Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-03
TORNADO BLOWS
FAST PASSENGER
TRAIN OFF TRACK
Twenty-Six Persons Seriously In
jured in Unusual Wreck on the
Wabash Railroad Near
Saunemin. Ill.
FIVE DEAD, FIFTEEN MISSING
Bridge Gives Way Under Rock
Island Train Near Packard,
Iowa, and Passengers Drown.
M'GREG0R STOCK YARD FLOODED

Dibolii'ib NSH1 tttp JNiN - WNHNJ
six persons were injured when Wa
bash night mail train No. II, bound
from Chicago to St, Louis, travelling
forty miles an hour, was blown from
the track by tornado early today
near Saunemin, III.
The fact that most of the coaches
were Of steel is believed to have pre-
vented heavy loss of life Most of the
injured are believed to be not in a
serious condition,
The mail car and the combination
smoker and baggage coach were
turned over on their sides and prac-
tically demolished
Three of the Pullman cars re-
NAMED on the track and some of the
passengers in them did not know
there had been a wreck until an hour
later.
Three Dead, Fifteen Missing.
Waterloo, Ia. June 2.--Three bodies
have been recovered and fifteen per-
sons are missing in the wreck at
Packard, according to the report Of
the wrecking crew, received by rail-
road officials here. 1t is believed the
majority of the missing are dead, Of
ficials said.
The bodies of two women were
taken from the wreck at 9 o'clock.
One was identified as Mrs. Emma
Vonvliet Of Traer, Ia. The other was
not Immediately identified
The wreck was due to high water,
which had so undermined the bridge
supports that when the train struck
the bridge the entire structure coll
lapsed. The engine plunged into the
creek, carrying with it the baggage
car, smoker and day coach. The
bodies were recovered from the day
coach and the missing were riding in
the smoker and, it is feared, we're
drowned.
When the train turned over many
of the passengers succeeded in break
ing the windows of the coaches and
crawling onto the sides Of the cars.
They were taken off by rescuers in
boats. Several are under the care of
physicians, due to exposure.
The storm, which reached the pro-
portions OF cloudburst, nearly para
lyzed wire communication and il was
long after daylight before the first
rescue train dispatched from Water
loo reached the scene.
Three Dead, Three Missing.
Chicago, June AT the general
offices Of the Rock Island road this
afternoon casualties OF the wreck at
Packard, Ia, of Chicago Minneapolis
passenger train No. 10 were placed at
three dead, three missing, fifteen in
jured, all but two slightly.
Cattle Drown at McGregor.
McGregor, la June 2.-More than
$4,000 worth of stock was lost in
storm that reached the proportions
of a cloudburst here last evening. The
water flooded stock pens in the rail
road yards, drowning hundreds of
cattle. Great damage was done in
the business section OF the city.
Ground floors and Easements OF
buildings were flooded. Few business
houses escaped damage. Altogether
the storm did about $4,000 damage
here Water was up 10 the tops OF
the tables in the dining room OF the
McGregor hotel.
Heavy Damage at Decorah.
Decorah, la., June About
S25,00O damage was done BY a severe
rain and windstorm here last night. /.
Two bridges over the upper Iowa riv- (
rr in this vicinity. two bridges near
here on the Milwaukee line and an
other on the Rock Island. about two
miles from here were washed away
Traffic over these lines probably will
not be resumed for over week.
Five Drowned.
Dcs Moines. la June Alt least Z
five persons lost their lives, score .
were injured and fifteen others are .
believed missing 10 the wreck OF Rock .
island train No ~. uofthhuund. which .
went through a bridge al Packard. laa 4
lCnotuued on Page 3 Column T. .