The morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, August 12, 1887, Image 1

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i ESTABLISHED 1850. ) } J. H. E6TILL, Editor and Proprietor, f A HORROR OF HORRORS Cars Crash Through a Blaz ing Bridge. OVER AHUNDRED KILLED Scores Injured Be yond Recovery. BRAVE Ml FIGHT TIRE. Hands Used as Shovels For Four Weary Hours. ALL ON AN EXCURSION The Train Bound From Illinois to Niagara Falls. SHRIEKS AT MIDNIGHT. Heartrending Scenes Lit Up by the Flames. Chicago, Aug. 11.—A Chicago Times special from Forest, 111., says: All the railway horrors in the history of this country were surpassed three miles east of Cliatsworth last night, when an excursion train on the Toledo, Peoria and Western railroad dropped through a burn ing bridge and over 100 hundred people were killed and four times that number more or less badly injured. The train was composed of six sleeping cars, six day coaches, one chair car and three baggage cars. It was carrying 000 passengers, all excursionists, and was bound for Niagara Falls. The train had been made up all along the line of the Toledo, Peoria and Western road, and the excursionists hailed from various joints in Central Illinois, the bnlk of them, however, coming from Pe oria. Hume of the ]>a isengers came from Canton, El Paso, Washington, and in fact all the stations along the line, some from as far West as Burlington aud Keokuk, la A special and cheap rate had been made for the excursion, and ell sorts of people took advantage of it. When the train drew out of Peoria at 8 o’clock last evening it was loaded to its utmost capacity. Every berth in the six sleepers was taken and the day ears carried sixty jieoplo each. The train was so heavy that two engines were hitched to it. and when it passed this place it was an hour and a half behind time. RUSHING ON TO A BURNING BRIDGE. Chatsworth, the next station east of here, is six miles off and the run was made in seven minutes. The terrible momentum of those lifteen coaches and two engines shoot ing through space at the rate of a mile a minute onn be understood. No stop was made at Cliatsworth, and on and on the heavy train with its living freight sped through the darkness of the night. Three miles cast of Cliatsworth is a little slough and where the railroad crosses a dry run about ten feet deep and fifteen feet wide. Over this was stretched mi ordinary wooden trestle bridge, and us the excursion train came thundering down on it, what was the horror of the engineer on the front en gine when be saw that this bridge was burn ing. Right up lie fore his eyes leaps! the bright llames, and the next instant fie was among them. There was no chance to stop. Hud there been a warning it would have taken half a mile to stop, and the train was within 100 yards of the red tongued messenger of death before they Hashed their fatal signals into the engineer's face. But he passed over in safety, the first engine keeping the rails. As it went over the bridge fell beneath it and it couM only have been the terrific spend of the train that saved the lives of the engineer and his fireman. INTO THIS JAWS OF DEATH. The next engine went down and in stantly the deed of death was done. Car crashed into car, coaches piled one on top of another, and in a twinkling, of an eye nearly 100 people found instant death and • 11 more were so hurt that they could not hvo. As for the wounded 1 hey were every where. Only the sleeping coaches escaped, and ns the startled and half dressed passen gers came tumbling out of them they found anch a scene of death as is rarely wit nessed and such work to do that it seemed 8 s if human hands were utterly ineapable. It larked but five minutes of midnight. Down in the ditch lay second engineer 51c ! lintock dead and fireman Applegate badly injured. On top were piled three baggage cars, one on top of another like a child’s curd house after he bad swept it with his band. Then came the six day coaches. I hey were telescoped as cars never were wfore, and three of them were pressed 'O' into sluice enough for one. The second ( , ar | m d mounted off its Du ks, erashod through the car ahead u * *t, crushing the wood work aside like finder and lay- there resting on the tops of i " seats, while every passenger in the front J’ ni watt lying dead and dying underneath, bit of that ear but four Hi top of the second car lay the third, and, although the latter did not cover its barer ns completely as the one beneath, its bottom tots smeared with (he blood of its victims. Hie other three ears were not so badly crushed, but they were broken and twisted Hi every conceivable way, and every crushed timber and beam represented a crushed humuri frame nail broken bone. shrieks of the passengers. Instantly the air was filled with the cries the wounded and the shrieks of thoso tfisuit to die. The groans of men and the S' lcmni of women united to make an appall ing sound, and above nil could be heard the agonizing cries of little children, as in some ■iixtnncm they lay pinned beside their dead P " onto. There was another term ■ ■ danger jetto be met. The bridge wasstiil burning *ud the wrecked cars were lying oil "!