The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-07
k,ast. Bound TPanstOntinental En-.
press Goes Through u
Trestlc.
Persons Killed Outright and
Fifteen Badly In
jurcd
Passenger Coaches and the
Bridge Go Down To-
gether.
Terrible l,aiifOad Accident


pgr MADISON, Ta.. May .. Without
prd of warning, in the midst Of
ful storm, the eastbound trans
mental express, filled with human
gs wrapped in slumber. plunged
ugh trestle weakened by rain to
III about 1:!J o'clock this morning,
geen Revere and Medli. Missouri.
as frightful night. Rain fell as it
never been known to fall before and
an occasional flash of lightning
d be seen in the gloom. The great
ress had come through from san
ncisco. Los Angeles and Mexico to
bsas City on time. On arriving at
bsas City at 4:4O Wednesday after
IN orders were received to hold it
il G:lO and run to Chicago on the
of the Denver limited. which was
\ late. At G:lO the train. composed
a postal car, baggage car. smoker.
kir car. tourist sleeper and two Pull
h coaches commenced its run to Chi
10. All went well until a pile and
bile bridge over Fox river. near Re
e, was reached.
This bridge was about 115 feet long
thirty feet high. Two hours before
Transcontinental express struck the
dge heavy freight train passed over
Ia safety, but the heavy rains had
bllen the torrent which ragged beneath
rails to miniature Niagara and
ich had carried the bridge out of line.
left it standing, and so far as the en-
eer on the locomotive could see, all
hit. With wheels turning slowly for
ety's sake, for the storm was terrific.
train crawled slowly on the bridge.
c engine crossed in safety but not the
nainder of the train, for the bridge
Mt down with its precious load. only
engine and rear sleeper remaining on
her end of the abutments. The other
1t of the train was precipitated into
swiftly-fowing water which coursed
rough the ravine below. Five cars
th their load of human freight wcaried
th their long trip and the remains OF
bridge sank together, Then arose
Id shrieks from the wounded and dying
rising above the roar of the storm
be engineer and fireman from one side
the stream and the uninjured occup
It's of the rear sleeper on the opposite
Ink hurried to give what aid was pos
T. BILE to the poor unfortunates who were
hitting for life in the ravine below
ZEN sprang from the windows of the
Irecked cars and fighting their way
brough the whirling waters filled with
ebris reached the banks and fell to the
round exhausted. Seven sank in tht
reck-J. Fred Nortgen. Reading, Pa
4rs. f. p. Ullen and son. Athens, Pa
Em. Adams, Tewkesberry, Yorkshire
Eng; II. M. Cutler, Chicago: Andy Ron
n, Riverside, Ills, and about tit y more
Rith slight cuts and scratches
a The wrecked train consisted OF maj
kars, baggage and express cars, chan
ears and sleepers. In the baggage cal
Rn extra crew of train men were sleeping
Who were going into Chicago to IA Ike on
their train. The train struck the brldg,
bbout l45 and the engine had crosse,
)afely. but the entire train with the eX
eeption of the last sleeper, which stood
bn the end, fell into the abyss below
The three first cars fell in a heap upoI
the river and were crushed to splinters
The first chair car slid on its side ant
Burned completely over, partly on dr.
land. The other cars were precipltatc'
into the creek, which had now become
raging and giant river. A terrible seem
;ensued. Almost every seat and windoy
had been broken. Water poured in a
sthe windows and every light in the tran
went out. There was no one to lead TO
x<Conductor Tucker lay in the water witt
- broken leg, his face cut and his bod
badly bruised. and one brakeman la.
Head and the other was cut on the heao
brio and shoulders The enSinee
Snd fireman at once rusheu q
4SDumas for assistance while the unln
jured passengers went bravcly to worl
escuing the imprisoned sufferers an'
Faking out the dead. A relief train wa
ht once equipped with tralnmen AM
physicians and at 3 o'clock started 10
he wreck. They arrived there, afte
Daylight. being delayed by small IAN
hide in the track between the two point'
The suffering undergone was rendere
Especially severe because all the clothin
-Df the injured was drenched and coi
with water and rain and hew clothin
had to be procured at neighboring fari
houses in the vicinity.
In the meantime this city was in
fever of excitement. Associated pres
representatives and all others were d,
MED information or passage on the onl
engine which went out to the wrec
Many of the trainmen had friends @
board and were very anxious as to the
fate. In the meantime No had con
up to Medill. the crossing Of the Keoku
& Western, and had started for Fo
Madison. At Nashville. few miles mort
of Keokuk, this train ran into a lan'
slide and narrowly escaped ditching, d
laying it three hours, SO that
did not reach this place until noon. !
2:45 p. m. relief train arrived and I'll
injured were borne to the hospitals
carriages and ambulances and the det
were taken to the undertakers and la
out to await Identification. Many.
those injured are in serious conditio