The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-27
THROUGH A TRESTLE
FRIGHTFUL PLUNGE OF A WABASH
TRAIN AT MISSOURI CITY.
All but One Car Thrown Into "a Gorge
That Was Filled with "a Raging
Torrent of Water.
DEATH LIST MAY REACH 25
NINE PEOPLE KNOWN TO HAVE PER-
ISHED IN THE FLOOD.
Five Postal Clerks, the Conductor,
Express Messenger and Brake
man Among the Victims.
MANY SUFFERED INJURIES
AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER ARE IN
THE DEBRIS AND WATER.
--~
Stories of the SdrvIvOrs-NarrOw Es-
sape from IA Double Accident
Picnic Parties MangIed.
Five Postal Clerks, the Conductor,
Express Messenger and Brake
man Among the Victims.
MANY SUFFERED INJURIES
AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER ARE IN
THE DEBRIS AND WATER.
Stories of the SarvivOrs-NarrOw Es-
sape from IN Double Accident
Picnic Parties MangIed.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, June 26.-The st.
Louis express on the Wabash Railroad,
which left here at 6:2O this evening, plunged
through a trestle at Missouri City, Mo-, at
five minutes after o'clock carrying down
the entire train with the exception of the
rear car, Pullman. The gorge, which a
few hours previously was practically empty,
had become a raging torrent because of a
tremendous downpour of rain, and the
structure weakened. Nine persons are
known to be dead and the list may reach
twenty-five There were twenty-five pas
sengers In the chair car ana only a few of
these are accounted for. The known dead
are:
CHARLES C. COPELAND, of st. Louis,
conductor of the train.
EDWARD GREIDROD Of st. Louis ex-
press and baggage master.
c. NJ. SMITH of ST. Louis, postal clerk.
FRANK w. BRINK, of st. Louis, postal
clerk
SAUL WINTERS. of ST. Louis, postal
clerk.
w S. MILLS of ST. Louis, postal clerk.
GUS SMITH, of st. Louis, postal clerk
C. p. GREASLEY, Of st. Louis, brake
man.
TRAIN BOY, name unknown.
Following is a partial list of the injured:
MRS. S. C. P. RATHOR, Columbia Mo,
head, shoulders and neck very badly in
jured.
ARTELIA PRATHER, Columbia, Mo-,
eight years DID, head and face cut.
w. H. WILKINSON, Kansas City, shoul-
ders injured and head and face covered
with cuts.
MRS. W. H. WILKINSON, Kansas City,
right arm broken, head and face cut.
MISS ALICE DARCEY, Kansas City,
head badly cut, both arms sprained, side
injured.
MISS NELLIE MERRICK, of Carrollton.
back badly hurt.
MRS. SALLIE MATTHEW'S, Kansas
City, side hurt.
EDWARD DILLON, Holiday, Kan,
head bruised and cut, knee spraned
DIR. SOL GRAY, Prairie HILL Mo-, right
knee and both elbows injured.
A. j. HINNON, Mexico, Mo-, both legs
badly bruised.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
the city at $40 p. m. 1t was composed
of a mail car, baggage and express,
smoker, chair, sleeper and two coaches for
Excelsior Springs. 1t made the run with
out incident until the bridge, about two
miles this side of Missouri City, was
reached There is a wooden trestle on a
curve which was built several years ago
to avoid using a tunnel that was formerly
used AS the train struck the trestle it
swung out of line, being weakened by the
tire nendous volume of water that was flow
ing beneath it, The engine passed over
safely but the structure went down be-
meath the mail car. and the tender was
broken loose from the engine and fell off
the track on its side The chair car tipped
raised up the front end of the sleeper
tilted up, and it stood on end the lower
end grinding and crushing the mail and
baggage cars beneath it. The front end
of the sleeper was out over the chasm,
but it was held in place by the coupling of
the two Excelsior Springs cars behind it.
The accident happened during one of the
heaviest transforms ever seen in that coun-
try. 1t was accompanied by a tremendous
roll of thunder and the most vivid light
ming. The elements and the horrible
ture of the accident combined to make it
one of the most terrifying sights imagina-
ble Before any one could realize what
had happened the cries of the injured filled
the air. Shrieks and shouts for help came
from all sides. In the midst of the excite
ment following the crash some one shouted
the wreck was on fire and another shouted
that another train was following closely.
One of the young men in the rear coach
sprang off and ran back down the track
and with ar umbrella tagged the train
that was close in the rear and the crew of
the train hurried down to render what aid
was possible.
PROMPT RELIEF.
AS soon as Engineer Billy Carlisle real
lied what had happened he started as fast
as his crippled engine could travel for Mis-
souri, City and reported the wreck. A
wreck crew left Moberly shortly after.
Twenty minutes after the wreck was re-
ported special train carrying the officials
of the line and a score of doctors left Mo-
berly and made one of the quickest trips
ever made over the line to the scene of the
wreck Word was sent TO Kansas City for
a special with doctors, and the Wabash
surgeon, DR.. J.. N. jackson, with dozen
assistants, were soon at the depot. 1t was
then learned the ones with slightest in
iuries could be brought back to the city
quicker and the special was not run from