The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-29
dead IN 4 FIERY WRECK.
PASSENGERS BURNED IN A
RAILROAD DISASTER.

An Engine and Two Cars Plunge
From Trestle Forty Feet Above
Ground Near Lincoln, Neb.-The
Work Of Train Wreckers-Horri-
BILE Fate of the Victims.
A fearful wreck, involving the loss Of
eleven lives, one engine and two cars, oc-
Cured five miles south Of Lincoln, Neb.. on
the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific Rail-
road where 1t crosses on a high trestle the
tracks Of the Union Pacific and Burlington
and Missouri River Railroads. shortly after
10 o'clock p. m. All indications point to
train wreckerS as the cause.
The dead are: G. D. Stannard, conduc-
tor, Council Bluffs, perished in the flames,
leaves family William Craig, fireman, buried
under engine. leaves family; Ike Depew, en-
gineer, Council Bluffs, buried under engine !;
grain dealer, Of Fairbury, name unknown,
burned to death In the wreck five travelling
men, names unknown, buried under car and
Neb., en- route for South Dakota, burned to
death.
The injured: Harry Foote, brakeman,
leg broken @. 81. Cherry, postal clerk, ter
ribly cut about the face and head Fort Scott
express messenger, back injured and cut on
the head o. 8. Bell. Lincoln, travelling man,
injured internally.
Train No. 8, drawn by engine No. 213, is
an accommodation called the "Fort Worth
accommodation" and Is due to arrive at
Lincoln at $40 p. m. On the night of the
accident It was about ten minutes late, and
was making up time when 1t struck the
trestle that crosses Salt Lake Greek, about
four miles from the city and two from the
penitentiary. When 1t struck the trestle the
rails Immediately spread, and the engine,
drawing the two cars after it. went
humping along over the cross ties for about
fifty feet, and then with crash 1t fell forty
feet to the bed of the creek below.
The engine burst, and glowing Goals,
spreading, ignited the wooden supports and
the coaches behind it, and In few moments
the bridge. dry as tinier from its long ex-
posure to the sun, was mass Of flames. The
Goals, falling upon the coaches lying in the
bitches, set them adre, and five miautes af-
ter the first warning the entire train OF cars,
with its load of human freight, below, was
one mass Of flames.
It was an awful sight. 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 partial
" upon that, and tie rear coach falling be-
hind 1t, telescoped that car, thus pinioning
those unfortunates who were In the smoker,
30 that 1t was impossible to save them or for
them to escape.
Colonel G. J. Bliss and Jay Mcdowell,
Fairbury passengers, and the brakeman,
Harry Foote, were the first to extricate them
selves from the rear car. They Immediately
started to work, and after q half hours ef-
fort, the fourteen occupants OF the car
coach were saved.
It was heroic work. The flames were
scorching in their intensity, but those three
men struggled hard to save their fellow SUI
ferers. Rapidly the work Of rescue went
on, until the entire fourteen rear coach pas
sengers, including three women, were res.
cued and laid upon the bank beside the
bridge.
Those engaged in the work OF rescue
begged them to assist, but they were too
lay on the bank and moan. Many OF them
were severely injured and were unable to
help.
Harry Foote, the injured brakeman, IS the
one who advances the theory that the train
was maliciously wrecked. According to his
story, rail was removed on the bridge and
the f1sh-plates and q crowbar were found In
the grass near by.
The evidences were plainly there and un-
mistakable. Marks made by wrench on q
loosened rail were plainly visible, and the
IuHtkS Ol Cu0 CEOWU On LILO CIOSS GicS W0Eo
there 80 plain that no lantern was needed to
examine them.
The wood Of the ties was deeply dented
where the crowbar had been inserted and
the rails lifted clear OF the ties, and the
spikes which had been pulled out were
lying around loose on the bridge.
Just after this discovery City Detective
Malone arrived and Was informed OF the
facts and has tho matter under investiga-
ton.
AlIthe injured were brought to Lincoln
and are being given excellent care The
doctors think all will recover. The loss to
the railroad company Is not less than
con mn