THE OMAHA IDAILY
SEVENTEENTH YEAK. OMAHA. FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST 12. 1887. NUMBER 55 ;
ANOTHER ASHTABULA
Frightful Wreck On the Toledo , Feoria
& Western Railwav ,
PLUNGED IN * BURNT CULVERT.
One Hundred Passengers Killed and Double
the Number Injured ,
FIFTEEN CARS TORN TO PIECES.
An Appalling Midnight Calamity Near
Chatsworth , 111 ,
Heartrending Scenes Witnessed By the
Few Survivors.
WORST DISASTER EVER KNOWN.
Two Passengers , Grazed By Suffering ,
Blow Out Their Brains.
ACCOUNTS OF THE ACCIDENT.
Several Thrilling and Hairbreadth Es
capes By Passengers.
COWARDLY VANDALS ON HAND.
Miscreants Ont Off the Fingers of the
Dead to Secure Bings ,
MANY OTHER VALUABLES TAKEN
ft. Noble Woman Works For Hours
Ministering to the Wounded and
Dying The People of Chixts-
worth Highly Praised For
Good Deeds Full Par
ticulars of the
Horror.
A Midnight Disaster.
CHATBI70UTK , HI. . August ll.-lSpecial
Telegram to the BEK.J At an early hour
this morning this hitherto quiet little village
was thrown Into the most violent convul
sions of excitement when the terrible news
spread quick and fast that the entire train on
the Toledo , Peorla & Western railroad , con
sisting of iifteen coaches , Including five 1'ull-
man sleepers , had gone through the bridge
crossing the Vermlllton river , aud hundreds
of people supposed to bo killed.
The train was loaded with perhaps a thou
sand merry people on thler way to Niagara
Falls , It being an excursion train destined to
that great national wonder.
It was a party made up largely of the better
class of people ot the surrounding country ,
To many It was their holiday after the
labors of the summer. A merrier party freed
from the cares of duty never before embarked
upon an excursion of pleasure.
There were husbands and wives taking
their Urst day of recreation ot the season.
The merry laugh of the young people , as
they had entered thn train at their respective
stations had scarcely died away In the re
pose of slumber when the awful crash came.
The scenes of happiness , gaiety and general
good nature , with the fond anticipations ot a
pleasant Journey and safe return were In
stantly transformed Into that of a burning
prison , when It appeared hundreds
were dead and dying. It was midnight , and
through the fields of the boundless prairies
echoed the song ot mirth , and laughter of the
Innocent , the train , freighted with Us pro
clous load of pleasure-seeking humanity-
onward and onward sped the two monster
"greyhounds of the rail , " with lights In the
coaches dimly burning. In the sleepers the
drapery had been drawn but a few short mo
ments before the leap from the rail to the
pulch below. The bridge had broken. Tlio
ttret engine had passed In saloty , but
with the approaching weight of the
great train the structure eave way. Crash
ing went the fifteen coaches all In a heap ,
.fate had done its work. As If with the
touch of electricity a hundred souls had
perished. Face to face and embraced In each
others arms , went out the lives of husband ,
wife , father , mother , son and daughter.
Fair woman , loveliness in the same car
with the sturdy sweet heart , death came
without regard to pledges or promise of af
fection.
In one compact space not over the length
of two cars were piled the train of fifteen
coaches of a minute before.
1 For a moment , and but a moment too , fol
lowing the derailment all was silent
as the night. A groan a cry ,
a hundred groans jes a thousand cries and
appeals. Upon almost every spot trickled
the blood from a thousand wounds. From
the darkness of the night broke forth the
burning fires , when It appeared as it but a
minute more ami all would be wrapi d In
ono solid flame.
The cries of anguish grow more Intense as
the ilamcs seemed destined to envelop the
pionusclons wreck. It was not long , how
ever , until ono by one of those able to extri
cate themselves from the mass of timbers
began caring for their leys fortunate com
panions.
The night was dark , the rain began falllne
and for a time amid the natural confusion
and suffering It seemed that none were to bo
left to tell the tale.
Lifeless bodies In numbers were taken
from the wreck , not by the contlo hands of
friends or kindred , but by these whose man
hood was equal to the occasion. For hun
dreds of yards the cold and partially charred
remains were laid side by side upon the
burnt stubble In the adjoining field , with lit
tle drops ot rain pelting In their pale faces.
It was a slckntng , horrid sight. Thnscenesof
suffering , death aud despair cannot here
in this brief dlsuatch be told.
.Limbs were torn from bodies , skulls frac
tured and a thousand different kinds of
wounds Inlllctrd. It was the most fatal acci
dent ever recorded lu the history ot railway
travel.
As quick as could bo done the news of the
fatality was dispatched from ono end of the
road to thu other. A relict train was ordered
and loaded with all the available surgical
nnd medical skill from the adjacent cities
and towns. Before the dawn ot day the
rain hart ceased fand the sun came up
with all Us brightness and splendor.
As Its rays fell full lu the faces of the dead
nnd dying , It might have carried one's mem
ory back to the dark days of the clII war ,
when upon the battle field lay coutlesg heroic
sons.
The sadness hero , however , was tenfold ,
for In ttie same line of the dead liau been
( aid the bodies of several ladles.
Wltb all the confusion that exists at the
present time It Is quite out of thequestion , to
determine where rests the responsibility ot
the dreadful catastrophe.
That the train comprising so large a
a number of cars created too great a weight
with which to test the strength of the strong
est brldire seems to bo a well established fact.
Had the train been run In sections the
chances are the accident would not have hap
pened.
A V1LLAOK TURNED INTO A. HOSPITAL.
