Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-06-16
SIX LIVES LOST when OMAHA CHICAGO :
TRAIN PLUNGES THROUGH BRIDGE into
SWOLLEN STREAM, NEAR CRAWFORD, NEB.
Bridge Gives Way And Many Coaches Fall Into Cottonwood
Creek-Forty Passengers, Eight Seriously, injured
Part Of Train Passed Over Safely
(By International News serv,cs.)

(By international News Service.)
Omaha, Neb., June 16.--I,oss or
life In the wreck OF the northbound
Chicago and Northwestern train
No 606 to Lander. Wy. from ONO
ha and Chicago. early today. which
plunged into Cotton Wood creek.
near Crawford, Neh.. is not expect.
ed to reach more than six. Early
reports of the disaster were found
to be exaggerated
According to II Chicago and
Northwestern division superintend-
ent of Chadron. five men were killed
in the wreck and their bodies
brought to Chadron Forty were in
jured. eight seriously.
Tho train consisted OF a Pullman
sleeper, chair cars. coaches, a smok-
or and baggage and express cars,
As tho train was passing over tho
Cotton Wood creek, II is reported,
swollen by storms. tho structure
gave way, six OF tho coaches, 1t In
reported. falling into the stream and
becoming partly submerged. Early
reports said the engine with the
baggage and express cars passed
over the bridge. The Pullman car.
tho rear one ON the train, remained
en- the rails, but reports said that
In this car twelve We're hurt.
Ono OF tho chair cars Ia reported
to have landed on top of the smok-
er.
A relief train was sent from Chad
ron 30 miles from the wreck scene.
which Is near the Wyoming border.
First Report.
Chicago, June 16r--Fouf persons
were killed, eight seriously injured
and twenty-six passengers receiv-
ed minor injuries when II Chicago
and Northwestern passenger train
plunged through n bridge into the
food waters near Crawford, Me-
| braska. according TO a dispatch re-
ceived today Mt tho head office Of
the railroad.
The bridge over small stream
collapsed as the train was passing
over 1t, tho dispatch said.
Seven Reported Dead.
Omaha, Neb.. June 16.--Seven
!
killed and many injured early 10
day when three coaches of a Chi
cage and Northwestern train plung.
ed through bridge in food wat.
ors near Crawford, Neb. II was
said the dead may run as high as
| fifty. Twelve persons were rescu-
ed alive, all suffering from. iniur-
les.
Before 7 a. m searching parties
had recovered seven bodies from
windows OF passenger coaches. The
engine, a smoker. chair car and
enc Pullman sleeper were reported
to have tumbled into the water.
Tho rescuers, made up chiefly OF
railroad men. rushed to the scene
on relief train from Chadron.
Neb., the division terminal, and
worked frantically in tho belief that
many men, women and children
were Imprisoned alive In the part
ly submerged coaches.
According to Information receiv-
ed here the fatality occurred short
ly after midnight. The train had
left Omaha bound on branch line
for Lander. wy. the western term
inal OF the Chicago and Northwest
ern railroad
Telephone adyices from the en-
CINE crew stated that part OF tho
train had passed over bridge
spanning the big Cotton Wood
creek when the bridge gave way.
The engine crew gave first word
of the wreck from a nearby farm
| house. ss4Ai