“> around the fiercely burning embers. Everywhere in the wreak were wounded unhurt men, women and children whose fpic Jinfiting lives could be saved if they could be gotten out, but whose death in most horrible form was certain if the twisted wood of the broken care caught fire, and to fight the fire there was not a drop of water and only some fifty able bodied men who still had presence of mind gild nerve enough to do their duty. The only light was the light of the burning bridge and with so much of its aid the fifty men went to work to fight the flames. For four hours they fought like heroes, and for four houre victory nung in the balance. Earth was the only weapon with which the foe could be fought, and so an attempt was made to smother it out. There was no pick or shovel to dig it up, no baskets or barrows to carry it, and so desperate were they that they dug their fingers down into the earth, which the long drought had baked almost as hard as stone, and heaped the precious handfuls thus hardly won upon the encroaching flames, and with this earth work, built handful by handful, kept back the foe. UNDER THE CARS. While this was going on, other brave men crept underneath the wrecked cars, beneath the fire and wooden bar which held as prisoners so many precious lives, and with pieces of lioards aud sometimes their hands lieat hnck the flames when they flashed up alongside some unfortunate wretch who, pinned down by a heavy beam, looked on helplessly while it seemed as if his death by fire was certain. While the fight was thus going on the ears of the workers were filled with the groans of the dying men, the anguished en treaties of those whose death seemed cer tain, unless the terrible blaze could be ex tinguished, and the cries of those too badly hurt to care in what manner the end were brought about so it only would be quick. So they dug up the earth with their hands, reckless of the blood streaming out from broken finger nails, and heaping it up in little mounds, while all the time came the heartrending cry: “For God’s sake don’t let us burn to death.” Finally the victory was won. The fire was out, after four hours of en deavor. and as its last sparks died away the light came up in the east to take the place of the flames, and dawn came upon the seene of horror. While the fight had been going on men had been dying and there were not so many wounded to take out of the wreck as there had been four hours be fore. In the meantime the country had been aroused, help had come from Chatsworth, Forest and Piper City, and as the deal were laid rev erently alongside of each other out in a cornfield, there were ready hands to take them into Chatsworth, while some of the wounded were carried to Piper City. THE DEATH LIST. One hundred and eighteen was the awful total of the dead, while the wounded num ber four times that many. The full total of the deal cannot, however, be told yet for days. Chatsworth was turned into a morgue to-day. The town hall, engine house and depot were all full of dead bodies, while every house in the little village has its quota of wounded. There were over 100 corpses laying in ex temporized dead housess and every man and woman was turned into an amateur but zealous nurse. Over in the lumber yard the noise of hammers and saws rang out in the air and the busy carpenters were making rough coffins to carry to their homes the dead bodies of the excursionists who, twelve houre before had left their homes full of pleasurable expectations of the enjoyment they were going to have during the vaca tion which had begun. When the news of the disaster was first flashed over the wires prompt aid was'ht once sent. Dr. Steele, chief surgeon of the Toledo, Peoria and Western road, had come on a special tram and with him were two other surgeons and their assistants. From Pooria also came Drs. Martin, Baker, Fluegler and Johnson, and from every city whence the unfortu nate excursionists had come their physicians and friends hurried on to help them. From Peoria had also come delegations of the Red Men and Ancient Order of United Work men, numbers of both societies 1 icing on the ill-fated train, and so after 8 o’clock in the morning there were plenty of people to do the work that needed such prompt atten tion. In the town hall was the main hospital and in it anxious relatives and sorrowing friends sat, and fanning gently the sufferer’s faces, queried the attending surgeons as they bound up the wounds aud insisted that there must be hope. Down in the dead houses, fathers, husbands, brothers, sisters, wives and children tear fully inspected each face as it was uncov ered and sighed as tho features were un known, or cried out in anguish when the well known face, sometimes fearfully man gied but yet recognizable, was uncovered. The entire capacity of the little village was taxed, and kind hearted women drove in for miles to give their gentle ministrations to tho sufferers. ROBBERY AMONG THE WRECKAGE. No sooner had the wreck occurred than a scene of robbery commenced. Some band of ulispeakahle miscreants, heartless, and onlv with animal instincts, was on hand and. like the guerrillas who thronged a bat tlefield the night after the conflict, and filch from' the dead the money which they re ceived for their meagre pay, stealing even the bronze medals and robbing from the children of heroes other worthless emblems of their fathers’ bravery, so last, night did these human hyenas plunder the dead from this terrible accident and take even the shoes which covered their feet. Who these wretches are is not known. Whether they were a band of pickpockets who accom panied the train or some robber gang who were lurking in the vicinity cannot lie said. A horrible suspicion, however, exists, and there are many who give it credit, that, the accident was a deliberately planned case of train wrecking, and that the bridge was sot on lire by miscreants who hoped to seize the opportunity offered. The fact, that the bridge was so far con sumed when the train came along, and the added fact that the train was an hour and a half late, are pointed out as evidence of a careful conspiracy. It seems hardly pos sible that man could bo so lost to all the or dinary feeling which animates the basest of the human race, but still men who will rob dead men, who