CirATSwonTir , 111. , August ll.-lPress. | -
Charnel houses and hospitals make up to
night what has been the peaceful village of
Chatsworth. Of 800 merry excursionists
Journeying by hero to the falls of Niagara
twcntj-four hours ago , fully half the number
have since passed through a maelstrom more
fearful than all the whirling waters th y
were traveling far to see. Eighty-
four of them , blackened , mangled
corpses , are scattered In the depots ,
school houses and engine houses hero and at
Piper City , a orrebcini ? carried on trMns In
all directions to their homes , while 115 ban
daged nnd moaning cripples are stretched on
all available mattresses , chairs and floors In
this vlclnltv , struggling for a little lease of
life. The streets of Chatsworth are filled
with crowds of anxious seekers for friends
and relations , and with other crowds
of bustling people hurrying for medicines ,
slowly bearlnz rudoplne coHlns to trains , or
talking earnestly of the horror that has
caused consternation. The little ditch which
the culvert spanned was about ten feet deep
and the timbers had been burned away by the
fires which have been raging In this vicinity.
The heavily-laden train , rushing down
a erado ot about forty-eight
feet to the mile , struck the culvert The eye
of the engineer could not detect the burned
frame work beneath the track because
enough of the culvert remained In position
to hold the rails In position , but as the wheels
touched It the crash came. The rapidity
with which the train was going may bo Im
agined when It Is understood that the
rst engine leaped ever the chasm
, nd holding the track went on but little In-
.ured. The second engine plowed Its way
along the track for nearly 200 feet and finally
ent over on Its side , a most complete
reck. Piling on top of and telescoping ono
.tiother . caiuo the regular passanger coaches
lib their loads ot human freight And
uch a mass , such an Indescribable
angled mass of splintered cars and mangled
jodles. All night long and all day the work
f removing the dead and wounded occupied
, he good people ct the vicinity and many
iclpcrs who carne from adjacent cities. At
o'clock tula evening , when the Associated
jress correspondent loft the scone , it was
.bought all but six or seven bodies had been
emoted.
CAUSE OF TUB CATASTROPHE.
Indirectly , the catastrophe was ascribed to
; uo origin of so many other recent great
lalamitleu. viz. : unprecedented drought.
The tall grass under a little culvert on the
Toledo , Peorla & Western road a few miles
last of Chatsworth had been rendered by the
jun as dry as tinder , and last night a loco
motive spark set it ablaze. The timbers of
the culvert caught fire and were smoldering
nnseen when the train of sixteen coaches of
xcurslonl&ts came along. There was
j terrific crash , and an accident ,
almost unprecedented In horror , bad
passed Into history. That was the brief story
gleaned on the streets of Chatsworth this
ivening. A short rldo brought one from the
Jckenlng sights of the city to the place
where the catastronhe occurred. The tangled
.ron and wood and various debris presented
much the same appearance as It did at the
line ot the accident. The engine , shattered
jut of all shape , lay in the ditch
about two hundred feet- beyond the
culvert , and broken cars were strewn all
about. The culvert which was about thirty-
two feet In length , showed broken and burned
imbors , nd gave evidence at a glance of the
cause of the accident
Dr. Ilazeu , of Fort Madison , la. , says the
train was running about thirty miles an
hour. Ilo foil a sudden jar and found him
self and wife fastened under the scats. Ho
pulled the backs off of two seats before he
could cet his wife out. She was bruised on
the body and had both feet mashed. His
shoulder was dislocated and had to bo pulled
Into place as soon as he could get out of the
wreck , and in helping others pulled It out of
place again , and had to have it pulled Into
place a second time. There were nine per
sons In his party , aud ho can only hear from
three of them so far. Ilo says he saw Mr. E.
D. Stoddard hand his boy out to a lady while
he crawled back to cet his wife , who was
killed. The following Is a list ot the dead so
far as identified :
ANOTHF.H ACCOUNT.
JDJIICAOO , August 11. The Inter Ocean's
Peorla special , referring to the Chatsworth
wreck says : It was the largest excursion
and the largest rassengcr train over taken
out over the Toledo , Peorla & Western rail
way. The train consisted ot fifteen coaches ,
including five sleepers. Two engines were
required to pull It , but onlv ono of these was
attached , the other being sent ahead to the
other side of tlie Illinois river bridge. At
the depot before the train started Engineer
McClintock , who was killed in the
wreck , expostulated with General
Superintendent Armstrong about the way
theltraln was made up , Insisting that It
should have been sent out in two sections ,
but his words were of no avail. It Is said
that very few of the bridges on the Toledo ,
Peoria & Western road can stand the strain
of two such heavy engines as drew this train ,
and this seems to bo borne out by the fact
that the railroad officials did not deem It best
to trust both engines on the bridge across the
river hero. The awful calamity occurred on
a comparatively small culvert about ten feet
long and not more than twelve feet high.
The engineer on the forward engine saw
the fire as ho neared the bridge , but supposed
It to be grass on fire. Too late he saw It was
the culvert Itself ablaze , and upon this totter
ing istructure the train plunged , going at the
rate of thirty miles an hour. The first en
gine passed ever the chasm safely. The second
end wont into the ditch , burying nnd killing
McClintock , and In after It came the rest ot
thu train , all the coaches uxcrpt the sleepers
piling In and telescoping. For an Instant
the sound of crushing timbers was
stilled , tnen from out of the
awful silouco rose groans and cries
of agony , ttamcs leaped Into the darkness
and a storm arising , the wind and rain
added terror and dismay to the awful scene.
Kven In her cruelty fate was lenient , for she
willed that the most of these \vlio were killed
should die instantly. A passenger who was
on the third coach sa > s that ho was first con
scious of a Jar and that when the cars wont
together the noise resembled a red hot Iron
touching water. The trucks dropped off ,
letting the coaches down. All the sur
vivors tell similar stories. Most of
the IVorlaiH being In the sleepers ,
more ot them escaped than would
have othoiwlso been tlio case. Manyof these
were aslaep and were only conscious of a
jarring when the accident occurred. The
latter speak In the highest terms of the noble
efforts ot the people of Chatsworth to glvo
succor aud relief. Yet ail who went there
did not give aid. Ono ot thn survivors re-
Ules that as the first engine cleared the
bridge the brush beneatll It flamed up as if
oil had IgnltiHl. Ilo wan fast In the
wreck and called for aulstauco. Ue was
aided by someone outside and as soon as ho
was safely out of the wreck his rescuer
grasped his watch and torn It from him. An
other man was robbed of his chain , the van
dal falling to f et his watch. The fingers of
the dead were also cut off upon which were
valuable rings. The robbing of
the dead and Injured gave rise
to the terrible report that the bridge had
been fired and the train purposely wrecked
for the sake of plunder , but no confidence Is
placed In the report here. It Is believed that
the robbery was the work of vandals who
happened to bo on hand. Six out of four
teen who started from Eureka were killed
and four of the seven who loft Ablngdon.
