The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-06
Rain Had Weakened Bridge Near Revere,
Mo-, and When the Transcoptinental Ex-
press Attempted to Pass Over 1t Gave Way.
Seven Passengers Killed or Drowned
and Twenty-Five or Thirty Injured.
Only the Engine and Last Pullman Saved from
Destruction IN the Raging Torrent Into
Which the Other Cars We're Plunged.


Fort MADISON, Ia, May 5.-Without q
word of warning. in the midst Of o fright
full storm, the east-bound transcontinental
express on the Atchison. Topeka Il Santa
Fe railroad. filled with human beings wrapt
in slumber. plunged through o trestle
weakened by rain. to death. at about las
O'Clock this morning. between Revere and
Mediil, in Missouri, about 265 miles from
Chicago. Itwas frightful night: the rein
fell as it never was known to fall before.
and only an occasional fash of lightning
could be seen in the gloom. The great ex-
press had come through from San Francis
co. Los Angeles and Mexico to Kansas City
on time. On arriving at Kansas City, at
4:40, on Wednesday afternoon. orders were
received 10 hold 1t until 6:40 and run to
Chicago on the time of the Denver limited.
which was very late.
At Gao, the train composed of o postal
car. . baggage car. smoker. chair car.
tourist sleeper and two Pullman coaches.
commenced Its run to Chicago. All went
well until pile and trestle bridge over
Fox river, near Revere, was reached. This
bridge is about 175 feet long and
thirty feet high. Two hours before the
transcontnental express struck the bridge
q heavy freight train passed over il in
safety. but the heavy rains had swollen
the torrent. which raged beneath the rails
to miniature Niagara which had carried
the bridge out of line. yet left it standing
and. 50 far as the engineer on the loco
motive could see. all right. With wheels
turning slowly for safety's sake. for { he
60 <ha WI al ell
on the bridge.
The engine crossed in safety. but not the
remainder Of the train. for the bridge went
down with its precious load. only the en-
gins 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 wesried with q long
trip and the remains of the bridge sank
together In one conglomeration of crushed
tmbers. torn and twisted IRONY work and
mangled humanity. Then arose. above the
roar of the storm. q wild shrek from the
wounded and dying.
The engineer and fireman from one side
of the stream and the uninjured occupants
of the rear sleeper, on the opposite bank,
hurried 10 give what aid was possible to
the poor unfortunates who were battling
for life In the ravine below. Men sDrang
from the windows of the wrecked cars
and. fighting their way through the
whirling waters filled with debris. reached
the banks and fell to the ground exhaust
ed. Seven sank in the wreck to die. Twen.
ty-six are known to have been injured.
Following is list of the killed:
LON MARKLE or MARKEg. Kansas City, Mo.
6. L. VBkKLER Westport. Mo.
LESTER CORNELIoUs, brakema an, Kirksville, Mo.
j. d. GRAvEE, Macon City, Mo.
WILLIAM HINES, Oklahoma City, o. 7.
WOMAN and CHILD nine months old, whose
names could not be obtained; supposed to be
from Los Angeles. Cal. Her ticket was for AL
legheny, Pa.
Those injured, some seriously. others
slightly, are:
ROBERT SCHULTZ, Lexington, Mo-
AMENA BUTLERSSE, an Italian. going To Chi
cago.
CONDUCTOR HANsE of Chicago.
j. NJ. ADENNIs, saltwater, MINI.
POSTAL CLERK CLAUDE NIELE, Vermont, Ill.
POSTAL CLERK X. E. DUTTEHER, Chicago.
PORTER JOHN GUNTHER, Chicago
o. L. BOISE, Kansas City, Mo.
N. s. BONES, Oklahoma City.
j. III. SNYDER, Lexington, Kan.
8. A. LoUGH, Chet0pa, KAN
JAMES MORAN, Sedley, Ind
FRANK GRAVES, sedley, Ind
W. G.. SMITH, Hartford, Conn.
+. w. MOORE, WinDebago, Ill.
r. III. MOELEN, Kansas City.
MRS. a. j. SULLIVAN. COfeyville. Kan.
MRS. ALICE HUGHES, Sedan, Kan.
MRs. j. III. kEATING, Ration, N. IL.
L. II. COwLIN, Chicago.
J. II. WINsLOw, Chicago.
n. LANCASTER, Chicago.
MRS JANE HEIsEY, Riverside, Ill.
MARTIN RIGLE, brakeman, Kansas City.
". IsHAh, Riversids. IN m
MRS. w. a. IsHAM. Riversde, Ill
J. FRED HoRTGEN, Reading, Pa.
Mrs. L. y. ULLEN and son. Athens. Pa.
WILLIAM ADAMS, Dewsburg, Yorkshire, Eng.
land.
II. NJ CUTLER, Chicago.
ANDY ROMAN, express messenger, Riverside,
Ill.
There were about fifty moro with slight
, cuts and scratches
fremen have been killed. but this Is doubt
cd. on the ground that the engine passed
Another dispatch says that the three
were crushed to splintera. The first chair
car stood on its side and turned COM
pleteiy ovcr, partly on dry land. The
other cars were precipitated into the
and giant river. A terrible scene ensued.
had been broken. Water poured
in at the windows and every
light In the train went out. There was no
one to lead, for Conductor Tucker lay IN
the water with a broken leg his face cut
and his body badly bruised. and one brake
man lay dead and another was cut in the
head. arm and shoulder. The engineer and
fireman at once rushed to Dumas to wire
for assistance. while the fortunate unin-
jured passengers went brayely to
work rescning the imprisoned sufferers
and taking ont the dead. relief train
was at once equipped here with trainmen
and ply clans, and at 8 o'clock started for
| the wreck. They arrived there after day
light, being delayed by a small land slide
on the track between the two
| points. The suffering undergone was rend-
| ered especially severe because ell the
| clothing of the injured were dIehched and
| cold with the water and ram, and new
| clothing had TO be procured at neigh Dor.
| ing far M houses in the vicinity.
| The Associated Press representative and
| oil others were denied Information or q
| passa ge Oh the only engine which went
| out To the wreck. At 2:45 the relief
| train arrived. and the injured were
borne 10 the Santa lie hospital in carria ges
| and ambulances. aud the dead were taken
| to the undertakers' and laid ont to aw a II
| the arrival of friends. Many of those
| injured are in a serious condition. but only
| in two cases is fatal termination antici.
pated. IL was not until nearly 3 O'Clock
| that the names of the dead and wound ed
| were learned. Conductor Tucker is very
| seriously hurt
This morning there were wasbouts on al