River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-11-01
ELECTRIC TRAIN THRoWN~FRoM
TREsTLE BRIDGE.
PRISONERS IN COACHES
Few Passengers Succeed in Escaping
Death When Defective Rail Hurls
Train Over the Abutment
Into Water.

road accident that was even worse
than the Meadow wreck of July 80
1896, sent about so people to sud
den death Sunday afternoon, catching
them like rats in q trap.
The cars of the lao electric train
Of the West Jersey & Seashore rail
road line, due here at 2:30, jumped
the track on the trestle bridge over
the Thoroughfare, and before anyone
could get out they were hurled to a
watery grave.
The trestle is about Is feet above
the water and the drop to the water
required several seconds, giving time
for the passengers, men, women and
children, to see and calculate their
fate.
The entire city was thrown into a
state of excitement as the news reach
ed town about 2:30, a few minutes
after it happened. Fully 5000 people
crowded the meadows and the trestle,
many relatives and friends crying out
in despair, asking for loved ones.
Chief of Police Maxwell had a cor.
don of police swung around the death
circle and Chief Black, of the fire de-
partment, called out his men on an
emergency call and made them police
temporarily.
Seventy Are Entombed.
There were seven bodies recovered
up to seven o'clock Sunday night and
the wrecking train is trying to hoist
the submerged cars from the water
where fully 20 dead bodies must be
entombed.
The accident was due to a rail
turning in" 1t appears that the rail
which was an outside one on the right
hand side coming down must have
been out of plumb about an eighth OF
an inch. The sharp fiange of the cleo
trio train caught this and twisted 1t
inwards. This twist threw the first
car off the track, and into the water.
The result was chat the second and
third cars were dragged with it, and
while the third car was descending
the rear portion struck piece of the
abutment, hung for a short time and
then slid into the water. But this
brief stop saved several lives.
Leap from Car Windows.
A number of men and a few women
leaped out of windows and the rear
door or caught hold Of post and
were rescued.
It was stated that fully 80 to 100
passengers were aboard, mostly all
crowded into the first and second
cars. These were entombed.
Among the passengers were 20 men
of the Royal Artillery band and were
on their way here from Philadelphia
One or two bodies of the bandmen
were recovered early in the after
noon. Among the dead are:
Partial List of Victims.
Walter Scott, of Atlantic City, mo-
torman.
Fran de Saceseno, bandman of Roy
al Artillery band.
J. p. Dempsey and wife, Camden.
Frank Monroe and wife, OF Camden
Five bodies thus far recovered not
identified.
Vincente Donelli, member OF the
Toscas Royal Artillery band.
Pasouello Mazelle, Philadelphia.
p. Anguroso, both members OF Tos-
cas- band.
Among the injured are:
All Reese. No. SO Archibald street,
Scranton, Pa.
John Fortunate, real estate and in.
.,x..o.,<,<s nan DhiIadoInhiq
Joseph Devilo, manager Of Royal
Artillery band, severely injured about
head and ribs.
Oresto Roy Malielo, Philadelphia.
John Dougherty, No. 2299 Brandy
wine street, Philadelphia, employed
in John Youngs rink, severely in.
iured. He broke his way through the
window and escaped after being in
the water.
Andrew D. Taylor, electrician, Cam
den, N. j.; injured severely.
w. II. Stewart, Weenonah, N. J.
Frank Deceri, No. 921 League street,
Philadelphia.
Angelo F'ranzein, Philadelphia.
Andrew Taylor, Camden, n. ].
Ida Debal, Florence, N. J.
Edward Morgan, Scranton, Pa.
Orestes Roy, Philadelphia.
H. B. Joseph, Camden, N. J.
George MCGEE, Philadelphia.
OF these injured it is believed most
will die. They are suffering from brok-
en- limbs and other serious injuries.
George MCGEE, Philadelphia, in
jured.
John Taylor, of Camden, was among
those who went overheard with the
cars. but he kicked his way through
q window of the rear car and swan
to the piling of the bridge, where he
held fast and was rescued by J. F. De-
ford a railroad man who was nearby
when the accident occurred.
First to Render Aid.
Charles Kessler, a merchant, was
the first on deck and displayed a cool
head. He secured an ak, jumped on
top of the submerged car and began
to hack the roof to liberate the inn
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