The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-19
Rock Island Wreck Proving to
Be Less Serious.
Death List Will Be Greatly
Reduced.
TAKEN FROM WATER.
Many People Rescued More Dead
Than Alive.
Details Of the Accident Are
Slow in Coming.

Cimarron Bridge, via Kinzfsher.
Okla, Sept 1s.@Contrary to yester-
days reports it developed today that
twenty persons who we're known to
have occupied the smoker on the
northbound Rock Island train that
went into the Cimarron river near
Dover Yesterday morning are unac-
counted for. Efforts are being made
to locate the smoker, which is at a
point 10 yards below the site Of tbs
bridge. A strong eddy is believed TO
mark the spot where the smoker
sank. The water has fallen five feet
from the high mark Of yesterday. but
neither the engine. baggage car nor
the smoker can be seen.
When the train went off the bridge
the baggage car, smoker and day
coach broke loose and toppling of the
wrecked bridge swung down stream
Immediately the baggage car sank
The smoker half fioated with one end
above water. the couplings between
it and the day coach broke and, sub
merged, it was carried down the rfv-
er for distance OF over 100 yards.
None Of the persons who escaped saw
any one leave the smoker except four
persons who stood on the roof of that
car when it was struck by a portion Of
the wrecked bridge. They were
knocked into the water and rescued
finally several miles down the river
clinging to 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 strangulation,
caused by inhaling sand and water.
D. z. Cain, general manager OF the
Rock Island railroad. who reached
here last night by special train. is
giving his personal attention to the
4 search for bodies. Mr.. Cain said to-
day that he was confident that the
loss of lifes was much less than was
reported. but is is unable to give an
! estimate, as even at this late hour lit
tie definite Information is known at
Dover.
skifs this morning and begun a
thorough search Of the cars IN sight.
No report has been received here Of
the finding anywhere Of bodies.
Kingfsher. Okla. Sept 1s.-Piies OF
wreekage in the CImarron river at points
one and two miles below the scene OF the
wreck were examined by men in boats
today. An effort was made to find the
/ been in the smoker and are stiH missing
4 With long prods the debris consisting OF
splintered boards, furniture from coach
/ es, and baggage was disturbed but not
d body was found.
When the train took the bridge which
had been undermined the piIing and rails
/ that held It in place. snapped and the
train, excepting two Pullmans in the
rear, was preeipitated into the 25 feet
of water
It was reported here today by teie-
phone that bodies Of five men were taken
out of the river 10 miles southeast Of the
scene of hte wreck early today. Another
| telephone report from down the river
said passenger that escaped from the
wreck on the debris was lodged in the
middle of the river and that it had been
! impossible to rescue him owing 10 tils
swift current.
Bodies of passengers who were buried
4 in the sinking smoker will probably
never be rescued. For a short time fai-
/ lowing the wreck a small portion OF the
+ smoker was visible. 1t sank slowly in
4 quicksano. Although the water ha1
fallen five feet at noon today. the smoker
could not be touched with 10 fcce poles.
Waves heavy with sand lash continually
over the spot where the smoker IS be-
lieved to contain missing bodies IS
/ thought to lie.
Lunch baskets filled with water
soaked lunches, clothing, gocarts and 4
purse containing $50 were taken
from the Kingfsher side of the river
/ today. Searching parties with boats
searched the bank OF the river for
/ bodies to points several miles below
! the scene of the wreck
3 P. Nicholson who was riding In
I the smoker, was the only perscn
known to have escaped from that
coach.
MT. Nicholson said today that he
knew at least ten persons we're riding
/ in the smoker when the train went into
the river. Persons with whom he vas
talking are missing Mr.. Nicholson
escaped from the rear door OF ths
smoker. It filled with water as he
cIambered to the upturned end and
/ broke a vestfbule door glass TO make
an exit. Escape of persons known to
be riding in the front end OF the
smoker separated from the rear door
by a partition is thought TO have been
! an impossi bility.
Postal clerk Camel. Of Ft. Worth.
Tex is known to be among the miss
| ing He was in the front end Of the
mail car which was demolished Con-
ductOr Thomas, in charge Of the wreck
ed train. is positive that nine passengers
/ at least occupied seats IN the smoker
! Conductor Thomas, who took part II
the rescue work. is of the opinion that
three persons made their escape from
| the smoker. It is doubtful whether the
engine, tender, baggage car and smoker
can be lifted even after the water re-
| cedes to normal All are 100 feet OF
| more from the bank and il will be dlf1-
| Guilty If not impossible to build fouu-
dation for hofsting machinery. The en-
land officials can not estimate at this
time the value OF the property and
/ money in the baggage car.
Mrs Robinson, Of Enid, Ok. ore cI
the seriously injured, can not recover
H. LdttleheId. the circus advance
/ agent, who was killed, is from Pitts
burg. Pa
oklahoma city. Okla. Sept. Ia
Inquiries have been received here from