The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-11
LINCOLN, Neb., Aug 10

I'M lOsS OF tl"ven lives, engine ana
I1\ two cara, occurred on the Chi
IL y csgo, Rock Island and Pacific
railroad, where it crosses. on bi Ih
trestlp, the tracks of the Union Pacific
and the Burlington and Missouri Rv 7
railroads, shortly after 10 o'clock last
night. All Indications point to train
wreckers as the cause. ThA'dead are:
G. D. STANNARD. conductor, Council Bluffs,
persisted in the flames; leaves fam
lv.
WILLIAM CRAIG, fireman, buried under
engine; leaves family
IKE DEPEW, engineer, Council Bluffs, bur-
led under the engine.
GRAIN DEALER Of Fairbury, name un-
known, burned to death in the
wreck
FIVE TRAVELLING MEN, names unknown
buIie undsr car and burned to death.
Two FARMERS from Jansen, Neb., en-.
ruute for South Dakotah, burned to
death.
T. injured:-
HARRY FooTE brakeman, leg broken.
&. Ii. CHEEKY, postal clerk. terribly cut
about the face and head
FRED SCOTT, express messenger, back in
jured and cut on the head.
o. S. BELL, Lincoln, travelling man, in
jured internally.
PLUNGED FROM THE TREsTLE.
Train No s. drawn by engine No.
213, is an accommodation called the
Fort Worth Accommodation" and
is due to arrive here at 8 40 p. m. Last
night it was about ten minutes late,
and was making up time when it struck
the trestle that crosses Salt LaHe creek
about four miles from the city and
two from the penitentiary. When 1t
struck the trsstle the rails lmmedi
ately spread, and the engine, draw
ing the two cars after it, went tLump-
ing along over the cross-ties for about
fifty feet ami then with CRASH it fell
forty feet to the bed Of the creek be-
low. The engine burst. and glowing
Goals spreading ignited the wooden
supports and the coaches behind it,
aud in few moments the bridge, as
dry az finder from it long exposure tc
the sun, was a mass OF fl imes, The
Goals falling upon the coaches lying in
the bitches SGT them afire. and fivs
minutes after the first warning, the en-
tire mass of cars, with their load ot
human freight below, was one mass of
flames.
AN AWFUL SCENE.
1t was an awful sight. The flames
mounted high in the heavens, coloring
the entire southern sky brilliant Car.
the glowing mass below, from which
mortal sbrieks of agony and pain We're
heard to issue, Willing hands were
there to help, but little could be done.
The engine had fallen first. then
the combination Car of smoker
and express coach fell partially
upon that, and the rear coarch fall
ing behind it, teleseopsd that car, thus
pinioning those unfortunates who were
in the smoker, so that it was impossi
BILE to save them or for them to escape
Colonel G, J. Bills and Jay Mellow
ell, Fairbury passengers, and the brake
man, Harry Foote, were the first to ex.
trcate themselves from the rear Car.
They Immediately started to work, and
after half.hour's effort. the fourteen
occupants of the rear coach were
saved.
EVIDENCES OF TRAIN. wRECKING.
Harry Foote the injured brAkem an,
is the one who advances thu theory tha'
the train was maliciously wreck d.
According to his story rail was r.
moved on the bridge, and the fish
plates anil crowbar were found in thu
grass near by.
The evidences were plainly there
and unmistsksble marks made by
wrench on a loosened rail were plainly
visible, and the marks OF the crow bal
on the cross-ties were there 30 plair
that no lantern was needed to examine
them.
The wood Of the ties was deeply
dented where the crowbar had be-n in
serted, and the rails lifted clear OF the
ties, and the spikes which had beer
pulled out We're lying around loose or
the bridge.
Just after this discovery City Dstec-
tive Malone arrived and was inform. ID
of the facts, and has tho matter under
investigation.
All the injured were brought to Lin.
coin and are being given excellen
care. The doctors think all will re-
cover.
The loss to the railroad company i,
not less than $50 900.
Coroner Grim, OF Lancaster county,
attempted to bold an inquest on tn,
victims of the Rock Island wreck, bul
there was nothing to be seen but ashes
and part of u woman's skull. More
tools were discovered at the scene of th,
wreck and there is no doubt of its be
ing perpetrated by train wreck-rs
The road has issued u reward Of 81, 00C
for the diucov 'ry of the perpetrators.
II is thought by some that it WAS done
by men from Enid. Oklohoma, as q
part of fight on the Rock Island IL
that place.
RRTnE TNHDEn