Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-19
TWENTY PERSONS
STILL MISSING
They Were in The Smoker Of the
Rock Island Train That Went
Into The CimarrOn.
STILL SEARCHING FOR BODIES
Tic River Has Fallen iapdlN-
Work Of Removing submerged
Cars Begun.

Cimaron Bridge via Kinghsber,
Okla, Sept. l9.-Contrary to yesterdays
report Il developed today that 20 per-
sons who were known to have occu-
pied the smoker ON the northhound
Rock Island train that went into the
Cimarron river near Dover yesterday
morning. are unaccountcd for. Efforts
are being made 10 locate the smoker.
which Is at = point 10 yards below the
site Of the bridge A strong eddy rs
believed 10 mark the spot where the
smoker sank. The water has fallen
FIVE feet from the high mark Of yester-
day, hut neither the engine, baggage
car nor the smoker can be seen.
When the train went of the bridge
the baggage car. smoker and day
coach broke loose and topping of the
wrecked bridge swung down stream.
Immediately the baggage car sank.
The smoker half iloated with one end
above water the couplings between II
and the day coach broke. and sub
merged. II was carried down the river
for a distance OF over 100 yards. None
OF the persons who escaped saw any
one leave the smoker except four per-
sons who stood on the roof OF that car
when II was struck by a portion OF the
wrecked bridge. They were knocked
into the water and rescued finally sew
eial miles down the river clinsing
10 debris
An additional death was added to the
list OF known victims today when the
3-year.old son Of Mrs. Kate Sells OF
Payne, O., died OF strangulaiou
caused by inhaling sand and water
Piles Of wreckage In the Cimarron
river az points one and two miles below
the scene OF the wreck were examined
by men in boats today. An EFFORT was
made TO ind the 20 persons who are be-
lieved 20 have been in the smoker and
are still missing With long prods the
debris consisting OF splintered boards,
furniture from coaches and baggage
was disturbed but not a body vas
found.
When the train took the bridge which
had been undermined, the pilings and
rails that held Il I'm place. snapped. and
the train. excepting two Pullmans I'm
the rear, was precipltated into the p
feet Of water
II was reported here today by tele-
phone that bodies Of FIVE men were
taken out OF the river. 10 miles south Of
the scene Of the wreck early today.
Another telephone report from down
the river said a passenger that cs-
capped from the wreck on the debris was
lodged in the middle Of the river. and
that II had been impossible 10 rescue
him owing TO the swift current
Bodies of passengers who were buried
I'm the sinking smoker will probably
never b. rescued. For a short time
following the wreck a small portion Of
the smoker was visible. II sank slowly
I'm quicksand. Although the water had
fallen FIVE feet at noon today. the smok-
or could not be touched with l0-foo,
poles Waves heavy with sand dashed
continually over the spot where the
smoker believed 20 contain missing
bodies is thought 10 lie.
Lunch baskets filled with water
soaked lunches, clothing. eo-carts and
purse containing $50. were taken from
the Kingfshcr side Of the river today.
Searching parties with boats searched
the bank OF the river for bodies 10
points several miles below the scene Of
the wreck.
3 z. Nicholson. who was riding in
the smoker. was the only person known
TO have escaped from that coach.
Mr. Nicholson said today that he
knew at least 10 persons were riding
IN the smoker when the train went in
. 81 tsff rtsN D..
was talking are missing Mr. Nicholson
escaped from the rear door Of the
smoker II filled with water as DE
clambored % the upturned end and
broke a vestibule door glass 10 make an
exit Escape Of persons known 10 be
riding In the front end Of the smoker.
separated from the rear door by a par
tition. Is thought TO have been an i'm
possibility.
Postal CLERK Camel of Fort Worth. !
Texas IL known 20 be among the miss
ing He was in the front end OF the
mail car which was demolished Con-
ductor Thomas iu charge Of the |
wrecked train is positive that nine |
passengers az least occupied seats in |
the smoker Conductor Thomas. who |
took part in the rescue work. Is OF the |
opinion that three persons made their |
escape from the smoker II Is doubtful |
whether the engine. tender baggage |
car and smoker can be lifted even /
after the water recedes 20 normal All |
are 100 feet or more from the bank /
and Il viii he difficult II not imp0ssi-
bic 20 build a foundation for hosting
machinery.
The engine was Of the heavy type.
Rock Island officials cannot estimate
al this time the value Of the property /
aud money IN the baggage car.
Mrs. Robinson. Of Enid Oh. one Of
the seriously injured. cannot recover.
u Littlefeld the circus advance
agent. who was killed. is ftom Pitts
burg Pa
AT SCENE OF THE WRECK.
Dover. Okla. Sept ls--At day
lifht this morning at the scene ~ the
Rock Island wreck al the Cimarron
river. no more definite facts concern
irg the casualties than those given
last night were available Up 10 this
the known dead numbered .
While a number OF persons are still
missing. Il is believed that many will
b. heard from during the day Two
n the IS known injured may die. b.
Searchers with torches worked All
night 10 recover any possible victims
hat might still be- IN the submerged
.ars. Early today the search was re-
lewed here. while for a distance OF 90
miles downstream parties were on the
outlook FOR victims II Was known
hat several ~ those who escaped
rom the Wrecking had drifted down
with the swift current. some ~ them
having been seen as far as u miles
Instant from Dover. From one poiut.
bodies we're reported a. floating By but
his Mas not verified.
During the night the river ZEN al
most a. rapidly as Il had risen and
arly today the. work ~ removing the
cars from the stream was
lcgun.
The CimaTon river u a treacherous
.tream when high. - Al this time
ne current Is swift and there Is much
luicksand. AZ irregular intervals
Hong the river the water sinks be-