Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-20
FEW AVAILABLE
FACTS OF WRECK
TWO ARE DEAD BUT NUMBER OF
MISSING is STILL UNKNOWN
TO AUTHORITIES
John L. Sullivan Was on Train, But
Left 1t Before Disaster Occurred
Train An Hour Late and Runninr \
Make Up Lost Time. ms

cimarron .a,oos w. Kingfsher,
Sept. 1s.-Conf -.y to yesterdays re-
port it developed today that twenty
persons who were known to have oc-
cupied the smoker wrecked in the
Rock Island train, are unaccounted for
Efforts are being made to locate the
smoker which was 110 yards below the
bridge.
Dover, Okla, Sept. 19.-At daylight
today the scene of the Rock Island
wreck at Cimarron river no more def
mite facts concerning the casualties
than were given out last night were
available. The known dead numbered
two. The number of persons still
missing it is believed will be heard
during the day.
Sullivan Is Safe.
Oklahoma City, Sept. 19.-The re-
port that John L. Sullivan was drown
ed in the Rock Island wreck at Dover,
is erroneous. Sullivan was on the
train, but left 1t at Chickasha and ar
rived here this morning.
Kingf1sher Okla, Sept. 19.-The ac-
cident on the Rock Island was due to
the defective condition Of the bridge,
which was swerved out Of line by the
pressure Of driftwood carried down by
the swollen stream.
The train was an hour late and was
running at high speed to make up
time. The engine driver did not sec
the condition Of the bridge until he
was within few yards when 1t was
too late to stop. He shouted to his
fireman, threw on the air brakes and
jumped. He landed on the verge Of
the river bank and escaped tunhurt.
The fireman was less fortunate and
sustained severe injuries.
Bridge Suddenly coIlapses.
When the engine struck the bridge
the whole structure suddenly collapsed
precipitating the engine, smoker and
day coach into the water. The two
heavy Pullmans were not pulled in,
but remained on the track.
The scene was one of indescyiEable
confusion. The shrieks of those i'm.
prisoned In the partly submerged
coaches were added to the shouts of
those on the bank. The current whirl-
ed the day coach down stream and
lodged it against sand bank. The
occupants were helped out through the
doors and windows. The smoking car
f1oated down stream submerged all
but the very top. 1t struck on a sand
bar in the middle of the river, and four
men were seen to climb through the
windows and pull themselves on top
of the car, calling loudly for help, but
those on shore were unable to reach
them on account of the high water.
While they were begging for assist
ance large mass of drift wood swept
down and carried them from their
fragile footing.
Three other men jumped through
the rear door of the smoker before it
sank and struck out for the shore.
They were carried down the current
for perhaps quarter of mile, when
they were pulled out. They were al.
most exhausted from strangulation
and exposure.
Float Down on Driftwood.
The most authentic accounts place
the number of passengers in the smok-
er at between twenty-five and thirty
| With few exceptions they have not
been accounted Tor The only hopeful
news is contained in messages re.
ceived from rural districts. Men on
bits OF driftwood have been seen go
ing down stream at various points, but
attempts at rescue have in most in.
stances proved futile.
One man, whose name is not known,
was fished out of the Cimarron at Cas-.
sion, twenty miles from the scene of
the disaster. He was almost dead.
Others have been reported floating
down the river.
Those who were injured and taken
from the river at the bridge were hur.
ried to Kingfisher. Six physicians left
that place Immediately after the first
news of the wreck was received. They
have been working without cessation
| since the disaster.