will steal from the dying, and will plunder the wounded held down by the broken beams of wrecked cars, wounded, whoso death by (ire sremed imminent can do most anything which is base, und that is what these fiends in human form did. APPEALS FOR MERCY UNHEEDED. They went into the cars when the fire was burning fiercely underneath, and, when the poor winches who were pinned there begged them: “For Gist’s sake to help them out,’ stripped them of their watche* and jewelrv, and searched their jss-kets for money. When the dead bodies wore laid out In the cornfields, these hyenas turned them over in their search for valuables and Mint tlie plunder was done by an organized pang was proven by the fact that this morn ing out in a corn field sixteen purees, all empty, were found ill one heap. It was ghastly plundering and had the plunderers been caught this afternoon they would surely have Ixs-n lynched. DRIVEN TO SUICIDE. The Times' Forest, 111., special says: “There was one incident of the accident which stood out more horriblo than all of fiose horrible scenes. In the second coach SAVANNAH, GA., FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1887. was a mail, his wife and little child His name could not be learned to-day, but it is said he got on at Peoria. When the accident occurred the entire family of three was caught and held down by broken woodwork. Finally, when relief came, the man turned to the friendly rescuers and feebly said: ‘Take out my wife first, I’m afraid the child is dead.’ So they earned out the mother,and as the broken seat was taken off her crushed breast, and the blood which welled from her lips told how badly she was hurt. They carried the child, a fair haired, blue eyed girl of three, and laid her in a corn field, dead, alongside her dying mother. Then they went back for the father and brought him out, Both his legs were broken, but he crawled through the corn to the side of his wife, and feeling her loved features in the darkness pressed some brandy to her lips, and asked her how she felt. A feeble grnyui was the only answer, and the next instant she died. The man felt the forms of his dead wife and child and cried out: ‘My God, there is nothing more for me to live for now,’ and taking a pistol out of his pocket pulled the trigger. The bullet went through his brain, and the three dead bodies of that, little family are now lying side by side in Chatsworth wait ing to be identified.” THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. There have been many guesses as to the origin of the fire which weakened the bridge and caused the accident, but so far they are nothing but guesses. The most probable one is that a spark from the fur nace of the engine of the train which pissed two hours before caused the blaze. The season has been very dry hereabouts for a long time, and almost no rain has fallen, and so the woodwork of the bridge burned like tinder. A live coal dropped on it would fire it at onee, aud as a result the accident soon fol lowed. Another and startling theory is one of train wrecking. This is au awful one to contemplate but has its adherents. They point to the fact that there were a lot of thieves about, and to the additional fact that they seemed to bo members of an organiza tion working together, and the dia bolical heartiessness with which they went about their work indicated devilishness which would stop at nothing. The news of the disaster was brought to Chatsworth by one of tin* passengers about midnight, and the inhabitants around se cured buggies, lumber wagons and every kind of vehicle to reach the fatal spot. As fast as the corpses were taken from the wreck they wore laid out on the side of the track. Before daylight the work of recov ering the dead and moving them to Chats worth was begun. As soon as the corpses were received they were placed in a large empty building lately occupied as a store, in the public school houses and depot wait ing rooom. The residents of the town threw open their houses for the reception of the dead and wounded, but the former were taken to improvised morgues. The friends and relatives of the dead came to Chatsworth with the remains and the scenes in the different places where the bodies lay were most heartrending and distressing. As the day passed bodies were being continually brought in from the scene of the wreck. A majority of them were mangled in a most frightful manner, many of them having their faces entirely torn away, leaving their brains exposed, while others had their fingers and legs torn off. ONLY SIX SAVED OUT OF ONE CAR. The Times' ttalesburg. 111., special says: “A number of Galesburg people who were on the excursion train returned to-night. W. Gucker and wife were in the rear end of the chair car. ‘The shock came about ten min utes to 12 o'clock. I was roused,’ said Mr. Gucker, ‘by the smashing glass and the breaking of the car timbers, and by shrieks of pain and cries for help. Our car had been teleseoj>ed and w'as standing nearly on end, one end being fifteen feet in the air. I broke the car window and managed to slide down the side. Others of the party did the same. The car was a sight. The top was parted and the. sides crushed in. At the time of the accident there were thirty in the car. Six of ns got out alive. It was horrible. There were hardly any lights to be had.