The morning call., 1893-09-01
THROUGH A BRIDGE
Passengers Dashed to
Death.
UNDER sPLINTERED CARS.
Without Warning FraiI TrestIe Col
Iapsed and the Heavy Wagner
Coaches Went Down.

SPRINGFIELD. Mass, Aug. 81. - The
Chicago Limited Express train for Boston
broke through a frail iron bridge on the
Boston and Albany Railroad, one and e
half miles east of Chester, about u 80 to-
day, and four Wagner cars were crushed,
killing at least fifteen persons and fatally
iDjuring several others, while at least a
score were badly hurt.
The wreck was the worst ever known on
the road. The bridge was being strength
ened for the big locomotives and the work
ingmen who were putting one the plates
were at dinner when the crash came. The
locomotive passed over the structure, but
was smashed, the water-tank being thrown
a long distance. The buffet, two sleepers
and diDing-car were smashed TO kindling
when they struck the stream twenty feet
below, but two day coaches and the smoker
Ia the rear did not leave the track.
There had been thirteen dead bodies
taken out at o'clock, and twelve of them
had been identified. II is believed there
are two ID ore bodies in the ruins. The list
of Identified is as follows:
j. E. Dewitt of Portland, Me-, president
of the Union Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany.
T. Kelly of Boston.
Miss Susie Cotting of Boston.
Mrs. c. Bishpsm of Philadelphia.
Miss Emma Dolerty of Columbus, Ohio
81. c. Ives of Chicago.
Frank Sedgewick of Palmer.
Express Messenger John McMasters OF
Springfield.
Brakeman ]. 81. Murray of Greenbush,
New York.
of n W
An unknown woman, apparently about
forty-fiye years of age.
Baggage-master George W. Horse OF
Boston.
Conductor j. C. Stackpole of Hartford,
Connecticut.
R. c. Hitchcock of Below Falls, Vt.
There are about fifteen seriously IN
1ured and I'VE or six who may die.
The train was seven minutes late at
Chester, and the railroad hands say it was
going at the rate of twenty miles an hour
when it struck the first two spans Of the
bridge. As the trusses collapsed and fell
over to the south the conductor was taking
tickets in the day coach, and although he
was thrown violen tly down he escaped Sc
rioEs injury. There are only a few houses
.fthe vicinity, and a man driving by gave
- Hte-u through TIE fiifdg6 street La
81 minutes hundreds were on the scene,
q ing aid to the imprisoned people.
q heroes of the hour were Dr. George
L. Wood of CoIlinsville. who went to the
train, 70 meet his wife, and the colored
porters and walters in the dining-car. Al.
though their faces were bruised and cut
and covered with blood, they did splendid
work, and the wounded were soon re-
moved 10 houses near by and cared for.
Many Of those killed were horribly man.
gled. and only ten were recognizable by
their clothes, and many pitiful scenes were
euacted by those who found either a
friend or loved one among the dead.
Many narrow escapes are recorded.
The bridge looks as though it had been
thrown from its abutments, rather than
broken down, and lies to the right These
facts suggest a theory that the blow of the
locomotive as it struck the bridge from the
curve sent it bounding off its foundation s
into the river. The railroad officials say
they find no marks Oh the bridge such as
would be made by derailed train. They
have no theories to offer to account for the
fall, but promise complete investigation.