The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-25
WHOLE TRAIN LOAD
PLUNGED TO DEATH.
Continued From Page I.

Continued From Page l.
resentative of the Associated Press the fol-
lowing statement as TO the cause Of the
disaster:
The accident was caused by the bed OF
the railroad being washed out in some In
explicable manner. In this undermined
condition the track sank as soon as the
weight Of the train was put on il. and the
emhankment giving way, the train was OF
course precipitated into the river. Such
conditions as this we have never looked
for. Trains have been running over this
spot for years and years without accident
or difficulty Of any kind. and this piece or
track was considered as good as any sec
ton OF the railroad. Not only was the
roadbed the hardest kind Of an embank-
ment. but II was strengthened by a re-
tanning wall OF solid masonry three feet
thick"
Other railroad officials were OF the
opinion that a quicksand foundation OF
some kind below the water line was re-
sponsible for the sinking Of the roadbed.
Ten thousand Curious Spectators.
Before 10 o'clock this morning a large
number of curious spectators had gathered
az the scene. coming from the nearby
towns and villages by trains, wagons, BIZ
cycles and boats. The number OF morbidly
curious steadily increased rs the day wore
on. and excursion boats came from places
far UP and down the river. all loaded down
10 the waters edge until at mid-afternoon
there were fully 600 about the wreck
IL required the utmost exertion on the part
Of Chief Humphrey. OF the railroad police.
and his force Of detectives 10 hold these
people far enough I'm check 20 allow the
railroad men 10 proceed with their work.
Chief Humphrey did good work In regain
ing valuabies. and IL there were any
-
PLY their trade.
The American Express Company had n
number Of its agents at the scene. hut they
were powerless TO do anything. and no
attempt was made TO raise their car IL
was said that this car contained thousands
OF dollars worth Of valuables but the Of
ticials said that all would be recovered. as
the valuables were in stationary safe
attached TO the car
Among the railroad men Il was generally
believed that 4. @. Mckay. OF Harlem.
private secretary to General SuperIntend-
ent Van Etten. had lost his life In the
wreck. He was passenger on the train
and was last seen at Albany where II
was said. he boarded the locomotive to ride
with the engineer If that is true he
shared the fate OF the engineer and fire.
man; at any rate, he was still missing up
to late hour
The terrible evidences Of the wreck were
visible ar a point two miles below here to-
night. under intensely spectacular circum-
stances. The great wrecking car torch
threw a red glare over the men busiIy en-
gagged in tearing apart the wreckage TO get
az any bodies that might be under it, The
men worked with great energy, and ever
and anon would bring 20 the surface a
body cramped into an abnormal position
and then renew their Efforts on the tor
OF the partly submerged cars gang OF
.rfe-
huge derrick from the wreeking train tore
out the mahogany trimmings and ceilings
and berths. in the endeavor TO recover
somebody's loved one from the wreck
ON shore great gang Of men worked 20
get the inside. or up track. 80 repaired that
there would be no trouble In getting trains
through.
Before noon General Manager Toucev
had formed an estimate OF the number OF
dead. which he placed at twenty-eight.
and no change in this estimate was made
during the day.
A. K. Bracken. conductor OF the Wagner
cars. was able to account for all his pas
sengers excepting five. and he was not
sure that they were IN the wreck as they
might have escaped and gone 10 New York
without his knowledge
When a diver arrived from New York
this afternoon. the first thing he did was
70 go through the three submerged sleep
ing cars, He reported that he found no
bodies. but said that one or more might
be under the berths. which were In great
confusion.
Body Falls From "A Car.
II was O'Clock before the derrick and
hoistlng engine could raise the combina-
ton car, consisting Of the smoking and
baggage compartments. 20 such a position
that the top Of 10 was out OF the water.
Slowly the big load began 70 rice and In
few minutes Il had been turned over
so that the windows were clear OF the
water. The body % a man came out OF
window as the car was being brought 10
the shore. A boat was near by, and the
Oarsmeu recovered the body II was the
first lifeless form Of any OF the passengers
20 he rescued. A passenger coach without
seats was close at hand and the body was
carried thiiher and deposited on the floor.
The man was about &c years OF age The
rescuers aid not have tine then 70 make
any inquiry as 20 who be was. bat simply
tore on slip % paper. wrote body No. T.
and pinned - or hts coat and left him 20
look for others. BY the time they had re-
turned the derrick had drawn the car q
the bank. and the work Of getting out the
victims WAS under way. The searchers
were only able 70 find eight Chinamen
They were also carried TO the morgue car.
laid In row and numbered.
The boat next pulled the day coach 20
shore and the searching parties were en-
abied 70 reach t. Although IL f. known
that there were many more persons IN the
coach. but six bodies were recovered. ana
two OF these were women. The last bOdy
was recovered al SIS p m
Coroner Woods. OF Cold Springs. was on
the scene, and he and several assistants
were soon AZ work az the task Of identify
Ing the bodies. A man who said his name