- There was no water. The cars caught fire; switches and earth were used to put out the flames. MOST PATHETIC SIGHTS. “I saw most pathetic sights, parents car rying dead children in their arms, children clamoring for their parents, wounded per sons crawling painfully into adjacent corn fields and cries for water and tor help pre vailing on ail sides., A woman sitting in front of me had her head taken off. Six young men from Canton ill the front car were saved by being thrown by the shock through the parted roof. I heard that one man who had lost his wife and child committed suicido." Other Gales burg people agree in the statement about the flimsy character of t e bridge. P. P. Vinliew, of Galesburg, was in the chair car mentioned. A moment before the accident he walked to the end of the car that .suffered most aud was dangerously in jured. William Collins, of this city, was killed. Mrs. E. M. Snedaker, of Abingdon, was killed and her little son lost a leg. Mrs. SS. M. Smith, of Galesburg, was badly injured. Mrs. A. J. Me Cure and her baby were killed. Her husband is a railroad contractor now employed here. Most intense excite ment has prevailed here all day. CHATS WORTH’S CHARNEL HOUSES. Chatsworth, 111., Aug. 11.— Charnei houses and hospitals make up to-night what has been the jieacoful village of Chatsworth. Of the 800 merry excursionists journeying by here to the falls of Niagara twenty-four hours ago fully half that number have since passed through a maelstrom more fearful than all the whirling waters they were traveling fur to see. Eighty-four of them are blackened, charred corpses, are scattered in depot", schools and engine houses here and at Piper City, or are being carried on trains in all directions to their homes, while 115 bandaged, moaning crip ples are stretched on all the avail able mattresses, lieds, ebuire and floors in this vicinity struggling for a little lease of life. Tho streets of Chats worth are filled with crowds of anxious sis'lie is for friends and relatives, and with other crowds of hustling people hurrying for medicines, slowly 1/earing rude pine coffins to the trains, or talking earnestly of the horror that has caused tho consternation. MIRSED THE TRAIN BY FIVE MINUTES. R. G. Rinser, of Kankakee, said: “I was at El Paso and missed the excursion train by less than live minutes, i then took a freight twenty -six minutes later, and when we got to Forest the conductor had orders to leave all his load, secure ull the physicians he could, and proceed to a w reck three miles east of Chatsworth. Upon arriving at the scene of the disaster, we found the most heartrending and indescribable scene ever witnebaed. Men, women and children were lieggmg to lie taken from the wreck. What made the situation still more aiH/ulUng was the fire on the bridge with no water a I han/l with which to do anything. All on our train and such iiassengci-s a- were able to do so procured dirt and trjfd in every way itoesihle to smother the fire. They were so far successful as to prevent its getting hold of the wrecked cars. Had it reached the wreck hundreds of tho wounded and imprisoned passengers would have perished in tlie (lames AVe worked from the time of the arrival of the train till about 1:30 o’clock this morning trying to extricate the suffering who were in such dread of fire, und at. that time a friendly shower of rain helped us. We then went to work more delitieratoly and continued up to 8 o'clock, during which time we removed fifty-eight bodies and three or four times as many wounded. The relief train from the East took tlie wounded out to Piper City. The city hall and school house at Chatsworth were improvised into a hospital, and the citizens came to our relief with everything possible,” Air. Risner said thut they had nothing with which to carry dirt to tho wreck, but their hands. He stood the sickening work of re lieving the wounded and getting out the dead until lie came to the dead bodies of two girls about the age of his own, when his humanity gave way and he was compelled to stop. Arch Crosswell and wife, of Peoria, were on their way to visit their parents in Kankakee, with their ti-weeks-old baby. Airs. Crosswell occupied a scat, in front of tlie car next to the door. Air. Cross well tieing unable to get a seat with his wife took another position a few yards back. When the concussion came the front end of the car was crushed in and Airs. Crosswell was killed. The baby was found in the centre of the car with hut slight injuries. It was taken to a farm house near by and cared for. PINNED DOWN BY THE SEATS. Dr. Hazen, of Fort Madison, la., says tho train was running about thirty miles nil hour when the accident occurred. He felt a sudden jar and found himself aud his wife fastened under the sqats. He pulled the backs off of two seats before he could get his wife out. She was bruised on the body and both of her feet were crushed. His shoulder was dislocated, aud lie had it pulled into place as soon as lie could get out of the wreck. In helping others he put it out of place again, and had to have it pulled into place tho second time. There were nine persons in his parly and he can only hear of three of them so far. He says he saw E. D. Stoddard band his boy out to a lady, while he crawled back to get his wife, who was killed. Following is a list of the wounded as far as identified. It is slow work as the bodies are horribly mangled: E. AV. Parker and wife, of Peoria, had their head and limbs injured. Airs. Emma Regan and son, of Peoria, suffered slight injuries. John Frye, of Peoria, had a leg broken and his back injured. H. L. Ogden, of Grayton, 111., had his head and foot injured. Florence Boucher, of Bayard, la., had her arm hurt. Pat Brady, of Gilman, 111., had his foot and head hurt. Sophia Pauline, of Peoria, 111., is injured about the head. C. W. Young, of West Jersey, had a hand hurt. C. W. Swank, of AVest Jersey, had his foot and shoulder injured. G. A. Scott, of Toulon, 111., had an ankle injured. Thomas Trimms, of Parke Ridge, 111., is injured about the arms, hips and legs. Theodore Godel, of Peoria, is injured about the head and