The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-18
INTO SIX FEET OF WATER.
A PASSENGER TRAIN PLUNGES
FIFTEEN FEET INTO A SWOL-
LEN STREAM.
EXACT Number OF DEAD UNKNOWN
The Smoking Car Floatau Down the
Stream, With Passengers 4lnside-A
Washort Due to BaGkwatcr,
Is Responsible.

Princeton, Ind. March 1l-Onc Of the
worst railroad wrecks that has occurred
in this vicinity for many years happened
this morning at 3 o'clock to In" Chicago
and Nashville limited, south-bound, over
the Evansville and Tcrrc Hautc Rail
road. one mile north Of HaZleton. Tho
train was made up Of an engine, com
bination baggage and mail ear, smoker
ladies' coach, and one sleeper. The en-
CINE went over the cmbankment. falling
n distance of fifteen feet into six feet OF
water. The smoker was tccscoped by
The baggage car, and the ladies' coach and
the sleeper remained on the track. The
wreck was caused by washout, dne ~
backwater from White river.
The killed AS far as known, are:
George A. Sears of ycrrc Ilautc, con
ductor. -, H..
Joseph Bowman of Evansville, fire
Herbert Allen of Evansville, doorkcrp.
or of the Legislature.
-Four unknown passcngcrs.
The injured are:
Engineer John McCutcheon Of Evans
vile, Ind, scaJdcd about legs ana arms,
and bruised. q,
John Il. Hauricn, brakeman, Evansville,
Ind, foot badly crushed.
w. i. Henderson of Henderson Com
edy company. leg broken.
Engineer McCutchcon says that he was
running twenty-five miles an hour, ana
when he approached the washOnt raw
nothing but II very small hole. The on
CINE passed over II and went down the
cmbankment. All the passengers in the
smoker are supposed to have been Killed.
-Four persons besides Conductor Sears
were seen in the smoker, as it broke loose.
rolled down the cmbankmeD:, and Heated
off In the current
Harry Hewett the bnggagemnster, was
the only member of the crew not hurt.
About $50 this morning the levec gave
way and let the baggage car and smoker
into the water, where both were sub
merged and washed away.
At II o'clock today the ladies' car,
which had been lying cr0ssways on the
track, hoated off down the river II
looks now as though several days will
elapse before trains can pass over the
washOut. as there is no way of getting
around II. The engine and ears can not
he taken out until the water goes down.
Then the known and unknown dead can
be taken out, but il is probable they will
have been washed away.
Where the wreck occurred on the Ev-
ansyile and. Tcrre Hautc road today
three trains had passed over in the
early morning, and each crew
had reported the road rs in
bad condition, A track walker
had also passed over the same place
shortly before the train went down. The
track mt the point Cf the washout was
still intact and dark water filled the
space formerly occupied by the cmbank-
ment. Mr.. McCutchoon did not realize
there was danger ahead and as soon as
the locomotive went onto unsupported
rails the ponderous machinery plunged
down and beneath the water.
Brakeman Ilausicn was pinioncd in the
smoker by broken timbcrs of the car
His head remained above water and for
five hours men worked, trying to rescue
him His shrieks we're terrible and he
begged that some one take IN axe and cut
off his leg. Finally the water Under
mined the car and released the brakeman
and as he was grabbed from his position
the car Aoated away.
Brakeman Baldwin received several
cuts and bruises, rs also did Harry Hill,
express messenger.
State Senator Leicht and :. III. Covert
Of this city were on the train and spent
the day working ut the wreck, devoting
most of their time to Brakeman HauSien.
This wreck and other damage along
the line from floods have caused n sus-
pension of traffic on the entire system.