pert. The road was also under water |
east OF Fort Madison, between
OEI mduiHVn hHu the WRECK, and |
wires were down in places for many
miles in length. The east-bound Dem
yer express, which followed the trans
express, attempted to run
around the wreck on the Keokuk and
Western branch Of the Burlington, but
was stopped by landslide few miles
)ut OF keokuk
The accident seems to have been one
of those unfortunate events that human
foresight can not guard against. The
bridge was as strong as such structure
,ould be built, but the heavy rains of
he last few weeks, crowned by the
awful storm Of Wednesday night, so
weakened 1t that It went under. The
lccident Will cost the Atchison over
'100, 900, and probably $l5O, 900.
Sure Cure for Corns.