legs. Mrs. Edith Chollow, of GNssford, 111., had a leg broken and an ankle bmisod. Air. cTiellow, of Glassford, 111., has a leg dislocated. Joe Neal, of Mossville, 111., is injured about the head and limbs. Mrs. Joe New, Mossville, had an arm and a leg broken. Her baby was killed. Aliss Julia A’aldenno, of Peoria, 111., is la terally injured. Abbie Edmonds, of Dix, 111., hal an ankle injured. Dr. E. P. Hazen and wife, of Fort Madi son, la., had their heads hurt. Aliss Emma Ulter, of Westpoint, la., is hurt, about the head and limbs. Mrs. H G. Thorns, of Risk, la., is in jured internally. H. H. Bond, of Colchester, 111., is injured internally. Mrs. Thomas AlcAvery, of Peoria, 111., is injured internally. Mrs. J. AV. Giant, of Peoria, is injured in ternally. Alary Morris, of Peoria, is bruised. Robert Zimmerman, of Peoria, is injured about the head and spine. E. T. French, of Peoria, has a hip and his body injured. Eaton Waters, of Peoria, is hurt about the hips and body. Otto Johnson, of Burlington, la., had his legs hurt. Airs. R. H. Clark, of Riotstown, la., had her legs injured. C. AV. Cross, of AVashington, 111., is in jured about tho head and chest. J. E. Dochman, of Pooria, had an ankle injured. Madge T. Harris, of Peoria, had an ankle broken. Arthur AlcCarty,of Eureka, 111., had both of his eyes put out. David Crawford, of Hilton, 111., is injurod atiout the head, limbs and hips. A. F. McGee, of Labarp, 111., is hurt about tho legs and spine. Mrs. S. R. Boidon, of Tonica, 111., had a foot hurt. AVilliam Forbes, of Elmwood, 111., is in jured about the chest and head. Elizabeth Settlers, of Laharpe, 111., had her limits injured. Mrs. Linda Walters, of Peoria, bad her nose, jaw and leg hurt. H. Abraham, of Peoria, is injured in ternally. Williiyn Smith, of Peoria, had his head crushed. Frank Taylor, of McComb, 111., is injured internally. John Stear, of Rushville, 111., is injured about the legs. J. W. Stearns, of Green valley, 111,, is hurt about the legs. Adam Hhamberger, of Peoria, is injured about the hip, side and heel. S. L Belsfcv, of Doer Creek, 111., had his head and ankle injured. Paton Cross, of Washington, 111, had a leg injured. J. li. Kelly, of Bood, 111, ha/1 his hip and leg broken. Frank Snadicker, of Abingdon, 111., had his head hurt and leg broken. Daniel Rock, of Rosefleld, 111., hnd his head, leg and hands broken. A. C. Jordan, of Danville, la, hnd a leg hurt. K. A. Gregg, of Danville, la., had a log hurt. Airs. C. E. Allen, of Galesburg, 111,, had her head injured. W. E. Ellis, of Peoria, ha/I his head in jure/1. Minnie A’aughsdale, of Peoria, had a leg broken. Calvin Davis, of Peoria, ha/1 an arm in jured. Conductor Stillwell bad his head, arm and leg hurt. C. H. Carter, Jr., of Burlington, la., is injured about the body. Harold E. Lawrence, of Burlington, la., is injured about the body. H. B. Lawrence, oT Burlington, la., is in jured about the body. John Momnetor, of Burlington, la., la in jureii abovt ti"- body. Frank Brown, of Peoria, is injured about the bend. Mrs. Kellogg, of Tremont, is injured about the body.’ Mrs. K. G.’ Welsh, of Peoria, is injured about the body. Mrs. Isaac Body, of Whiteside, 111., is in jured about the body. Catherine Lot, of Peoria Is hurt about tho bodv. Blanch Allen, of Peoria, suffered bodily injuries. R. E. Stock, df Peoria, is injured about tlie body. LIST OF THE DEAD. Miss Stephens and her father; Alike Rea gan, of Biughonipton, N. Y.; William Craig, of Culm. Ill,; Henry llieken, of Pe kin, 111.; Noah Havemere, of Canton, 111.; H. Smith, of Mntamore, 111.; George A. Smith, of Peoria; Airs. Zenunerumn, of Peoria; Rosa and Maggie Murphy and their mother, of Peoria; Miss Aggie Alai vow, of Peoria; Aliss Neal, of Alassville, 111.; Emi line Carrithers, of Evans, 111,; Jess Meek, of Eureka, 111.; Sherman Brimfleld, of Illinois; Met’lintoek, engineer, of Peoria; Elizabeth Cross, of Washington, 111.; Mrs. E. D. Stoddard, of AA’est Point, la.; Mrs. Pearl Adams, of Pooria; Pearl French, of Peoria; W. H. Potter, of Rush nell, 111.; Airs. J. M. Clay, of Eureka, 1 111.; J. I). Richards, Mrs. Breeze, of Peoria; AV. Oerreteroi, of Peoria; E. F. Attains, of Fairbury; AV. H. Let, of lillwood; Adtlie Webster, of Peoria; Mrs. AVilliam Alien, of Pooria; At. AV. A'alejo, of Peoria; Mrs. H. 11. McClure and daughter, of Peoria; Airs. Miller, of Peoria ; Mr. AV right, of Peoria; Mrs. James Dale, of I’eoria; Airs. AVilliam Ball ami daughter, of Peoria; F. 11. AA r ynett, of Pooria; E. Godell and son, Dr. William Collins, of Galesburg, 111.; J. Body, J. S. Kaler, of Breed's Station, 111.; John Mur phy, of Peoria; Henry Siegelson, of Keokuk, la.; Oney Spaith, of Green Valley, 111.; Johu A. Moore, of Jacksonville, 111.; J. D. MeFadden, of Peoria; ('apt. Ahlko A. Mar tin, of Bloomington, III.; J. T. Green, of Breed’s Station, mid about twenty dead are at Piper City. M’CLINTOCK DECAPITATED. The most horrible death of all was that of Eugene McClintock, the engineer of the soetnid engine of the double header. Tho first engine, which engineer Sutherland was running, passed over the burning bridge in safety, out it was under its weight that the half consumed bridge gave way and the tender dropped back in tlie dry slough. Engineer Sutherland’s engine kept the rails in safety, such wax the awful speed of the unfortunate train. Ato- Clintocfe’s engine plunged down into the black hole, and os the tender mounted on top of the cab it took McClintock in the back of the neck, and cut his bead clean off his shoulders. The trunk was found under the engine, but the head could not bo discov ered, and the presumption is that it was ground to atoms in tno horriblo millstones of the engine and tender. WOUNDED ARRIVING AT PEORIA. Peoria, 111., Aug. 11. —Several