Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-09-19
Engine Tender, Baggage and
Mail Cars, Day Coach and
Sleeper Swallowed Up in
Turbid Oklahoma Flood.
ONLY ONE BODY so FAR
HAS BEEN RECOVERED
BY Strange Coincidence Frisco
Freight Train Also Goes
Through Bridge, Drowning
Engineer and Fireman.

Guthrie, Okla. Sept. 1S--Eight peo-
pie are dead, twenty or more, more or
less injured and as many more are
missing in the most disastrous wreck
in the recent history of the Rock ISL
and, which occurred three miles from
Dover Oklahoma, at $40 this morn
ing
The engine tender baggage and MAJ
cars smoker and day coach of pas
senger train No. -, northbound, left
the high bridge that spans the Cimac-
ron river and plunged into the current
lanked by treacherous quicksands.
The locomotive disappeared from
sight almost Immediately. The mail
and baggage clerks escaped from their
coaches and swan to the shore.
The accident was due to the defer-
tive condition Of the bridge which was
sWerVed out of line by the pressure Of
driftWood carried down by the swoi'au
stream
The train was an hour late and was
running at high speed to make ~
time. The engine driver did not Sc
the condition of the bridge until he
was within a few yards, when Il was
too late To stop. He shouted to his
fireman, threw on the air brakes ami
iumued. He landed on the very vers3
Of the river bank and escaped unhurt.
The fireman was less fortunate, sus-
tanning severe injuries
When the engine struck the bridge
the whole structure suddenly collapsed
precipitating the engine and coach in
to the water. The chair car and two
heavy Pulmans were not pulled in,
but remained on the track
The scene was one OF indescribable
confusion The shreks of those inn
prisoned i'm the partially submerged
coaches were added to the shouts If
those on the bank
The current whirled the day coach
down stream and lodged 1t against
Ia sand bank The occupants were
helped out through the doors and
windows.
The smoking ear floated down
stream. submerged all but the very top,
1t stuck on sandbar in the midst e
the river and four men were seen 10
Chamber through the windows and pull
themselves on top of the car calling
loudly for help.
Those on shore were unable to rea n
them ON account of the high waters.
While they were begging assistance
large mass of drlftwood swept down
and carried them from their fragile
footing.
Three other men jumped through
the rear door of the smoker before u
sank and struck out for the shore. They
were carried down the current for per-
haps a quarter of a mile, when they
were pulled out. They were almost
exhausted from strangulation and exc
posure
The most authentic accounts place
the number of passengers In the smok-
cr at between 90 and 30. With but few
exceptions these have not been ac-
counted for The only hopeful news
is contained in messages received from
the rural districts Men on bits ~
drftwood have been seen going down
stream at various points. but attempts
TO rescue them have been In most cas-
es futile.
one man whose name Is not known
was fished out of the Cimarron 1T
Cashlon. tSyenty miles from the scene
of the disaster He was almost dead.
Others have been reported tloatiag
down the river
Those who were injured and taken
from the river at the bridge were hur-
ricd to Kingiisher.
Six physicians left that place imme-
diately after the first news of the
wreck was received, They have been
working without cessation since morn
ing. The people OF Kingisher have
thrown their homes open for the sue
cor of the injured. Enough clothes and
supplies have been donated to provide
an army.
II would be impossible to ascertain
the actual number. of dead for sever u
days Many OF those reported missing