The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-08-11
LIFTED UP THE RAILS.
Twenly-four Lives We're Lost In the
Railroad Accident Near
Lincoln, Klb.
Mlsorohnts Had Planned 20 Wrook
tho Train and They
suooeedsd.
AL That wAs Left OF tho Cars Was .
Heap OF Clndora aud Some
Twisted Iron.

Twisted Iron.
LINCOLN Neb.. Aug TO- "A foariul wreck
involving the ioas Of twslVs or more lives.
occurred on the Chicago, Rock Island a
Pacific rAilroAd whore II crosses on high !
tres.ls tho tracks OF tho Union Pacific aud |
the Burlington d Miaaouri River roads, at !
one o'elock this morning. Tho Fort Worth |
accommodation, due 10 leave about mid
night was late and making up time when
ID struck the tsslls crossing Salt crack.
Tho engine. drawing two cara after u. went
thumpinR along over the cross Ties about
nfty feet aud then with crash fell forty
fest 10 the bed OF the creek below. Tho
anRins bursi and tho glowing Goals spread
ing ionitsd the wooden supports and the
cara behind. Ia few moments the bridge.
dry as finder frem long exposure 70 the
falling upon the coaches set them on FIRE.
The flames mounted high In tho heavens.
oolorina the sntirs southern sky brilliant
oarmine. The white moonbeams fell upon
the glowing msss below. from which mot-
tai shrieks Of agony vero heard TO Issue.
Willing hands were there 20 helr. bnt little
could be done. Tho engine had fallen frat
then the combination smoker and express
coach fell partially upon the engine. and
the rear coach following ielsscopod that
car, pinioning the unfortunatss In the
smoker 90 IL was impossible TO save them.
or for them to escape.
u was nearly dark this evening bsfor
The friQhtful mass of debris ocsupyi ina the
ravine where the express was wrecked had
cooled sufficiently 10 snsblo the large crowd
gathered at tho place In the hope OF learn.
ing something OF the fate OF friends OF re-
lasives 20 inspect the ebarrsd mass Ia do
tail, but any hope they may have enter
toined OF securing from ths great ash pile
informatlo as to the IDENTITY OF those who
lost their liysa was soon blasted. The tons
Of water thrown ON the twisted relies OF the
train aud the bed embsrs had been INSULT
ciont 10 prevent every vss,ige OF combusti-
BILE matter boing destroyed. Occasionally
q chsrrsd skull or partially burned human
bone was rAked FROM the bed Of the fur-
naee but nothing more remained TO tell the
tale OF those who vent down with the ILL
fnted ain, and time will be required TO
determine iust how many persons were lost
in the wreck.
Tho list of thu killed and injured az fat
nishsd by the coroner tonight sweils the
fatalities 10 twenty -four, as follows
Killed: Dr. G. II. Pinney, Council
Bluffs; ]. ID. Maithswo. Omaha; VIM.
Craig, fireman. Fai:bury, Neb.. burned
under engine; Harry Morse. Ksnsas City;
Ike Dspew engineer. Council Bluffs. in
s,an,ly killed; W. o. Hombell. Fairbury.
Neb.. burned 10 death; G. ID. stannard,
Aua nm all tn n.
john Munger travelling man, Olnahai II.
X. Peters Council Bluffs; +. h. Sevencke.
lawyer. Lincoln. Neb. Chss. unrub,
mother and son. Jensen, Neb.; A. L. Elder,
merchant. Pswnee. Neb.; N. Beaver. Paw
noe. Neb.; two unknown farmers from Jen.
sen, Neb.; two unknown farmers, home
not known; i've upknown men. Those
marked as unknown were PASSENGERS known
20 be on the traia aud unaeoountei for.
Injured; Col. Z. J. Bills, deep GOsh
wound lef, lee; Henry q. Foote. brakeman.
Fairbury. legs ont; q. II. Cherry, mail
clerk. KoaTney. Mob. badly cut and
bruised; q. X. Scott, express MESSENGER.
injured intetnallIi Mrs. Fish. wifo OF a
Bu lineton 4 Missouri engineer, badly
bruised; .. s. Bell, travelling man. Lin
coin. internHl injuries; n passenger named
somsrell, hurt about the head: Mrs. Fritz
and sister-in-lnw, Lincoln, bruised; J. r.
Pustz. travelling men, Lincoln, internal in
juriss.
There are two theories az to the vrsckinR
of ths train, II being conceded that the
train was deliberately dersilsd by the TO-
moval OF the rails for part OF the way
across the trestle. There IL plenty OF svI-
dsnos 10 provo this is the fact. Ono theory
Ia that etrihera from South Omaha did the
work. believing the state troops who were
| TO have boarded the train ut FaiTbuTy we're
aboard. The company missed connection.
however. This is not 40 generally
credited az she otheF, that tho sls-
msnt which has been causing go much
I oublo in Oklahoma. aud who are partlcu-
lnrly bitter against tho Rock Island. did
the job. though why thoy come sush dis
tanos 20 wreck tho train that mi1ht have
been wrecked nosrer home 10 not explained.
Thrao Noll-dTeBsod mon nre known 10 have
lett q north bound fFeighs noSF The bridge
lato ThuradaY Afternoon aud lake then aculh b
bound tfain itieI IN the evening". The last
train to nss safely oyes tho structure was
tho cue they boarded.
]. W. Glover n section man, Gays he saw
thrOs well dress1d meu jump frisght aud
90 vest. lie said the men each cAfTisd a
wrench on ooseusd rail wsfo plAluly yisi-
bic. and there were marks OF orovbhr on
tho cross ties. The wood OF the ties was
deeply ipd0n.sd whore the crowbkTl had
been inserted, and tho reils were lifted
clear OF the ties. The srikas pulled out
We lyiug around the bridge looss.
The lOaa 10 the railroad company alone
will amount TO $4,000 How much moneT
may hnvo been lost through the mails and
Otherwise IL not known.
Col. J. @. Bnls treasurer OF tho national
I uuuFl nI lLu IutNaI HtuNaa vVau nua af ha
fortunate passengers, aud his story Ia ma
follows; 'JaY Mcdowell and myself we're
seated In tue middle OF tho car, aud az w0
! diaeovsr0l that lhe train was likely 70 90
over the tfestls Mcdowell stirlsd down
tho Riale. called 10 him TO ait down, and
the next inslaat the crash came. 1h5 un-
pine weht over niat and the smoktE ON top
Of II, and The rear coach Ia when We gsIo
seated, was jAmmed down on the oihofA
Tho oaf was DIVIDED With passengers and
No were forced along the bsos of ths seats
10 front OF ua snd All but Mcdowell and
nys'lf we're horribly mangled, ks soon az
possible We climbed through q window and
IN hneon minutes sucosedsd In eItrioAtlng
niue persons who wee iAmmsd Ia the de.
bris. Hearing shTisks and cries for helg
on all tidsG lsn Mcdowell
and ran three miles across tho coun-
Wy 10 tho ronitentlary without making
n stop. had the warden tslsphons tho
pollcl department and thoy responded
promptly aud noblY with a patrol. oAf-
fiagea and doctors"
Col. bnls saIH two msn In the freot OF
tho chair car Se'e killed aud burned, and
h0 had hold of Oao trying 10 pot him onl,
bat could nos manage 10. lie thinks a
would be impossible for man 20 have Os
capsd from tho smoking ca. Ons victim
lay under Tho tender, tho upper ond OF
which lay aotoaa his thighs. crushing them
into The hAFd gFnVai A Col Hlltn n Al.