Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-05-12
DOWN TO DEATH.
Fearful Plunge Of Santa Fee Pas
senger Train.
1t Dashes Into a Swollen Stream with Its
Load OF Passengers, Seven of Whom
Are Killed and About Forty In
Jured-The Victims.

FORT MADISON, Ia, May 6.-without
a word OF warning, in the midst Of q
h1ghtful storm, the eastbound trans
continental express on the Atchison.
-hlIed with human beings wrapped in
Eslumber, plunged through trestle
weakened by rain, to death, at about
las o'clock yesterday morning, between
Revere and Medill in Missouri, about
-265 miles from Chicago.
1t was frightful night The rain
fell as it never had been known to fall
before, and an occasional flash of light
ming could be seen in the gloom The
great express" had come through
from San Francisco, Los Angeles and
Mexico to Kansas City on time. On ar
irving at Kansas City at4:4O on Wednes-
day afternoon 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, chair car. tourist
sleeper and two Pullman coaches CON-
nnenced its run to Chicago. All went
Well until pile and trestle bridge over
the Fox river near Revere was reached
This bridge Is 220 feet long and thirty
six feet high. Two hours before the
transcont1nental express struck the
bridge heavy freight train passed over
1t In safety but the heavy rains had
swollen the torrent which ragged be-
meath the rails to miniature Niagara,
which had carried the bridge out Of
line but left it standing, 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
Ient down with it's precious load, only
the engine and rear sleeper remaining
on either end of the abutmcnts 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, wearied with a long trip. and
the remains of the bridge sank together
in one conglomeration of crushed tim
bers, torn and twisted iron work and
mangled humanity.
Men sprang from the windows of tho
wrecked cars and fighting their way
through the whirling waters filed with
debris reached the banks and fell to the
ground exhausted. Seven sank in the
wreck to die. Thirty-eight are known
TO have been injured.
w iiiieiA ny hts, OhI&ilOILd
City, Ok; Alonzo S. Marl1ee, Kansas
City, Mo-; Luther Cornelius, Kinks
vile, Mo-; Samuel. E. Verlsler. West
port, Mo-; John C. Grones, Macon, Mo-;
lady and child, names unknown
o Injured: j. Tucker, conductor,
Dawnes Grove; Martin Regain. brake
man, Riverview, Kan; Andrew Roman,
express messenger; Claude Deal, postal
clerk; r. E. butcher, postal clerk;
Mrs Jane Hisey, Riverside; J. II. Wins
low, Chicago; IL. NJ. Cutler, Chicago; H,
C. Cowliug, Chicago; n. Lancaster, Chi
scago; W. a. Allen, Athens, Pa; Robert
Schultz, Lexington Junction, Mo; J. +.
HOrtgen, Reading, Pa; William Adams,
Yorkshire, England; o. L. Boyce, Kan
City: j. l.. Gunther, Chicago: W. T.
Barnes; j. Ii. Snyder, Lexington,
Ky; 5. A. Tough, Chetopa, Kan;
j. Mason, Frank Graves, Sedley,
Ind; w. G.. Smith, Hartford, Conn;
f. w. Moore, Winnebago, ILL.,; C. r. H.
Milton, Kansas City; A. d. Meade; w.
A. Ishem, Riverside, Ill; a. Rueben;
Amena Butlernse, an Italian going to
Chicago; n. c. Bones, Ok; James Nor
gan, Sedley, Ind; r. H. Moelen, Kan
ssas City; Mrs. A. J. Sullivan, Coffey-
vile, Kan; Mrs. j. H. Heating, Ration,
\. NJ, Mrs. w. y. Ishem, Riverside, H.;
Mrs. E. T. Allen and son. Athens. Pa;
and about fifty more with slight cuts.