The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-12-16
LIVES LOST IN
WRfCklNG OF NO. II
SUNDAY MORNING
FAST MAIL GOES THROUGH
BRI DGE OVER MILLER RIVER
OTHER BRIDGES OUT WEST OF
MOUNTAINS.

At least two lives were lost in the
plunge of No. 27 through the bridge
over Miller river, near Skykomish
last Sunday morning, Fireman Irwin
and Mail Clerk Hleman, both of Seat
tie, being the victims. Rumors place
the loss of life at four and five, but
ut this writing authentic reports
named only the two.
The scene Of the wreck, the Miller
River Bridge, had been under the OBJ
servation of the road officials. we
understand, for it is reported that
the county road bridge just above the
railroad bridge had gone out some
time earlier and the wooden structure
had lodged against a pier of the rail
road bridge. This bridge had stoo /
through many other floods and
strains and it was probably considered
safe. Train after train had crossed
Saturday and Sunday morning No. ,
east bound passenger train, safety
crossed. Whether other trains had
crossed after No 2 and before No. 27
we are not advised
NO. ~, 1t appears, approached the
bridge at high speed and the engine
sped out over the approach, left the
track as it came to the main span and
plunged through and over the left
side of the bridge. Two refrigerator
cars shot on across the bridge, one
landing on the west bank of the river
and the other coming to a stop JUS
at the westerly part of the bridge,
which broke in two in the center and
fell into the water, the car sticking
up into the overhead frame.
All the other cars, excepting the
last one in the train, went into the
river. In the cal remaining on the
track were Conductor Moore, Brake
man George Campbell and Paul Her.
man of Spokane.
The train consisted of six mail and
express cars and seven mail clerks
were carried. 1t appears that all es-
capped excepting Hleman and Fire
man Irwin. Hileman was seen climb
ing from submerged mail car but
never reached the bank and it is sup
posed that he was carried away by
the water, Fireman Irwin had not
been seen and it is thought that his
body is held in the wreckage. Engi-
neer John Carey was saved by A. j.
8eack, a game warden of King coun-
ty, who pulled him ashore. Carey
was injured and is at Providence ho.,
pital, Everett, but will recover. All
those in the rear coach were shaken
up and bruised but not seriously hurt.
Dr. HoXsey was called from here
and went out on the work train to
give aid to the injured. The wreck
ers, bridge carpenters and pile driv-
ers from both this and the west side
were sent to the scene of the acci-
dent and it is expected that a tenn
porarv bridge will be built around the
wrecked structure, one pier of which
was undermined by the high wate-
This would have required but a fe'Y
days had not matters been complicat-
cd by the loss of the bridge at Sultan
and No. All, both reported on Monday
to have gone out, and a washout was
also reported at Merritt.
Trair No. 8, west bound passenge r,
which was following No. q, returned
through here Sunday and went to Sc
attic via the S. p. & S. and trains No
| and 2 have since been detoured at
Spokane over that road. No. 3 comes
as far as this city and returns east
as No. 4. Nos. 80 and 40 run as
usual