Of the five from ono family on board four
perished.
perished.A
A PULLMAN roriTicn's STOUT.
The only man on the wrecked train who
lingered on the scene till to-night unharmed
was the porter of the only Pullman car dam
aged. It was the foremost of the six sleepers
completing the train. The tenth passenger
coach was a total wreck , as were all Its pre
decessors , but the sleeper stopped with the
forward end over the burning bridge. The
colored bov's story was about as accurate
an account as could be gotten from
any of the passengers , lie said It was about
11:30 : and the train had been sailing along at
abont thirty miles an hour when they reached
the top of the hill about two miles beyond
Cnatsworth. "At the top of this grade there
is a turnpike crossing and I rememoer the
engineer whistling for it as Is
the custom , and then down
grade wo went with a dash.
A moment later came the crash. Everybody
was shaken violently and many In our car
bruised. It was an awful jerk , a lunge and
then an abrupt stop and we wore standing
still. When we in the car looked out we
were so horror-striken we couldn't tell what
to do. Our car was afire in front and all ef
forts were directed to extinguishi
ng the flames. The people in
.lie sleeper behind us were note
o roughly bandied as we and came to our
escue. As many of us as were able then
went to work to help these in the day coaches
.head. It was dark as pitch and the cars
were heaped so promiscuously wo could not
got at them at all. The awful sights and
groans nnd horror of the whole thing
was more than I could stand. Tne
news was sent to adjoining towns as
eon as 3 possible. It was a dreadful
wait before any assistance came , although I
oppose It was only a little while. Wo were
ittle better off then , for their provisions were
nadequate for the great work on hand. Phy
sicians were soon summoned from all neigh
boring towns , and by 8 o'clock in the morning
.he . officials of the road were on their way
rom Springfield with all the doctors they
could muster. Two hours after the wreck
and to add more suffering to itshoirors rain
began to pour and for several hours drenched
be suffering and dying , ilut the horror
night have been worse had not the burning
culvert been extinguished when it was , as
he debris would have burned , causing a
dreadful bolocast , in which hun
dreds who escaped It either wounded
or injured would have been burned to death.
Not a soul In the forward leu cars could
have survived. But tbo engineer of the first
engine returned to the wreck and gave us
what water ho had and after that gave out
we extinguished the flames with dirt thrown
upon the burning timber. "
Tim INQUEST BEGUN' .
Back in the little city , after the dead had
been cleared from the floor of the school
house and the weary Samaritans were ar
ranging for watches during the night at bed
sides elsewhere , the coroner's Inquest was
begun. The superintendent of tbo road and
his assistant were sworn , but before any
material facts were reached an adjournment
was taken till to-morrow.
THK WORK OF VANDA1.S.
For one of the worst features ot the affair
no excuse Is possible. There were vandals
at work at the wreck. In ono instance a
wounded man called to n passer-by to help
him. Instead of doing so the villain reached
down , took the watch from the Injured man's
pocket and fled. In another Instance the
dead body of a woman was robbed of all the
jew elry on her person.
A IIAIIUOWIXO SIGHT.
Perhaps the most harrowing Incident was
tbo case of ono man who , wounded , crawled
out and lay in nn adjacent cornfield here.
Ue groaned and sent forth piteous appeals
for a short while , and then came a sharp
crash and all was over. Ills misery had un
nerved him and drawing his pistol from his
pocket he quieted all pain with a bullet
through his head.
LIST OP THE KILLED.
Thn Journal's Forest , 111. , special gives the
following names among those killed :
En McCuNTOCR , engineer of No. 7.
SON OF EZIIA. MEEK , Eureka.
Miss MAY LAWS , Eureka.
AitTuuu MCCARTHY , Eureka.
JAMES BLAIK , Eureka.
Mns. Dn. DUCAT , Forrest
Wife of traveling man of Kankakee.
UODEL , father and son.
BILL STEVENSON and two daughters.
CAPTAIN UAHLKE.
Bins. JAMES DICAL.
Mns. WILLIAM ALLEN.
Mus. P. CURBS , Washington , 111.
MBS. WILLIAM BALL.
busiK BALL.
Miss 1'KAitr , ADAMS.
WILLIAM KEQAN.
Mu. FRENCH.
PlIENA FllAIIM.
Mus. VALENTINE.
Mus. VAI.DIOO and daughter.
Mr.S. ZlMMUllMAN.
FRKU WEINNET and daughter , PEARL , of
I'eorla.
MRS. KATK CRESS , Washington.
CORA. SMITH , Peoria , fatally injured and
impossible to get well.
It. E. STOCKER , Peorla.
Miss STEPHENS and father.
MIKE UE < IAN , BInghampton , N. Y.
WILLIAM CIIAIO , Cuba , III.
HENHV HECKER , Pokln , 111.
NOAII HAVKKMORK , Canton , 11L
M. SMITH , Metamora , III.
OKOROE A. SMITH , Peorla.
/IMMKHMAN , I'eorla.
UOSA and MAGUIU MUIIPHV and mother ,
I'eorla.
Miss MACIOIK MALHOW , Peorla ,
Miss NE.VL. Mossvllle , 111.
EMILINE : CARRUTIIEHS , Evans , 1)L )
.iK'-s MEEK , Eureka , 11L
SHERMAN , Brlmflold , 111.
PKARL FRENCH , Peorla.
W. 11. POTTER , Bushnell , III.
MRS. J. M. CLAY , Eureka , 111.
