The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-19
SCORE OF VICTIMS
NOT YET FOUND
Disaster Is Greatest in the His
tory of the Rock Island
Road.
ENTIRE TRAIN PLUNGED
FROM HIGH BRIDGE
Marvel Is That a Single Passen-
ger Escaped From the
Awful Wreck.

GUTHRIE, Okla, Sept. 1s.-Eight
people are dead, twenty more or less
injured, and as many more are missing
in the most disastrous wreck in the
recent history Of the Rock Island,
which occurred three miles from Dow
er. Okla, at $50 this morning.
The engine, tender, baggage and mail
ears, smoker and day coach OF pas
senger train No. II, northbound, left
the high bridge that spans the Cimar-
room river and plunged into the current
fianked by treacheFous quicksands, The
locomotive disappeared from sight al
most Immediately. The mail and bag
gage clerks escaped from their coaches
and swan to the shore.
The accident was due TO the defec
tive 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
see the condition of the bridge until he
was within n few Yards, when it was
too late to stop. He shouted to his FIRE
man, threw on air brakes and jumped.
He landed on the very verge of the
river bank and escaped unhurt, The
fireman was less fortunate, sustaining
severe injuries.
Entire Bridge Collapses.
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 indescrlbable
confusion. The shrieks of those i'm
prisoned in the partially submerged
coaches were added to the shouts Of
those on the bank,
The current whirled the day coach
down stream and lodged 1t against
sand bank The occupants were helped
out through the doors and windows.
The smoking car hoated down stream,
submerged all but the very top, 1t
stuck. ON a sand bar IN the midst OF
the river, and four men were seen 10
Chamber through the windows and pull
themselves on top OF the car. They
called loudly for help, but those on
shore were unable TO reach them Oh ac-
count of the high waters. While they
were begging assistance a large mass
of driftwood 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 a mile, when they were
pulled out They were almost eX-
hausted from strangulation and ex-
posure.
Many Victims Missing.
The most authentic accounts place
the number OF passengers In the smok-
er at between twenty-five and thirty.
With but few exceptions these have not
been accounted for. The only hopeful
news is contained in messages received
from rural districts. Men on bits OF
driftwood have been seen going down
stream at various points, but attempts
at rescue have in most Instances proved
futile.
One man, whose name is not known,
was fshed out of the Cimarron at
CashioD, twenty miles from the scene
Of the disaster. He was almost dead.
Others have been reported toating
down the river.
Those who were injured and taken
from the river at the bridge were hur'
ried TO King6sher, Six physicians
left that place immediately after the
first news CT the wreck was received
They have been working without cos'
sation since early morning.
The people of KingGshcr have
thrown their homes open for the succor
or the injured. Enough clothes and
supplies have been donated TO provide
an army.
II will be impossible TO ascertain the
exact NUMBER OF ueau lut SeNct" u'N >
Many Of those reported missing may
show UP safe at some point down the
Cimarrou,
Tonight the derailed cars are lying
near the bank of the river. a party
of searchers is working with torches
and lanterns to lend aid TO any who
may be within the coaches or recover
the bodies. 1t is the opinion or people
who are at the sccne OF the wreck THAI
a few bodies will be found inside the
smoker.