The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-16
WRECK DEATH
TOLL GROWING
Five Known to Have Been
Killed Near Crawford, Neb.
Several of Injured Reported to
Have Died.
TRAIN Went THRU BRIDGE
At Least Thirty-Fiye Were In
jured Severely. 4
Rescuers Work Frantically to
Save Imprisoned Passengers.

Omaha, June 16.-The known dead
in the wreck of the Chicago & North
western passenger train, whic h
plunged into Cottonwood creek. near
Crawford. Neb., reached five. accord-
The fifth body was taken from ono
of the three submerged coaches in
| the creek. Identification was impos-
sible.
Several were reported to have died
while being rushed to a hospital at
Hot Springs, S. D. At least thirty
five persons were reported severely
injured.
Rescue workers expressed the be-
lief that several other bodies may be
in the submerged coaches.
| The dead, according to advices from
Chadron, which is about twenty miles
from the scene, are: Robert Scott.
] Chadron baggage man: F. NJ. Stewart.
Gordon, Neb.; Frank Bosner, Lander.
Wyo., and c. M. Buck of Grand Is
land.
Plunged Thru Bridge.
The forward sleepers of the train
plunged thru a bridge over Big Cot
tonwood creek after the engine and
mail car had passed safely, according
to first reports. The relief train took
| the dead and injured to Chadron n
few miles east of the scene of the
wreck early today and returned to
the wreck to complete the search OF
the debris for missing passengers.
/ Conductor Finnegan was among the
injured taken to Chadron and the
check of the passengers was impeded.
The train left Lander. Wyo., yesterday
morning and was due in Omaha this
morning. Crawford is in the far
northwest corner of Nebraska and
wire communication with the scene OF
the wreck was meager.
Rise in Creek the Cause.
Either a cloudburst or heavy up-
lstream pressure in the creek caused
| the bridge to give way, General super
iintendent Dickinson said, adding.
there had been no high water there
this season. The engine cleared the
/, bridge, but the baggage and mail cars
plunged into the bank while the chair
!, car was thrown into the water, reports
, here said.
The injured. as given by Mr.. Dick
inson. were listed as bruised, with
Springfield, Mo-, suffered a bruised
hip and leg Michael Skiles. address
| unknown, was listed seriously injured.
S. H. Potter. Denver. was internally
injured.
. The rescuers. mostly railroad men.
rushed to the scene of the disaster In
. a special relief train from Chadron.
Neb., and worked frantically to save
the passengers reported imprisoned
in the coaches
Part Train Was Saved.
; Part of the train had safely passed
. gave way. The engine and several
. coaches had passed safely over the
bridge before the structure collapsed
: The three coaches were hurled into
; the mad flood waters of Cottonwood
creek, whose waters have destroyed
) thousands of dollars worth of property
I in the northwestern part of the state
l in the last three weeks
According to the report received
here. the disaster occurred about
] a. m
: Rescue work was impossible for
I several hours after the disaster be-
cause of the swollen stream. Those
l. imprisoned in the coaches cried In
vain for help.
nurses on board and laden with first
aid supplies, arrived at the scene
s shortly after daybreak.
Biggest Loss In Smoker.
s The heaviest injuries and probabl,
!. ] loss of life is believed to have oc
;, CURED among passengers IN ths
!. smoker and one of the day coaches.
i One Pullman is reported hangint
}. precariously on the left bank of tn,
O creek and is liable to plunge into tn,
surging waters at any moment AL
. passengers in this car are said to hav,
= escaped.
a Rescue workers are helpless. accord
o ing to word received here. Dragginl
and diving for bodies perhaps i'm
prisoned II the submerged coaches Il
n impossible because of the strong cur
5 rent of the creek, dispatches said.
r Aviators from Omaha and Council
L Bluffs are going over their machine
n preparatory to hopping Off for thl
= scene of the accident to offer their as
sistance in rescue work
s 500 Harvest Hands Short.