Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-29

lcars were drowned like rats in a trap
Hess than half score escaping through
Smashed windows
The List OF Dead.
The list of dead is expected to run
NEARLY to so and will not be known
definitely until the cars are partly bar
ed by the falling tide and divers are
able to get into the cars. Survivors OF
the tragedy arc scattered throughout
the city and it is impossible to tell eX-
lactly how many escaped, but. it is be-
lieved at least % were taken out by
rcscucrs or managed TO smash their
way through broken windows and TO
the top of the water. where most of
them were picked up by boatmen who
witnessed the accident and at once put
out in boats.
The accident is one of the most grew
some in railroad annals. The survivors
are mostly men. only three or four wo-
men managing TO get out. Entire fam
lies who were on their way to the
shore were caught in the trap and
drowned without a chance of rescue.
Several dead have been recovered.
Running at High Speed.
The accident occurred while the train
was running at high speed just as it
took the draw of the bridge. The cause
Of the disaster will never probably be
known. but it is believed that the piece
of track leading onto the draw had
slipped away from the connection and
allowed the flange on the outside track
to run clear of the track. In flash
the wheel of the front car had left the
rails, to be followed Immediately after
by the second and third cars. All
three bumped over the sleepers for a
hundred yards and then the front car
took the plunge.
No Chance to stop.
Motorman Walter Scott. standing at
the lever. felt the jar, and, according
TO the people in the train, at once APP
piled the air brakes with full force, but
it was useless and he went down with
his car and is believed to be still a. the
bottom of the water way gripping his
lever.
The second car slowed up. but the
coupling held and it was dragged down
OCiIIlu tut olilGJ, Sl1hiIl5 OuI VI SiSut
The third car also held and was drag
gcd off the bridge, but the rear end
caught on the abutment, smashing the
end. but leaving an air space Were the
people in the rear car were able 10
keep alive. The trucks of this car
smashed through its bottom like paper
and several bodies are believed to be !
still pinned under the tons of steel.
Caught Like Rats.
Passengers in the first two cars had !
hardly time TO realize their danger be- |
fore they were caught like rats and
drowned. About half a dozen were
thrown against windows with force |
enough to smash the glass and manag-
ed to get through. When the first res
cuers arrived these were seen to be |
floating or hanging on TO wreckage. |
Men in boats went to their aid at once, !
but were unable to reach all. and two
at least went down before help could |
reach them The work OF rescue was |
begun within a few minutes after the |
accident occurred.
Rescue Work is Futile.
Men on shore and railroad signal men
III Tue IoNeIS WiIHih SlSht OF tue DI1uSe |
flashed news of the tragedy to the city
and general alarm rushed railroad
men and two companies of the fire de-
Dartment to the scene at once. All
sorts of water crafts were rushed into
service and firemen with axes cut
through the roofs of the cars. while
others with oyster tongs and boat
hooks grappled for bodies. Every am
)ulance and undertaking wagon in the
city was pressed into service by tele-
phone and the gasping and screaming
survivors. with all sorts of injuries.
we're carried to the hospitals as quick
Y as possible.