thou sand people were at the depot this afternoon when the train arrived bearing the first of the wounded from Cliatsworth. Theerowd was so large 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. J. M. Tierney was in the first sleeper. He said: “I felt three distinct shocks and then heard a grinding sound, and on looking out saw that the car in which we wore was directly over a fire which wus slowly blazing on the stringers of the bridge. I got out, and the scene J (resented to the eye and ear was one I wish could forever efface from my memory, hut I know I never can. The shrieks of the dying and the glaring laces of the dead will always stay with me. To add to the horror it was pitch dark, save the fitful light of the fire under tho sleeper, which lighted the faces of those about, only to make their fear a nil anguish visible. On the mouths of most of the corpses could be seen foam, which showed that, they die/1 in agony. At last wesecured feeble lights, but the wind blew them out, anil about, 2 o'clock the rain poured down in tor ents on the tin protected dead anil dying in the hedges and corn fields adjacent. A TERRIBLE SCENE. Our efforts were divided between trying to put out the firo and rescuing the dying, whose cries for help were heartrending indeed. Mothers ran wildly about crying for lost children and wives for husbands. Strong men were weeping over the forms of their beloved wives. Prayers, entreaties and groans filled the air until daylight, when the relief parties got to work and removed the dead and wounded from !he scene. The scene in the cars was beyond description. Onn young child was found fastened near the roof of the car, head down, where, in the jar and concussion, it had lieen thrown, and was dead win . taken down. Others were found in all conceivable shapes, all thrown out of their seats, piled in the end of the aisle of the cars, bleeding front gashes in the face, arms or other iKirtions of the body. ___ INTEREST PREPAYMENT. The Secretary Declines to Accept Two More Offers of 1 lO Flat. AVashington, Aug. 11.— Application for prepayment of interest on United .States bonds were received to-day amounting to $8,810,750, making the total to date $18,283,- 550. Secretary Fairchild to-day received nn offer from Harvey Fisk A Sons, of New York, to sell the government $2,500,000 •Uj per cent, bonds ut 110 flat, and an offer was received from the First National Bank of New York offer ing $1,450,000 in 4,‘j per cents at the same rate. These are the same bonds offered yesterday at 110V4 and 1 lo'-j respectively. The reduction is made in consequence of the Secretary’s acceptance of the offer of the Suffolk Bank of Boston at. 110 flat, The Secretary declined both offers and tele gruphed to Fisk & Sons and the First, National Bank as follows: “The plan adopted by the deiiartment for the purchase of government bonds and heretofore published provides only for the consideration of these offers of sale, which aro made pursuant to said plan each AVfdnosdav at noon. This plan will lxi strictly followed until public announce ment is made of the adoption/if a different plan. Therefore no further offers can be con sidered until next Wednesday.” Knights of Labor Grand Officers. Mobile, Ala., Auk. 11.—The following grand officers were elected at the Knights of Ijltior eonvcllt.il ill to-dny: Moses Dickson was re-elected Chief Grand .Mentor hy ac clamation ; J. AV. Asls iry, of Memphis, Vice Grand Mentor; A. R. Chism, of Glue gow, Mo., Chief HccrcUiry; H. S. Parker, of Missouri, Chief Treasurer; J. H. Jenkins, of l iid/n/eiidence, Mo., Assistant Treasurer; ft. F. Ifurley, of Aluhatna, Orator; Maty L. Head, ’of Louisville, Chief Grand Preeep tress, and Lutena Scott, of Holly Springs, Aliss., Vice Grand I’le-optresx. Clerks Pass the Examinations. Washington, Aug. 11. —The reports sub mitted by the Iseiril of examiners for pro motions In the War Deliartuient show that, all tlie clerks examined in tlie Paymaster General’s office, twenty-three hi number, pursed wooessfully, aud that but one clerk out of twenty-four examined in tho office of the Chief of Engineers failed to pass a suc cessful examination. Potarda at Madrid. Madhio, Aug. 11,— lwo petards wore ex. {ilcKied this morning on the staircase of the tinkling occupied by the Ministry of the In terior. No damage wan done. The perpe- Jtrators of trie oiitrn;"' are ort. k”/)”>••> IVES ASSIGNS. The Liabilities $20,000,000 and the Assets Somewhat More. New York, Aug. 11.—The firm of Henry 8. Ives & Cos. has notified the Stock Ex change of its suspension. There was intense excitement in the Isiard as soon ns the nn nouncement wns received. Mr. Cromwell, of Sullivan <fc Cromwell, has lieon made as signee. It is stated that the liabilities axe fitsiut $20,000,000, with assets somewhat in cxoeas of that amount. The announcement was made just before the elose of the Stock Exchange, and it caused stocks to make slight advances. 1 ves’ suspension was read at the Stock Ex change this afternoon. For a moment after the announciment. there was silence in the board room, and then came the utterly un precedented feature of the brokers giving three cheers at the news of the suspension of a fellow member. A MATTER OK CONVENIENCE. In the course of an interview Mr. Crom well said: “The assignment was rather a matter of convenience than of necessity. There were so many in terests involved, ineluding the Cin cinnati, Hamilton and Dayton railroad, the Dayton and Michigan, the Mineral Range, Dayton and Chicago, the Vandalia, and other roads, beside individual creditors, that it was absolutely necessary to have some one man in control. To give this control Ives & Cos. had to assign. All the creditors, < 'hris topher Meyer, Fellows Morgan, Alfred Sully, the Farmers’ Loan and Trust Com pany and Mr. Starbuck were consulted as to who should have control. They united on me. In a few days I shall probably have everything arranged, and with the assist ance of a powerful syndicate 1 shall begin liquidation at once. It is impossible for me to give the amount, of the liabilities, but I do not think they will exceed $10,000,(XX).” THE LIABILITIES. From other sources it wns learned that ’ the liabilities would exceed $30,000,000 Of this sum the Cincinnati,' Hamilton and Day toil’s claim is for about $.'