J. D. RlCHABDS.
Mii3. HBEEZE , Peorla.
W. UEUKBKTSEN , Peorla.
TRKVILI.O , Peorla.
E. F. ADAMS Falrbury.
W. il. LOT , Elm wood.
AUDIE WEP.STEU , Peorla.
MRS. WILLIAM ALLEN , I'eorla.
Mu. W. VALEOO , Peoria.
MBS. II. U. McCLUBK and daughter , Peorla.
Mnsr. MILLEB , Peoila.
MB. WIUQUT , Peorla ,
MRS. JAMES DALE , Peorla.
MBS. WILLIAU BALL and -daughter ,
Peorla.
MRS. F. B. WYNKTT , Peorla.
MRS. E. CiODDEj.L and son. .
Dn , WILLIAU COLLINS , Oalesburg.
J. BOYD.
J. S. KALKR , Breeds Station , 111. ;
MRS. JOUN Munrnr , Peorla , III.
HENRY SIEGLESON , Keokuk , la.
OHKY SPAITU , GrefB Vallev , III.
JOHN A. MOORE , Jacksonville , III.
J. D. A. McFAPDEN , Peorla.
CAPTAIN AHKLE.
A. MARTIN , Bloomlngton.
J. A. GIIKEN , Breeds Station.
And about twenty dead at Piper City.
In addition to the list ot killed given above
there are at this hour still between thirty aud
forty bodies in different places awaiting
Identification. Among them are eight or ten
children.
NAMES OF THE WOUNDED.
The following are the names of the
wounded as far as taken :
E. W. Parker and wife , Peorla , wounded
In head and limbs.
Mrs. Emma Itcganand son , Peorla , slightly
injured.
John Fry , Peorla , leg broken and back in
jured.
11. L , Ogden , Urayton , III , , head and foot
Injured.
Florence Boucher , Bayard , la , , arm hurt.
Pat Brady , Oilman , 111 , , foot and head
hurt
Sophia Pauline , Peorla. III. , head hurt
C. W. Young , West Jersey , hand hurt
C , W. Swank , West Jersey , foot and
ihouldcr hurt
U. A. Scott , Toulon , 111. , ankle hurt
Thomas Trlmms , Pajkrldgc , HI. , arras , hips
nd legs Injured.
Theodore Uodell , PeOrla , head and legs in
ured.
Mrs. Edith Clielloff , Qlassford , 111. , leg
roken and ankle bruited.
Mr. Chellow , Glass ford , leg dislocated.
Joe Neal , Mossvlllo , III , head and limbs
hurt
Mrs. Joe Neal , Mossvlllo , arm and leg
roken : baby killed.
Miss Julia Valdejo , Peorla , III. , Injured In
ternally.
Abblo Edmonds , Desco , III. , ankle hurt.
Dr. E. P. Hazon and wife , Fort Madison ,
a. , heads hurt
Miss Emma Alter , West Point la. , head
and limbs hurt nnd shoulder dislocated ,
Mrs. 11. O. Theme , Itlsk , la. , injuicd In-
; crnally.
U. 11. Bond , Colchester , III. , Injured Inter
nally.
Mrs. Thomas McAvery , Peorla , 111 , injured
.nternally.
Mrs. I. W. Grant , Peorla , 111. , Injured in-
Mary Morrles , Peorli , III. , bruised.
Mr. Uobert Zimmerman , Peorla , III. , head
and spine.
E. F. French , Peorla , hips and body.
Eaten Waters , Peorla Ips and body.
Otto Johnson , Burlington , la , , legs.
Mrs. R. 11. Clark , Rjotstown , la. , logs.
U. W. Cress. Washington , 111. , head and
" * " '
chest.
J. E. Dechman , Peorla. ankle.
Madge T. Harris , Peorla , ankle.
Arthur McCarty , Eureka , 111. , both eyes
gone.
David Crawfor , Ritton , HI. , head , limbs
and hips.
A. T. McGee , La Harpe , HI. , log and spine.
Mrs. It. S. Borden. Ton lea , HI. , feet.
fcWIHiaui Forbes , Elmwood , 111. , chest and
head.
Elizabeth Sellers , J > a Harpe , 111. , limbs.
Mrs. Lldla Walters , IWla ; nose , jaw and
leg. " f
II. Abraham , Peorla , Internally.
Wm , Smith , Peorla , bead crushed.
Frank Taylor , Macomb , 111. , Internally.
John Steer , Rushvllle , HI. , leg.
J. W. Stearns , Green Valley , 111. , lea.
Adam Shamberger , Peorla , hip , side and
heel.
heel.S.
S. L. Bolsley , Deer Creek , 111. , head and
ankle.
Patton Cress , Washington , 111. , log.
J. B. Kelly , Beeds , HI. , hip , leg broken.
Frank Sladlcker , Ablngdon , 111. , head , leg
broken.
Daniel Rock. Ruscfiold. 111. , head , log and
hands.
A. C. Jordan. Danville , la. , leg.
C. A. Gregg , Dunvillo , la. , leg.
C. E. Allen , Galesburg , III. , head.
AE. . Ellis , Peorla , head.
Linnlo Vaugsdale , Peorla , leg broken.
Calvin Gaves , Peoria arm.
Conductor StIIlwoll , head , atm and leg : .
C. U. Carter , Burlington , la. , body.
'
Harold B. Lawrence , Burlington. la. , body.
U. B. Lawrence , Burllnston , la. , body.
John McMaster , Peorla , body.
Frank Brown , Peorla , hand.
Mrs. Kellogg , Fremont body. "
Mrs. M. J. Welsh , Peorla , body.
Mrs. Isaac. Whltealde , 111. , body.
Catherine Let , Poorla , body.
Blanche Allen , Peorla , body.
A MINISTERING ANOEL.
