THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN AMERICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 8248, 15 August 1887, Page 4

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN AMERICA.

[BF JSLBOTS.IO TXLXBBAPB - COPYRIGHT, J

[Ebutbb’b Telegrams,]

[Received August 13, at 11.20 a.m.l

NEW YORK, At oust 12.

Further particulars relative to the railway disaster in Illinois, state that the train consisted of two engines and a large number of cars, which contained over a thousand passengers, chiefly from the town of Peoria. The driver of the foremost engine, on approaching the bridge, saw that it was in flames, but he was unable to stop the train in time to avert the catastrophe. The engines and carriages were completely wrecked. Over a hundred persons were killed outright, and four hundred injured.

[Special to Press Association.]

LONDON, August 13. The accident to the train at Illinois occurred at midnight. The first engine cleared the bridge, but the second, to which were attached ten carriages crammed with passengers, was wrecked, six of the carriages being telescoped. The wreckage ignited, and those who were not injured, and the least wounded, desperately combated the flames for four hours, smothering the fire with handfuls of ( earth until a torrent of rain extinguished it. Meanwhile the wounded remained without attendance and suffered great agony from want of water. Two of the male passengers who dreaded the approach of the fire committed suicide. Prowlers robbed many of the dead and wounded, but desisted on a lynching party being organised. The driver of the second engine was beheaded. One hundred and fifty were killed and three hundred wounded, many fatally. The six hindmost carriages, composed of sleeping cars, escaped from the accident.