Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1883 — A TERRIBLE DISASTER. [ARTICLE]

A TERRIBLE DISASTER.

An L., flf. A. &, C. Passenger Train Completely Wreck ed Great Loss of Life and Z j Property 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 wore left hanging upon* the abutment at the south end, and the Pullman sleeper remained on the track at the north end, but a combined baggage, mail arnbexpress car, a smoker and a ladies’ carr.ll 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. -Sine persons are reported to have been killed instantly or to have perished in the fire. Many others were injured, some of whom will pfobably die. 0. A. Cox, the conductor, well known to many residents of Rensselaer, was injured, and at first reported killed, but later reports say that his injuries were slight.