A noble girl named Gannle Brebner , of
Farmlngton , III. , was one of the notable
heroines of the wreck. She wont through
the disaster unhurt and hour after hour from
that ever acted as nurse for the dying vic
tims. So great were her services that the
physicians finally placed under her exclusive
charge two Injured boys from Peorla and
a photographer of. Burlington , la. They
were all badly hurl , and if they recover
eventually they will owe it almost wholly
to her ministrations. It was she
and a score of others like her who redeemed
confidence In human nature after the sight
of the vandalism of tlm wreck. The action
ot the men there was so bad In certain cases
that a rumor was started to-night that the
wreck was not an accident but had been
wrought solely for robbery.
A LUCKY MISS.
R. G. Rlsser , of Kankakee , says : "I was
at El Paso and missed the express train by
less than five minutes , then took a freight ,
twenty-six minutes later , and when wo got
to Forest the conductor had orders to leave
all his loads , secure' all the physicians ho
could and proceed to a wreck three miles
from Chatsworth. jUpon arriving at the
scene of the disaster wu found the most heart
rending and Indescribable scene ever wit
nessed. Men , women and children were
begging to bo taken from the wreck. What
made the situation still moio appalling was
the tire on the bridge , * with no water at hand
with which to do anything. All on the train
a'nd such passenger ! as were able to
do so procured dirt and tried In
every way possible to smother the fire. They
were so far successful as to prevent its get
ting hold of the wrecked cars. Had it reached
the wreck hundreds of wounded aud Im
prisoned passengers would have perished In
the flames. Wo worked from the time of the
arrival of the train till about 1:00 : a. m. In try-
in i : to extricate the sulleriug who were In
such dread of fire. At that time a friendly
shower ot rain relieved them from all fear of
fire. Wethen went to work raoro deliber
ately and continued up to 8 o'clock , during
which time we removed fifty-dent dead and
three or four times as many wounded. A
relief train from the east took a
large number ot wounded out to Pluer
City. The city hall and school
house at Chatsworth were Improvised Into
hospitals and citizens came to our relief with
coffee , bread aud butter and cterythlngipos-
sibJe , especially bandages , and medicine for
the suffering. " . Mr. Kisser stited lltat they
had nothing with which ( o carry the dirt to
the wreck but their han-N. Mo stood 'I'o
sickening work of relieving the wounded
and getting out the dead until ho came to the
dead bodies of two girls about the age of his
own , when his humanity gave way and ho
was compelled to stop. Mr. Arch Creswrll
and wife , of Peorla , were enrouto to visit
their parento In Kankakee , with their six-
weeks-old Infant Mrs. Crosweli occupied a
seat at the front end ot the car next to the
door. Mr. Crosweli was unable to got
a seat with his wlfo and teen
another position a few seats back along the
car. When the concussion came the front
end of the car was crushed In and Mrs. Cros
weli killed. The bab was found In the
center of the car with but slight Injuries. It
was taken to a farm house near by and cared
for.
PEOIHA PASSENGERS' DKSCIHPTION.
PEOIIIA , 111. , August 11. Several thousand
people were at thu depot this afternoon when
the train arrived bearing the first ot the
wounded from Chatsworth. The crowd was
so largo and so eager to obtain a view
that It was difficult to control it
Accounts of the disaster were obtained from
several passengers on the train. Mr. J. M ,
Tennery was In the first sleeper , and said :
' 1 felt throe distinct shocks nnd then heard
a grinding sound , and on looking out saw
that the car In which we were was directly
over the fire , which was slowly blazing on
the stringers of the brldtco. I got out
In safety , and the scene presented to
the eye and car was one I wish
1 could forever efface from my memory , but
I know 1 never can. The shrieking ot the
dying and the glaring faces of the dead will
always stay with me. To add to the horror
it was pitch dark , save a fitful light ot tha
fire under the sleeper , which lighted the faces
of those about only to make their fear aud
anguish visible. On the mouths of most ot
the corpses could be seen team , which showed
that they died In agony. At last wo secured
some feeble lights , but the wind blow
them out and about 3 o'clock the rain poured
down In torrents on the unprotected dead
and dying In the hedges and cornhcUls ad
jacent. Our efforts were divided between
trying to put out the fire and rescuing the
dying , whoso cries for help were heartrend-
"ne Indeed. One poor follow whose legs were
rushed beneath the timbers cried out In his
agony , "Relieve mo or I will kill myself , "
which In a short time ho did by shooting
Himself with a revolver which he took from
its pocket. Mothers ny | wildly about crying
'or lost children nnd wives for husbands.
Strong men were weeping copious tears over
.ho . forms of their beloved wives. Pravers
and entreaties and groans filled the air until
daylight when relief parties got to work and
removed the dead and wounded from the
scene. The bridge was on fire before the
; raln struck It. "
C. Falrotb , who was one of the fortunate
ones occupying a berth , was one of the first
to begin assisting the Injured. He says the
first work to be done was tti quenching of
of the flames , which Immediately began to
devour the bildge and coaches , all of which
were more or less filled with dead snd
dying. No water was to bo had and
not a moment to lose. All assisted
"
with a will with such tools
as oould bo found on the cars to further de
stroy and tear away all the wood week pos
sible to remove , and with dirt , weeds , dry
grass , coats and clothing , in fact anything
that would act as a weapon against the
fierce flames was used , so that after a terri
ble struggle the fire wan put out and all then
gave their entire attention to the
sufferers. Mr. Falrotn , on passing one of
the coaches , .was requested "for God's sake
to "take m > child , " a babe , which ho Immedi
ately did , and leaving it In as safe a place as
could bo found wont Into the car and found
the mother , Mrs. Neal , of Mossville , Just
d ad. The scone in the cars was
buyond description. Ono young child was
found fastened near thu roof of the car , head
down , where in the Jar and concussion It had
been thrown and was dead when taken
down. Others were found In ail conceivable
shapes , all thrown oil their seats , piled In
the end of the alsio of the cars , bleeding
from gashes on the face. arms
or other portions of the body ,
In all the most sickening sight he over wit
nessed.
