The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-25

there was a crash and the leap Of the
car towards the river. 1 was thrown
to the floor, but, getting up in mo-
ment / seized hammer and rushing
outside broke the windows on the shore
side and in a few minutes had gotten
my twelve passengers out 1 am posi-
tive every one got out, because there
was only a foot or so of water in the
car at the time When all my passen-
gers had gotten out we begun to look
for the others. The Glen Alpine was
to deeper water, so that one end was
completely submerged while the other
was against the end of ours and a trif1e
higher. L saw the people climbing out
of the high end and I am quite posi-
tive that before the car settled into
deep water we got everybody out Some
of the people were scantily dressed
They hurried away to the other cars
and I think went to New York.
After we had gotten out all the
sleeping car passengers we saw some
people from the combination car swim
ming in the river and we helped them
to safety. I am afraid that though
some people were liberated from the
cars all right they were drowned be-
cause of the cold water cramping
them''
Colonel Cole said today that while the
bank may have given way it was equal
ly possible that a driving rod of the en-
gine had broken and knocking it off the
track, had occasioned the disaster.
If there are more bodies in the wreck
in the day coach, which lies in water
up to the roof, off Kings deck. The
diver who took six bodies out of the
car last evening said he could find no
more. A good many believe, however,
that other dead will be found in this
car when it raised. Passengers who
escaped from this car and the crew
have said that at least twelve persons
periShed in the day coach
The work of searching for bodies,
which had been temporarily suspended
at o'clock this morning after the par
lOr car Glen Alpine had been hoisted
was resumed at day-break. AS the
occupants of the other two sIeepers in
the river have been accounted for by
the conductor and porters it is to be
presumed that no Wagner passengers
were killed. There was found in the
car Glen Alpine in wallets and pocket
books, $500 in money, in sums ranging
from SIS to $500, and eight gold watches,
one of them being a lady'S chatelaine
Some of the watches bear rnOnOgrams
by which they can be identified. There
were also found a variety of diamonds
sleeve buttons, studs and a pearl pin
all kinds of wearing apparel, SatchelS
umbrellas and shoes.
If there are anymore bodies in the
wreck or in the river they are believed
to be in the day coach.
Roadmaster Otis, who is considered
one OF the most expert track builders
in this country told reporter of the
Associated Press that the sinking of
the road bed was due principally to al
most unaccOuntable action of the water
on the embankment. The sand and
gravel had been washed out, leaving a
crust under the track which collapsed
under the weight of the train Mr.
Otis could not understand why the re-
tanning wall of the solid masonry gave
way as it did. Trains are now NOV
ing" he said, with but little delay on
one track and we shall have two tracks
in operation by tomorrow. We shall
not refill the sUnken section until we
a RI in of ff,n
its collapse and determine the best
method of rebuilding it," Soundings
were made to locate the locomotive
near which are supposed to be the bod
les of Engineer Foyle, Fireman Tomp-
kins and A. G. Mackay, private secre-
tary to Superintendent Van Etten
The engine is supposed to be lying in
fifty feet of water, under or near the
sleeping cars Hermes and NiObe Half
of the side of the day coach from which
many bodies have been taken has been
torn away and it is possible that some
bodies of those drowned f1oated away
or else are at the bottom OF the river