>,000,000, the Van dalise about $2,.'>00,000, William Fellows, and Morgan A Cos. *2,000,000, L R. Harri sons, of the First National Hunk, $1,000,000, Alfred Sully SIOO,OOO, the Farmers’ Loan and Trust Company SOOO,OOO, Irving G. Evans, of Boston, $2H7,000. There are many other claims held by rail roads and brokers in whose names the loans had been made out. In the list of claims aleivo givon, Christopher Meyer’s claim for several millions is not included as Mr. Meyer is charged w ith being a silent partner in the linn. Mr. HtarhUck’s claim, , which is se seeured l>v a mortgage on n yacht which he sold Mr. Ives is also omitted as Just now the street estimates no claim under SIOO,OOO. A TILT OVER THE PACIFIC. Senator Stanford Refuses to Reply as to Bribery. Ran Francisco, Aug. 11. —In the Pacific Railway Commission investigation yos tor day a few decided and somewhat Warm words passed between the members of tho commission and Senator Stanford. A few of the questions propounded by the Commis sioners ns to whether they hud been aided by him to influence legislation, Mr. Rian ford under advice from his counsel declined to answer, while to others he replied that so far as his knowledge extended not a dollar bad been expended for this purpose. When on a voucher of $50,000 the question wns asked lignin if any [sirtion thereof was used wifi) intentent to influence legislation ho said: “1 have told you three or four times that, I know of no money being paid for that pur pose. What is the use of you asking me the same thing over and over again?” BEADING THE RIOT ACT. Chairmun Patterson—l wunt you to un derstand, (Senator, that, I intend to ask you on every voucher that I have ns to wtiy you spent the sums of money mentioned in each particular voucher, and if any of the money was used to influence legislation. Mr. Stanford Well, do you think it gen tlemmdy to ask me over and over again tilt, same question? Mr. Patterson—lf I linve not noted gen tlemanly i apologize. lam only influenced by my duties as a Commissioner. Mr. Stanford —Well, I will doeline to answer your question. Mr. Patterson—That is your right. The plan was then adopted of asking separate questions as to each voucher and having separate answers given, as it was stated by the commission that there would no doubt In- an appeal to the courts in eon m otion with toe refusal of the witness to answer questions as specially us ttie com mission desired. EXECUTED BY SHOOTING. A Murderer who Fought Hard for Life Killed by Five Men. Salt Lake, Aug. 11. —Fred Hopt, alias “Welcome," wus shot to death in tho yard of tho penitentiary, four miles from this city, to-day. The firing i>arty consisted of live men with rifles. Dr. Hamilton pinned n rosette over Hopt’s heart, told him to Is) Arm. and look straight at the guns, and death would cone quickly. lie would not lie mutilated if ho did not flinch. The condemned man showed tlic utmost firmness. This case is remarkable for two reasons. Tho murder for which Hopt was executed was one of almost unexampled atrocity and boldness, and was proven upon tlic first trial beyond (he |x>sHihil ty or doubt. Tim man hud lie ui a burdened criminal previous to this murder, wusircsli from jail and was not a man of moans, yet his lawyers appealed to the United States Ku pifino Court four times on technicalities re lating to the court proceedings on tho con struction of tho law. Three times a now trial was ordered, but the fourth time the appeal was dismissed. These proceedings Imvo cost the United Ktutcn government many thousands of dollars. RAIN IN THE DRY BEDT. The Downpour too I.ate for Crops, but a Good Fire Extinguisher. Chicago, All;;. 11. A light rain fell here for several hours lost night, which had n very beneficial effort iu cooling the atmos phere and subduing the incipient prairie fli es around the city. The shower appeared to lie general throughout the Northern part Of the State. A special from Grand Rapids, Mich., says: "A heavy lain storm visited this sec tion lost, night. It began at 11 o’clock, and Ht. 1 o’clock the prospects word tliat. it would coiitimie all nignt. It came too late to ben efit erojis very much, though it will lessen tho danger from fires.” KOBTRCAHTKRK IOWA DAMPENED. DCBI'QI'K, Aug, 11.—Rain fell lost even ing throughout the whole of Northeastern lowu. Alint two inches fell before it cleared. Corn, grain and paxturugu are greatly helped hy it.. Virginia’s Prohibitionists. Staunton, Va., Aug. 11. — Petitions are I icing generally circulated throughout the State calling for a State convention of tne Prohibition party. Staunton will probably lie selected ns the place for tho convention, and it wiil be held enrlv in Hcntemher I PRICE H 0 A YEAR. ( j i CENT* A COPY, f TROUBLE OVER A THRONE RUSSIA VERY APT TO BITTERLY OPPOSE FERDINAND. The Prince Sent a Note to the Power* Explaining His Action—Russian Ed itors Think That the Signatory Nations Have Been Too Completely Ignored to Bear it in Bilence. Vienna, Aug. It.