William Ellis , one ot the badly Injured
was thrown four or five seats forward ,
stunned , and when he recovered himself
found others lying upon him. Ills watch
was smashed In and stopped at 13:13. : Ho Is
ot the opinion that the brldgo was
set on fire by loungers around there , whoso
motive it was to plunder the dead , as ho saw
some of these suspicious looking fellows
taking rings from fingers and money and
valuables were taken from the pockets ot
others not able to resist
A Journal special from Chatsworth , 111. ,
says : "It was a wild and excited throng
which surrounded the Union depot In Peorla
this morning. The news of the wreck of the
Niagara excursion train ot fifteen coaches
and two engines spread like wild ( lie. Four
hundred excursionists from Peorla , Clinton ,
Eureka and other places , many of them well
known and highly respected through central
Illinois , were aboard. All sortj of rumors
were floating abroad , and the number killed
was variously estimated at from six to 100.
The first regular train lett Peorla at 8:30. : At
all stations along the line large crowds of ex
cited people had gathered to hear the latest
from Peorla. Some wild rumors prevailed ,
but nothing of an authentic nature could bo
learned. When the relief train reached Its
destination it was a sad and ghastly slgnt
brought to view. Ten coaclT V ad either
gone throuzh the bridge or were piled In a
promiscuous heap , crosswise and lengthwise
of the wreck. Tlio shrieks and groans
of the dying and wounded could bo
heard. The bridge through which the cars
went was a small one. It had been on fire ,
which caused it to weaken , thus causing a
frightful holocaust So far over seventy
bodies have oeen recovered and convoyed to
the town hall , school house and depot plat
form. Not one has been taken from under
the cars and not oven a sound can bo heard
from them. It Is feared all are dead , and the
number killed la estimated at 200. The
wounded so far number 150.
Another train anlvcd at 1 o'clock with
twenty-six bodies and seven woundud. A
later train will bring fittceu wounded and
six bodies.
I1LOOMINOTON PEOPLE SAFE.
BLOOMINOTON , HI. , August 11. C. W.
Klemm and II. A. Nichols and wife , of tills
city , were on the Ill-fated train and all es
caped. Klemm'a brother-in-law , Gohrman ,
of Springfield , Is also safe. Gray Harris and
Nicholas StaulTur , traveling men of this city ,
were on tlio train and have not yet been
heard from.
11. A. Nichols , of this -city , ' with his wlfo
and child , was on the train wrecked at Chats-
worth , and arrived this aftnrnoon. Mr.
Nichols gives an account of the wreck and
says none of thd Bloomlngton party were In
jured.
IIURLINOTON'S O.VOTA.
BURLINGTON , la. , August U. Among the
passengers on the Niagara excursion train ,
from this vicinity were W. II. Grupo and
wife , W. L. Llnder , Harry Lawrence ,
Charles Carter , M. 11. Davis and wife , John
Austin , F. Burns , Mrs. M. E. Johnston nnd
son , Otis , Mrs. Stoddard and child , West
Point , la. , Dr. Hazen and wife , Fort Madl-
son-and five from Mlddletown , la. , whoso
namesc nnot bo ascertained , , ' ,
BANQUETING CAMEUON.
Distinguished Americans and Eng
lishmen Are the Guest * Present.
[ Copi/rfc/M tSSJ IvJamts Gonlou ntnnrtt.1
LONDON , August 11. [ New York Herald
Cable Special to the BEE. I Simon Cameron
sat this evening on the right of Consul Gen
eral Waller at a dinner given the former at
the St George club In Hanover square by the
latter. Covers were laid for thirty American
and twenty English guests. Among these
were Senator llawloy , Chaunccy
Dopew , Murat llalstead , James
It. Osrood , Bret liar to , Lord
Ronald Gowcr , Major E. J , Halo , General
W. B. Chapln , District Attorney Rldgeway ,
Clark Bell , John Gllmoro Spued , Daniel
llixby , F. A. Burr , of the Philadelphia
Times , and 11. L. llorton. Goncrnl Cameron
responded to the toast "Queen and Presi
dent , " standing as erect and speaking as
roundly of voice as It ho wore forty-seven in
stead Hot eighty , After these lojal
toasts Mr. Depow uroposcd "Tho
Press. " In the course ot a characteristic
speech ho remarked upon the latest phase in
American politics In that presidential candi
dates now want to go to Eu * > po to elec
tioneer. There was Blatno In Ireland , with
his friend Carnegie , assisting lu Scot
land. "No sooner had tlio three
white house huntsmen began , " ho
said , "than , hearing ; of It , our friends
here , Cameron and Joe llawley , crossed
the ocean also as the nominee of the Herald
crossed to bo followed by Murat llalstead ,
who has como to care for John Sherman. I
was asked at the races yesterday by a lady
whether there was In America any preference
for color lu horses. 1 answered ,
"Most certainly , the preference is for dark
horses. "
"All of us here are dark horses. Wo are all
distinguished Americans , yet not a London
paper has noticed our arrival. Such Is not
the sllenco when any even half distinguished
Englishmen visit America. They are en
countered off Sandy Hook by a press bout
They are asked all about every shade of
European politics and their opinions sought
about our country before they have landed
In it. "
Mr. Dcpowgavo a humorous comparison
between the spirit und method of the press of
the two countries and showed the greater ex
cellence of the papers of his own land but
abruptly closed after a reference to seine re
porters by saying , "I now stand on the brink
of dangerous precipices and before I fall will
sit down , "
Murat llalstead spoke in behalf of
the American pi ess. Other speeches
followed , and then the company , especially
the Englishmen , gathered around the veteran
ex-cabinet minister , who seemed over
whelmed with the attention , aud who con
vened with great animation.
Tom ICecne In Court ,
NKW "YORK , August 11. f Special Tele-
cram to the Br.E.J Thomas W. Keene , the
actor\ now known In the courts at least as
Thomas R. EaKlestonu got Into the supreme
court yesterday iu a suit begun by William
R. llaydeu , who assorts that he has overpaid
Keene about 87,000 , and this he wants back.
