The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-18
WRECK, FIRE
And WATER.
All Combined in a Disaster on
the Memphis.
Twenty-Three Passengers In
jured, Some Fatally.
THREE CARS GO OVER.
One Rolls Into the River and
Two Take Fire.
Train Parted in the Middle by
a Broken Truck.

Kansas City, Nov. 18--Train No. 2,
on the Kansas City, Fort Scott and
Memphis, which left Birmingham last
evening for Kansas City, was derailed
just west of Wilford, Ark, at o'clock
this morning.
The combination coach, chair car and
sleeper went over the bank, the COM
bination car going into Spring river.
The chair car and sleeper were both
consumed.
One passenger was fatally injured.
and p others more or less seriously
hurt. The list of injured follows;
Fatally injured:
J. L. HOOVER, Pleasant Hill, Mo.
More or less seriously injured:
Leo Pollock, Little Rock, Ark.
Clarence Murphy, Atwood, Ind.
J. r. Morris, Bakersfield, Mo.
c. A. Ravenstine, wife and baby.
Atwood, Ind.
c. L. Meriweather. Sulphur Rock,
Ed Webb, Fernon Nook, Mo
J. J. AltscheeI, Little Rock, Ark
w. J. Grant, Salem, Ark; bruised
and cut about head.
M. T. Price, Beall, Ark; injured
about head.
w. B. Stahl, Corinth, Mass; injured
about the head and hand.
w H. Boatner, Lesion, Mo; injured
M c. Hogan, Oakland, Ark; injured
about the head.
Wesley Ivans. Atwood, Ind; injured
about the head.
Mrs. A. D. Perkins, Hiral, Ark; ex-
tent of injuries not known.
r. S. Guy, Monterey, Ind; arms
hurt.
Mrs. Prince, going to Fort Smith;
extent of injuries not known. Her son,
a boy, also hurt about face and arms.
M. Bailey. F'airplay, Mo; foot in
W. J. shesabel. veadette, Ark; head
injured
Mrs. Annette Mammoth Springs,
Ark; back sprained
the south Between WiIfofd and Har-
dy the Memphis tracks parallel the
Spring river, a little stream running
out of Mammoth Springs. The train
was composed of engine, mail and ex-
press car, baggage car, combination
coach. chair car and sleeper. The
combination car has a partition in the
middle, one end being used as a smoker
and the other end for coIored passen-
gers.
When near Wilford the engineer felt
the train leap forward, and found that
it had parted between the two day
coaches.
The last three cars bumped over the
ties, the chair car and sleeper turning
over on their side, the combination car
finally going into the river.
The most intense confusion prevailed
The engineer backed up the front
part of the train and the work of res
cue was Immediately begun.
The terror of the passengers who had
gone down into the stream with the
com binatiOn car was soon heightened
by the cries of alarm from the chair
car and sleeper, both of which soon
took fire. The intense darkness added
to the confusion, and it was some time
before an organized effort at rescue
was put into effect by the train crew
and those of the passengers who had
been able to eXtricate themselves
without aid. The passengers in the
burning cars We're luckily rescued be-
fore the fire had reached it's height
and but few in those cars were injured
It soon became apparent that the
chair car and sleeper could not be saved
and all efforts were put forth to help
the unfortunate passengers of the COM
binatiOn car in the stream. Screams
and cries for help were heard on all
sides, and because of the darkness res
the two burning cars became brighter
the rescuers were enabled to work to
better advantage. Luckily not a per
son was drowned, and it was not long
before all had been accounted for and
were being cared for.
A telegram to Thayer, Mo, % miles
distant, brought Il relief train in an
hour or so. and the injured We're taken
to that city and placed in a hospital.
Shortly before noon today, Chief
Surgeon Pettijohn, of the Memphis
road and Claim Agent Crater left
Kansas City for Thayer, and will bring
the injured to this city.
The cause of the accident has not
been ascertained, but it is thought
some portion OF the forward truck of
the smoker gave way. This will not
be known positively till the wreck
which is in the river, has been recover
ed.
RnrTUMn IAERNrC