New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-08
AIR BRAKES DID NOT WORK.
DISASTROUS WRECK ON THE BIG FOUR.
TEN LIVES LOST AND SEVERAL PERSONS EADLY
HURT-A PASSENGER TRAIN THROWN
INTO ARAsI RINER

INTO THE WABASH RIVER.
Lafayette, Ind, May THE Big Four pas
senger train which left Chicago at 8 30 Satur-
day night in crossing the Wabash River bridge
here got away from the engineer at l 80 o'clock
this morning The air brakes would not work.
The front cars left the track after reaching the
station, tearing down the sheds on the east side
of the track. The engine. baggage, mail and en-
rress cars were thrown off the track. hurled some
distance and broken 20 pieces. Following is a
list of the dead
CHADWICK. a. r.. Of Cincinnati. mail clerk.
JERSELSON. OTTO OF the Alha1nbrl Hotel Chicago; q
passenger waiting for the train.
LENNON JOHN. Of lafayette. maica't driver.
LONG. JESSIE H., Of Lebanon Ind. mall clerk
MYERS EDWARD. of Logansport Ind, mail clerk.
MEYERS, CHARLES. of Lafayette. hackman
MMAHON. -. OF Cincinnati. express messenger.
MINIS. -, OF indianapolis, fireman.
sCHAIIILL. CHARLES pas enger who had just bought
a ticket to indianapolis.
WEIGH MICHAEL. engineer. OF indianapolis; crushed
under his engine.
The injured are as follows. Jefferson Reese,
Kempton bruised and cut about the head Rich
ard Jones. Pontiac. H., cut about the head
Louis LofIler Fowler, cut by glass from break
ing windows: Sophas Bergenhale Milwaukee,, cut
about the head and hand badly bruised; William
Place, living near Frankfort. Ind, bruised ana
cut: Charles Roush, Lafayette, leg broken in two
places: William Bechtel. Lebanon. Ind. passenger
in waiting. arm and hand laccraci; {. A. WisseIl
A. W Cornehan, L. A. WctzcI, j. \. Nickery, mai
clerks. all from Cincinnati, We're more OF les'
injured, but not seriously.
The engineer undoubtedly discovered that the
brakes would not work before reaching the cu'
beyond the Wabash River. "a tn" viSoron" whi''hh
Of the engine for brakes could be heard wnch
Il fhn Qff
engineers desperate efforts stop the train were
shown by the large amount OF sand thrown "S
him on the bridge through which the train came
inst before the fatal crash. The engine dasii'"
ont Of the bridge over the Wabash River at
speed not less than sixty miles an hour, craShihe
into the depot building. carrying Of portion ol
the depot and train shcde, carrying 41en seVerai
hundred feet. The engine when il lett the track
WIS followed by the baggage ear, two postai cars
and the express. all piled in one promscuous mass
:, total and complete wreck, burying score or
more victims in the wreckase The trucks oi the
first day coach were dragged out and the side OF
the oar kuocped into fragments, but no passenger
in this ear we're injured The chair car and TWO
Pullman sleepers remained on the track
To add to the CONSERVATION. fire broke our
in the baggage car but the fire department quickly
cxtinrnished the flames \ crowd gatierel
ouickly at the scene Of the disaster, and large
force Of local physicians gave the necessary at
trntiou to the wounded. Several victims OF the
wrcr< were pr, lis standing II 'I'r dcpot wall
ing for the tran-a hackman, mail cart driver
and passengers. ,,i
The damage by property destroyed will he !Niihh
,30. .OnO. Whrlc the Subsequent losses which VII
crow out f the disaster VIII make the total a
very large sum. NY,
iIigh bl;,ns rise on the west bank OF the Wa
bash, just opposite the city, and ,hH1e m Is : ON
and steep grade at that point Tho Ill fated tram
must have been a mile up the grade from the
river when the engineer discovered that there
was something wrong with the air brakes, for he
began 10 shrilly whistle for hand brakes. Inc
speed at that time increased so terifcally, how
over. that il control wac beyond human agency.
With almost lightning-like speed, the monster en-
zine dashed around the curves and across the long
bridge although the man at the throttle had re-
vcr,ed the machinery. and streams oil llrr were
being dashed of from driVirg-whcels running IL
oppositc direction to ;hat Of the swlfy-iying ears
that followed
Had the engine left the track minute sooner
the entire train would have been thrown into the
Wabash River.