Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1883 — A TERRIBLE DISASTER. [ARTICLE]

A TERRIBLE DISASTER.

On 1... M. A- AC. Paneaser Train Completely Wrecked Oreat Lobs of Life and Property j. The passenger and express train which passed Rensselaer Monday, at 10:33 m the evening, met with a dreadful accident near Salem, in Washington county, at about five o’clock on Tuesday morning. Blue river bridge, regarded as one of the most substantial on the line, had been undermined by high water resulting from thirty six hours continuous rains, and broke down as the train was passing over it, at the rate of 40 miles an hour., The locomotive and tender passed the bridge in safety, and were l#*ft hanging upon the abutment at the sourh end, and the Pullman sleeper remained on the track at the north end, but a combined baggage, mail and express car, a smoker and a ladies’ car all plunged endwise into the river, where they took fire from the overturned stoves, and, together with the car upon the track were quickly burned into ashes. Nine persons are reported to have been killed instantly or to have perished in the fire. Many others were injured, some of whom will probably die. C. A. Cox, the con-, ductor, well known to many residents of Rensselaer, was injured, and at first reported killed, but later reports say that his injuries were slight.