In IbSl a contract was made between the two ,
Haydeu says , for mutual aid and financial
comfort Keene to have 87) a week for three
years. After IbSS the arrangement still
went on. lnKansas _ CItv , In 1HS8 , Keene
was stricken with paralysis , wa.s nursed by
Uaydon , * o ho a\ers , and was taken by htm
toStaten Island. Keuue. alter partial re
covery and relapse later In that y ai , was
unable to go on with his engagement with
Hayden , who now says ho has paid out over
810,000 In the actor's behalf as a salary , loanIng -
Ing him 3,000 when he was "hard up" in
Cincinnati , and ( Incurring SiV : ) obligations
besides for him. A motion was made In be
half of Keene before Justice Donohoe yester
day in chambers for appointment of n re
ceiver of assets and property of the Keeno-
Hayden combination. Kuene lays claim to
the costumes , properties , otc. , among them a
parlorcar. Hayden calls this claim an evi
dence of ingratitude , lie , too , lays claims
to the properties. Hayden wants a lolmeo
instead of a receiver. Justice Douoliue took
the papers.
A Ftcht for the Northern Pacific.
NEW YORK , Augustll. [ Special lelegram
to the BEE.J The Times says : There Is a
good deal of Interest In the alleged contest
for control of the Northern Pacific at the
September election. Thu fight Is being made
by Elijah Smith In the Interest of the Union
Pacific , Oregon Trans-Continental and Oio-
gen Navigation company , rivals of the North
ern Pacific In the Tar westv nnd the Wlscon-
aln Central , which wants to get control of
the Northern Pacific's Chicago business.
Smith has Issued a circular to stockholders ,
signed by himselt nnd a number of brokerage
firm of this city and Philadelphia , who have
stock belonging to the Union Pacific party
In their name. There is no doubt that these
parties are large holders of Nortlitrn Pacific ,
the Oregon Trans-Contlnontalcompany Itself
holding 13.1,000 shares , and it Is on this
ground that binlth asks for proxies. The
fact Is concealed , however , that the gentle
men ha\e paramount interest In companies
which are antagonistic to the Northern Pa
cific , and if they get Into power their Inten
tion Is to use the Northern Pacific to benefit
those rival concerns.
Wisconsin' * Great Rtorm.
MILWAUKEE , Amrnst 11. Specials to the
Evening Wisconsin fiom every portion of
the state show that last night's rain storm
was general , and that ttip draught stricken
districts have been effectually relieved. The
storm was accompanied by high winds ,
which in places did considerable damage to
trees , fences and buildings. A daughter ot
Jensen Miller , at Fulton , and a Miss Hender
son , ot Illinois , were drowned by the rapsli-
Ing of a boat in a storm on Lake Nrgonsa.
At Muscade two b.irns were struck liy light
ning and consumed with all contents. Near
Lancaster Thomas Beethams' barn was
struck and destroyed. Beetham and daughter
wore rendered insensible , and the cows they
were milking were killed.
Ilohl Shot.
SALT LAKE , August 11. Fred Ilohl , alias
Welcome , was shot to death to-day , having
elected that mode of expiating his crime over
the alternative of hanging. This was the
fourth time the death sentence had been
passed on him. In July , 1SSO , ho murdered
his benefactor , a son ot Sheillf Turner ,
stele three span of horses , two wagons , and
a camping outfit , all of which he sold and
lied to Wyoming. Ho was aubseqtiontly ar
rested , tried , convicted aud Hontonced to
death. On appeal to the United States supreme
premo court tlm judgment was reversed nnd
a new trial ordered. Ihe riecond trial was a
duplicate of tint tlrsl In all iiartlciilars. Hot
ter success attended the third , tint sunremo
court alHrmini ; the judgment aud ordering
the execution of fiuntencti. On ono occasion
Ilohl narrowly escaped lynching , and on an
other occasion tlm governor stsi > nd execution
halt au hour before It was to occur.
California Train Ilolibcry.
SAN Fr.ANciHco , August ll. The west
bound express was robbed last ulght thirty
miles east of Tucson , Arizona. The train
was ditched and tlio express car ransacked
by four robbers. The sheriff and posse are
on the trail , which leads to thn Kinujn
mountains.
The Coke
Pirrsnuiio , Pa. , August 11. A confer
ence of coke operators aud employes Is being
held at Kvanaton , Pa , , at which tit ? long
pending dispute about tlm wage sualtt foi the
coke region workmen nlll probably . be
willed . ' '
THE LLOYD-CHAPIN SCANDAL
Llyod Fays the Costs , But Further Bultl
Are Threatened.
A DOCTOR AND A MILLINER.
They CrnntoKxoltcinont at 1'lfttta Con *
tor Ujr An Escapade A G y Old
Alnn nt Clinton , In. Other
Iowa Now * .
A Pintle Center RcnmlnL
PiiATTE CnNTiitNob.August 11 ( Special
Telegram to the BKF. | lr. Hamilton Mead
was arrested al I o'clock this morning In Ma
store. With him was a young lady who
runs a nilUliu'ry store hero , She has run
awav. lie la now In jalt to await his trial.
Ho formerly lived nt 1'lattsmouth and lat *
tprly at Ogden in charge ot thu Union Pa-
cillo hospital at that place.
Tlio Nebraska City Scandal.
NEBIIASKA CITY , Neb. , August 11.
[ Special Telegram to the HKK. ] The Llovd
Jhaplln shooting and horsewhipping affair
ivas settled to-day as far as the present charge )
s concerned by Lloyd paying all costs and
lines and refusing to further push the casu
against Chaplin , who Is now talking ot a
mlt airalnst Llo\d for perjury and malicious
irosectttlon. Mrs. Chaplin , ft Is said , will
bring a suit for slander against a 1'ress re
porter unless a public apology Is made.
Llojd Is trying to innkoa case against the
Evening Times for criminal libel for express'
ng his opinion of Lloyd , and the fun con'
luuos.
Hmnll Items From Seward.
