Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-06
FRIGHTFUL R. R. WRECK
A Sante Fe Train PlungeS Into a Ra-
vine Through a TreStle
THAT HAD BEEN WEAKENED BY
The Flood That Followed an Unprecedented Rain
Sleeping Cars Crowded With Passengers
Dropped Into Raging TOrsnt--Many
Killed Outright and More Injured.

FoRr MADISON, IA, May 5.-Without
a word of warning, in the midst OF a
frightful storm, the east-bound trans
continental express on the Atchison
road filed with human beings wrapped
in sleep, plunged through a trestle
weakened by rain, to death at about
1:45 o'clock this morning between Re
we're and Medill, in Missouri, about 265
miles from Chicago.
Itwas a frightful night. The rain fell
as ii never fell before, and only an oc-
casional fash OF lightning could be seen
in the gloom. The great express had
come through from San Francisco TO
Kansas City on time. On arriving at
Kansas City at 4:40 on Wednesday after
noon orders were received to hold it
until $40 and run to Chicago on the
time OF the Denver limited, which was
very late.
At GAO the train composed Of postal
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 was reached.
This bridge is about 175 feet long and
30 feet high. Two hours before the
transcontinental express struck the
bridge a heavy freight train passed
over it in safetypbut the heavy rains
had swollen the torrent which had car
ried the bridge out OF line, yet left its
landing and so far as the engineer on
the locomotive could see all right.
The engine crossed in safety, but not
the balance OF the train, for the bridge
went down with its precious load, only
the engine and rear sleeper remaining
on either end of the abutments. The
other part of the train was precipitated
into the swiftly flowing waters which
coursed through the ravine below.
Five cars with their load OF human
freight and the remains OF the bridge
sank together in one conglomerate mass.
Then wild shrek from the wounded
and dying rose above the roar Of the
storm. The engineer and fireman from
one side Of the stream and the uninjured
occupants of the rear sleeper on the
opposite bank hurried to give what aid
was possible to the poor unfortunates
who were battling for life in the ravine
below. Seven sank in the wreck to die.
Twenty-six are known TO have been in
jured. The following is list Of killed:
WILLIAM HYNEs, Oklahoma City,
o. T.
DAN MARKELE, Kansas City.
LUTHER CORNELIUS, Kirksyille, Mo.
s. +. VERKLER. Westport, Mo.
JOHN c. GREENE, Macon, Ga.
LADY AND CHILD, name unknown.
Iniured-J. Tucker, conductor; Mar
tin Regan, brakeman; Andrew Roman,
express messenger; Claud Bell, postal
clerk: r. f. butcher, postal clerk;
Mrs. Jane Hizey, Riverside; j. c. Wins
low, Chicago; NJ. NJ. Cutler, Chicago; Fl.
c. Cowling, Chicago; NJ. Lancaster, Chi
cago: w. A. Allen, Athens. Pa; Mrs. T..
T. Allen, Athens, Pa; Robert Schultz,
Lexington, Mo-; J. T. Huffman. Read
ing; VIM. Adams, o. L. Boggs, j. T..
Gunther, w. b. Barnes, j. II. Snyder,
). A. Lough. J. Mason, E. Graves, w.
G.. Smith. The extent Of the injuries
have not yet been ascertained.
This morning there were washouts on
all sides Of this place, three on the Santa
Fe and three on the Chicago, Burling-
on and Quincy.