—Prince Ferdinand, o! Saxe, who is on his way to Sofia, slept last night at Orsova. He resumed his journey at 5 o’clock this morning. Ho sent a nota to the powers yesterday stating that his reason for starting for Bulgaria without their consent was that he was convinced that their opjsisitinn was not due to any objection to him personally, hut was directed solely to the manner of his election. THE SELTAN’S NOTIFICATION. Constantinople, Aug. 11.—Prince Ferdi nand lias telegraphed to tlic Sultan notify ing him of his <ie|>arture for Bulgaria, and expressing the hope that he will accept his election to the Bulgarian throne. He says he goes to Bulgaria to aet in conformity with the Sultan’s wishes, and that his inten tion is to govern the country with love, jus tice and equality as respects all religions. He also sent tho Sultan a copy of a proMa nmtton declaring that the Bulgarian people aix> determined to walk in the ways of lib erty and civilization. RUSSIA NETTLED. St. Petersburg, Aug. 11.— I The Journal ih' St. [ytn-shitrgex presses its astonishment that Prince Ferdinand’s journey to Bulgaria should lie spoken of as an adventure. For Prince Ferdinand’s sake it regrets that he so promptly forgot all the necessary urohtni nary conditions which should be oiiserved before his election could take effect. The Prince’s ohliviousness to all tho condition! of legality and conventional procedure is certainly not likely to induce Russia to modify her views respecting the illegality of his election. His disregard for the Porte and {lowers is too manifest to permit of their approving Ids journey. Other Russian journals express similar views regarding the journey. WIDDEN DECORATED. AVidden, Aug. 11. —The city is decorated with flags and banners in anticipation of the anival of Prince Ferdinand. A triumphal arch lias been erected in the Prince’s honor which I tears the inscription: “Bulgaria triumphantly greets you. Her happiness is in your hands. Hhe trusts you to defend her independence. The country and people will be with you.” CLEVELAND’S PLANB. He Will I.eave Washington During the Last Week in September. Washington, Aug. 11.—It is about defi nitely determined that the President will 1-nve Washington the last week in Heptem ltcr ami go directly to Rt. Louis, probably by way of Indianapolis. He will spend two days at SI. Louis and go from them to Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Memphis, Nash ville and Atlanta, reaching the latter place in time to iiiiwt his engagement for Oct. IS. He will go by the ordinary line of travel between the places named, and os his fixed appointments will preclude any divergence from the route to visit other cities all in vitations outside of it will have to be de clined. The President told a committee representing tho city of Providence, It. 1., which lull'd upon him to-day and asked him to top over in Provi dence on his way to join idr . Cleveland at Marion, Mass,, that h had no intention of going to Massachusetts. He had previously telegraphed them the same tiling. The I’resident has made no plans for this month. He will not go falling with Senator Kenna and others in West Virginia, nor will bo go fishing with .bulge Maynard and others In New' York. He hopes to get away for a little while, but ho does not know yet where lie is going. LANGSTON MURDER CASE. Gov. Camerdn Dwells on the Law oa Medical Treatment. Petersburg, Va., Aug. 11.—Ex-Gov, William E. Cameron opened the argument for tile prosecution in the Langston murder case this afternoon ami spoke for over three house. Hu dealt with all tlic points in the evidence ami laid special stress ou tlic instructions of the court to tlie jury, one of which is that if a person unlawfully with malice in flict upon another n wound which will necessarily produce death, unless properly trcatis] or ins-rated upin, or a wound which endangers life, and ileatli results within a year, that person is guilty of murder and this is true, although it may up|s-ar that the wounded person was improperly treatod and that the treatment may have aggravated tho wound and contributed to death. The law does not allow a person who unlawfully inflicts a mortal wound to relieve himself from responsibility for death or shelter him seif behind any doubt which disagn-eing doctors may raise as to the proper treat ment. Gov. Cameron argued for justice and a verdict of murder in tho first degree. The defendant’s counsel will speak to morrow. RIGHTS OF DRUMMERS. North Carolina Not to Make Any More Arrests Under the License Law. Baltimore, Aug. 11. —A. W. Henderson, of Baltimore, who was arrested in North Carolina on a charge of being a non-resi dont and wiling goods without a State license was to-day before Judge Bonner, of the United States Circuit Court, on a writ of hals'iis corpus. The Judge released him on his own recognizance to apjiear before the court in North Carolina on the last Monday in November, with the understand ing that the authorities of that State shall make no more arrests for violation of their law, which requires a license from non-resi dents. Killed by a Falling Stone. Baltimore, Aug. 11.—About 10:30 o’clock to night a large’pieoe of ornamental stone work on the front of Odd Fellows Hall, on Nortti Gay street, fell to tin* pave ment, a distance or about forty feet. An unknown man who was passing was struck and crushed to death. The stone weighed nliout half a ton. Up to midnight the corpae bad not t>en recognized. Robbers Ditch a Train. San Francisco, Aug. 11.—A west-bound express train was robbed lust night thirty miles east of Tucson, Ari. The train was ditched and the express car robtied by four robbers. The Sheriff and a jiosse are on the trail, which leads to the Rincon Mountains. Four Killed in a Shaft. Milwaukee, Aug. 11.— Shaft No. 1, of the Ashland mine, new Hurley, Wis.,caved in yesterday afternoon, killing four men ami injuring another ao badly that he is not expected to iive.