SKWARD , Nob. , August 11. ( Special to tut
BEE.J Ground has been secured and pthor
arrangements made for thu Immedlato erea
Ion of an oat meal mill to cost about 530,000 ,
with a capacity of 1,000 bushels per day.
The old settlers of Seward , Y ork and But *
.orcounties will hold their third annual re *
union ut Lord's itrovo In liutlor county the
43th of this mouth. %
In the game of base ball between Seward
and David City , Hntlwway , Soward's
pitcher , broke his arm between the elbow
and shoulder.
11 A. 1'olley has been appointed uxprcsi
igent at this plnco.
Trackla > erson the Fremont Elkhorn 4 |
Missouri Valley railroad have quit work
hoio for the purpose of finishing up between
Arlington and Omaha , when tht y will return
and complete this lino.
Broke Ills Marriage Vows.
PLATTE CKNTUH , Neb. , August a [ Spool
al Telegram to the BKK. | For seine tlino
past a bit of gossip and scandal has been In
circulation here over an rumour which culinl-
nated to-day lu the arrest of Dr. Hamilton
Mead , a prominent physician of this plnco , on
a charge of adultery with Miss Kato Duffy , a
young lady about twenty years of ace. She
was highly respected and was regarded as
model of vli tue and circumspection. As soon aj
the doctor wa * placed undery arrestMIss Dully
took the train and wout on to Omaha. There
Is gieat excitement ever the affair as Df.
Mead Is married to a most estimable lady auij.
the opinion prevails that undue means have
been resorted to to procuto the ruin and dts-
grnco ot Miss Duffy. She Is one of a family
of six grown up girls that have always been
reputable. Industrious and Intelligent , sup
porting themselves as teachers , dressmakers
and milliners. _
Kearney's Great Heal Estate Bale.
KEAHNKY , Neb. , August It ( Special
Telegram to the BKF. | Harrington's great
ot snlo to-day panned out well. Seven thous
and dollars worth of residence lots and 810- *
000 worth of business lots were sold. The
lots brought good prices , ana as nearly all
were purchased by non-residents. It Is evi
dence that Kearney IR the coming city of Ne
braska. A carload of people came up from
Omaha this morning and wore among the
heaviest purchasers.
Howard County's Crops.
DANNKIIROO , Neb. . August 11. [ Special
to the HICK. | The following shows the
standing of grain in Howard county :
Wheat , 10 bushels per acre , last year 13
bushels ; oats _ , 85 bushels pur acre , last year SO
bushels ; barley , 23 bushels per acre , last year
28 bushels ; corn , 45 bushels per acre , last
year HO ImgliHls. Corn nn high land will
yield 30 to 40 bushels. Corn on low land
will yield GO to 70 bushels. Dry weather aud
chinch bugs did a good deal of damage to
the wheat crop. Corn Is suffering for want
of rain on high land. Unless rain fall *
soon some of tths corn will not bo worth
husking. Vegetables good nud plenty.
Again Under Arrest.
NEiiRA&KACirv , Neb. , August 11. [ Spe
cial Telegram to the BEE. ] Thomas
Liarsh , a son of the major , was arrested
and Jailed to-day for obtaining money under
false pretenses , having stolen bis sister's
watch and pawned It. This Is the same fol
low who , Romu time ago , robbed his room
mate at Council IHutTs and left a note asking
him not to think too hard of him for tut
foicod loan.
The ICoad Completed ,
NEIIKASKA CITY , Neb. , August 11. [ Spe
cial Telegram to the UKK. | The Missouri
Pacific this evening finished ttack laying
from the north , so that the en tire line Is now
completed to Omaha , though ft la hot ex
pected that trains will run much before Sep
tember 1.
In llarlon County.
RRPUIIUCAN tJixv , Neb. , Auzust 11.
[ Special to the UKK.I Small grain Is all
harvested and threshing quite well advanced.
There Is probably 10 per cent Increase In
average over last year , wheat yielding 8 to
14 bushels per acre , rjo 21 bushels , oats 20 to
CO bushels and good quality. There Is an In
crease In acreage In corn ever Ibh6 of about
15percent. Some pieces ot early planting
will yield poorly , later planting fair to good
yield say 25 to Ml bushels per acre , Rome
pieces will yield 00 bushels. 1'otatoos will ba
an average crop , IV ) to 250 bushoU per acre.
Vegetables of all kinds are a good crop.
Clovur and timothy bring good prices.
I'raliio hay Is fair to good.
Dodge County Crops.
Noun ! Ilnyi ) , Neb. , August 11. ISpeelal
to the HUB. ] Small grain Is all harvested.
Some farmers are threshing and report an
aterago yield of all small grains. Corn pros
pects are not so 11Uterine as they were ten
di > s ago , owing to the continued dry
weather. Should rain fall during the next
live days there will undoiibtoJly be the
larirust corn prop ever known In wostem
Dodge. The Increased acreage Is uoout 3
per cent over 18X ) .
In Cherry County.
YAT.ENTINK , Neb. , August 11. [ Special to
the Dni.J : Reports fro > n all portions of the
county show the Increase In acreao Is about
olio-third , Some grain has been harvested ,
Wheat u111 yield about " > bushels and eaU
BSto40. The county has been blessed with
plenty of rain and nevur In the hlhtorv of
the county iiaui corn and grass made such a
shoeing. Corn will yield about 4'J bushels
to thu ucro and grass 00 per cent over last
) car.
Mlno DiMnarrr.
iMll.WAUKF.K , AllgUHt tl. Sll.ttt No. 1 Of
the Arililand mine ne r HurleyVis. . , caved
in jestcr.lay afternoon at 5:10 : o'clock , killing -
ing threti men and Injuring another to badly
he Is not expected to live.
. .
Killed liy the Cnrf.
MAIIINKTTK , Wis. , Atiuust 11. Two men
who were driving homo from a cirrus nt this
place YI ( 10 struck by the Chicago Ac North
western train at a crosslne about a mile out-
MOo oi ti-t ) city mill Illicitly .Wiled , jo >
Aether MUi thcirjiorsc. ; .
