Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-09-20
A TRAIN !NTORIvER
Engine and -Four Coaches Plunged
From Rock Island Bridge
Spanning Cimarron River.
NEAR DOVER. OKLAHOMA,
Bnginoer and Fireman Jumped but
others Were Carried late the
Swollen Atream-Fate Of
Many UnknOwn.

are dead, two more or less injured and
a. many more are missing in the most
disastrous wreck in the recent history
Of the Rock Island which occurred
three miles from Dover, Ok. at $3.50
Tuesday morning.
The engine. tender, baggage. and
mail cars, smoker and day coach Of
passenger train No. IL, northbopnd
left the high bridge that spans the
Cimarron river and plunged into the
current, thanked by treacheFous quick
sands. The locomotive disappeared
from sight almost immediately The
mial and baggage clerks escaped from
their coaches and swan to the shore.
The accident was due to the defec-
tive condition. Of tho bridge, whichIwas
eweryed out Of line by the pressuyeOf
driftWoods carried down by the swollen
stream. @''F
Tho train was an hour late and was
running At high speed to make up
time The engine driver did not see
the condition Of the bridge until he
was within q few yards away, when 1t
was too late to stop He shouted to
his fireman, threw on air brakes and
Jumped. He landed on the very verge
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 coaches
into the water. The chair car and
two heavy Pullmans were not pulled
in but remained on the track.
The scene was one Of indescribable
confusion. The shrieks Of those i'm
prisonedy in the. partly submerged
coaches were added to the shouts OF
those on the bank.
The current whirled the day coach
down stream and lodged It against a
sand bank. The occupants were
helped out through the doors and win
dows. The smoking car floated down
stream, submerged all but the very
top. II stuck on a sandbar in the
midst Of the river and four men were
seen to Chamber 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 assistance a large
mass Of driftwood swept down and
carried them from their fragile foot
ing.
Three other men jumped through
the rear door OF the smoker before. II
sank and struck out for the shore.
They were carried down the current
for perhaps q quarter Of q mile, when
they were pulled out They were al
most exhausted from strangulation
and exposure
The most authentic accounts place
the number of passengers In the smo-
ker at between 25 and &c. With but
few exceptions these have not been ac'
counted for, The only hopeful news Is
contained In messages received from
rural districts. Men on bits Of drift
wood have been seen going down
stream at various points, but at
tempts at rescue have In most instan-
ces proved futile
One man, whose name Is not known,
was fished out Of the Cimarron at
CashIon, 20 miles from the scene Of
the disaster He was almost dead
Others have been reported floating
down the river. wa m 4
Those who were injured and taken
from the river at the bridge were hurI
ried to Kingfisher. Six physicians
left that place Immediately after the
first news Of the wreck was received.
They have been working without ces-
sation since early morning.
The people Of Kingfisher have
thrown their homes open for the sue
cor Of the injured. Enough clothes
and supplies have been donated to
provide an army.
II will be impossible to ascertain the
exact number OF dead for several days.
Many of those reported missing may
show up safe at some point down the
cimarron.
Tuesday night the derailed cars
we're lying near the bank Of the river.
A party Of searchers was working
with torches and lanterns to lend aid
TO any one who may be within the
coaches or recover the bodies. II Is
the opinion Of the people who were at
the scene Of the wreck that a few
bodies vim be found inside the smoker
Topeka. Kan, Sept 1s.--At 4. o.
clock Tuesday afternoon the following
message was received at the general
offices here Of the Rock Island from
supt Mccall. who is at the scene Of
the wreck.
There cannot possibly be more than
two dead In the wreck At the Dover
bridge. There we're only nine per
sons IN the smoker, which hung sus.
pended partially into the river and
an but two Of them are accounted
for. The negro porter had q narrow
escape getting away throgh a window
and out on driftwood. These are the
ihctAs
Guthrie, Ok. Sept. is.-Ths body
Of an unknown man probably drowned
n the Dover wreck was fished out
q The Comnrrou iver hare Tuesday.