The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-30
TUE TRAIN ON THE BRIDGE.
A Passenger Tells How 1t Fell When
the Cyclone Came.

Springfield. Ill. May e9-Several Spring
field people were on board the Chicago &
Alton train which crossed the Eads bridge
at ST. Louis during the terrible cyclone,
and which was reported 10 have been
blown into the river. One OF these. Fred
c. Dodds, OF the Chicago. Peoria 4 st.
Louis railroad general offices here, gives
the following graphic description Of his
thrilling experience:
TT was about $50 o'clock when We left
the Main street station on the Missouri
side of the river. X was then blowing
gale. and was as dark as night. The air
was filled with dust and dirt. and some Of
US were afraid II would not be safe to VEN
ture on the bridge with the train. but an
other train behind us was due, and the
trainmen decided 10 take the chances. We
had gone about half way over when we
came In range OF the cyclone. The air WAS
filled with debris that struck the car win
tows and broke them. With the crash Of
the first glass the passengers began TO
crawl under the seats 70 avoid being struck
by the clouds of missiles that were being
thrown through the air. All at once the
train stopped. I understood afterward that
the force OF the wind WAS so strong that
the engineer. although he put on fun
head Of steam. could not move his engine
IN the face of the storm. A moment later
the train moved ON and we stopped out
side the east pier on the approach.
by this time the storm was awful The
train was rocking like n cradle. and we
were being tossed about under the seats Ia
q way that filed us with terror. The SEN
sation was as II the train was running Wild
at the rate Of thousand miles an hour.
What helped TO give this impression was
ths horrible noise. The great steel rods OF
the bridge were being torn and twisted
from thar places. Masses OF masonry
from the pier were crashing down on 70
the structure below. and added to n all
was the awful roar and hiss of the Storm
The newspapers have not exaggerated IL
in the least II cannot be described. Ths
rocking increased and got worse until at
last our coach went over. II was thrown
on its side on the next track. and here Il
lay while a torrent OF rain poured in
through the broken windows The coach
back Of us went over on It's side In the same
manner as ours ara. II was a miracle W.
were not thrown Into the river and all
killed. All the coaches went over The
structure above ard behind US began 70
give away and was thrown DOWN upon
the tracks. Had not eur coaches been a
fsw feet back they would have hae1
crushed in Ike sggshells. Ny FRS; thought
was 70 get out OF the coach. THIS sid by
crawling through a window. think I was
thu first ere out. TIE other passengers
followed. and we went forward 70 the bag
gage and smokiSv cars. which were sim
standing. Ths crew % the train was a re-
r1nrkahty cool-heeied one Like all Of rs,
they were frightened badly. hut they
stayed at their places Ike heroes, ar,
showed all the attention possible to Tire
Passengers. The brakeman carried a
woman back over the bridge crawling
with her over the wreck ana r.skinx his
Nfe II get her 70 the city. The engineer
ss9 10 pass through a worse ordeal than
any Of us, While re was ci9nSirx 70 his
engine Ne could see rs own home IN Fas.
I 81 Louis being swept away. ana when the
storm had suhsitei he could look down
| on the wreck. Ne OF course supposed his
| family vas KILLED. and his anxiety over
| them wss pisiful. He cid no. wish 70 de-
se-t rs engine. ani At the sane tine =.
was Wild to know the fate Of Afs wife ana
| children ffnaliy ne could stand thu sas-
| rsnss no longer, sns. turning his e~ri-A
| over - his fireman. ne started for NE
| wrec Ss1 home u was ret Icrs before he
| cane running hack with .he .-tefNzp.~s
| that hss family was safe