The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-26

be made to raise II until tomorrow morn
ing. All day q large force OF men has
been "a work on the track The north
bound track was moved over five feet
east. firm bed. composed os sand. grav-
el and broken stones. having been pre-
pared for H. The track has ako been
planned for south bound trains.
\ SURVIVORS STORY.
One % the few occupants 81 he coach
who escaped was Frank J. Degan, q
wood f3ishsr. OF New York HIS ief,
eye was GU: by broken glass and his
body was slightly bruised. NJ. Degan
made this statement:
with my friend, W. Il. C. Myers. o.
Passaic. y. J.. who was killed in tne car
from which 1 escaped. I had been %
Poughkeepsie. We goar3ed the train a.
that place AMI took A seat in the cosch.
Three other people got or a; PouShkeep-
sic. One was a woman and the ;wo
others were men. one OF whom looked
ike a railroad employe. As near as I
can Judge. there were eighteen people in
,as cosci. most OF them women and
children. end nearly al were asleep.
Myers end I ga; in the middle o. the
car. Wien the crash came. the car gave
grea, lu-ch and rolled over on its side.
TIE wate- rushed in and almost instant
" the lights went out; I knew tAst We
were in the river. and The car seemed
70 pillow through the water for some time
after il was submerged.
The car was tiltei over on one side
r. Trk4
overhead and cling 10 II until help came.
81 heard people IN he back part OF the
car grooming as IL they were pinned
fast. Il vas 50 dark that I could see no
one. and I think the passengers must
have been drowned Ike rats. After
awhile, IL seemed an age. heard people
on top OF the car and an AK crashed
through the roof. The noise % thst AK
in the splintsrei tmbers made the sweet
est music I ever heard IN my Hte. y
man and a boy Gather ana son) We're
also rescued in the same way. but I know
OF no other occupants OF the coach es-
Gaping The car at this time was float
ing and fac. filing with water. and We
we've put ashore in a row boat am
sure ths; my friend Myers was drown
ed"
FIRST TO THE RESCUE.
Augustus Carr. a German living near
the scene OF the wreck, gives this de-
srripti0n:
ut was about five minutes before s
when l was awakened by some one in
my yard calling for help. Looking out OF
my window I .aw sleeping car porter
who shouted: For Gods sake. man. II
you own a boat, come quickly. Our
train Is IN the river and people are
drowning
ct dressed myself ana. accompanied |
by the porter. got into my row boat and !
rowei around the curve 10 where the
train was in the river. When we reach |
ed the care. which were submerged. I
nearly 70 their roofs. the engine being /
entirely out o: sight. the crews OF the /!
tug boats were making efforts 20 save
the passengers. The first man I saw /
them take out was. think. the agent OF /
the express car.
The frs, persons We succeeded in 4
rescuing Were two Cinnamon who were |
sitting on the roof OF the smoker. one |
had his arm broken. We put them /
ashore and then took three more persons
Off the top Of another car. At the same /
time people in their undertaking were /
being taken out OF the sleeping cars BY 1
the crews Of several tugs"
DEPEW'S STATEMENT.
New York. Oct. 25.-President Chaun- |
cey VI. Depew. Of the New York Central |
said this evening. concerning /
a statement published in an afternoon (
paper 20 the effect that the company had I
for some time been watching the place /
where the wreck occurred. well knowing /
It's danger:
THAT Is 90 absurd that I hardly care
to make any reply. We run the New
York Central 20 make money. AS IS
officials. We ride over IL almos; daily in
the same trains with the passengers.
Now, does IL seem likely that we are
risking our lives? The only
way We can make money out % the road
S % make II safer than any other road.
and We spare no expense 10 do this. I
nave wired the state railroad commits
;ioners asking them 20 come a. once.
while the matter Il fresh. and make a
thorough investigation. One ot the com
nissiOners vas at the scene OF the wreck
sunday. but I want 70 ge; all o; Them
here"