Packard, IA train wreck, Jun 1916

TRAIN GOES THROUGH BRIDGE, KILLING FIVE

Score Injured and Fifteen Are Missing in Iowa Wreck.

DES MOINES, Ia., June 2. - At least five persons lost their lives, a score were injured and fifteen others are believed to be missing in the wreck of Rock Island train No. 19, northbound, which went through a bridge at Packard, Ia., early today. The wreck was due to the storm, which so crippled wire service that it was impossible to obtain accurate information.

Reports from Waterloo, Greene, Cedar Rapids and Charles City, Ia., gave the following as list of dead:

MRS. FLORA VAN VLIET, Traer, Ia.
DORRIS KOBER, 16, Waterloo, Ia.
RUTH KOBER, 16, Waterloo.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN.

Twenty injured, six of whom are believed to be in a serious condition, were taken to Greene, Ia.

According to information collected from various sources, the greatest loss of life was in the day coach, which toppled on its side under ten feet of water.

Wreckers this afternoon were attempting to raise the car and it was feared many more dead will be found inside.

A list of missing has not been compiled, but the conductor of the train estimated that there were fifteen on the train at the time of the accident who have not been heard from.

Wrecking trains, bringing doctors and nurses, were started from Mason City and Waterloo, but were delayed by conditions due to the storm.

The Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake City, UT, 2 Jun 1916

FOUR DIE IN WRECK

Rock Island Passenger Goes Through Packard, Ia., Span.

20 HURT; 10 MAY BE DEAD

Engine and Three Coaches Drop Into Ten Feet of Water and Many Bodies are Believed Still in Submerged Day Car.

WATERLOO, Ia., June 2. - The bodies of four Iowa women, all identified, had been recovered tonight from the wreck of a day coach attached to a Rock Island passenger train, which met disaster early today, while passing over a bridge whose abutments had been weakened by a near-cloudburst.

The wreck occurred seven miles east of this city. The day coach was the only one of five coaches to fall into the creek. About 45 persons were in the car and it was estimated tonight that the list of killed or drowned will total 10 or more.

Officials of the railroad estimate that at least four more bodies remain in the partly submerged car and efforts will be made to remove them tomorrow. The number of missing is uncertain.

The Morning Oregonian, Portland, OR, 3 Jun 1916

Greene, Iowa, June 3. - Rescue work at the Packard wreck has resulted in the finding of nine bodies, eight of which have been identified. Four are known to be missing.

All But One Drowned

The bodies of Mrs. Wexcot, Mr. Lapp and Alvin Thoen were found this afternoon down stream from where the wreck occurred Friday morning, seven miles south of Greene, when a bridge over a creek gave way and let the day coach fall into the creek. It is believed that all but Mrs. Van Vliete drowned, she having been injured internally.

Searchers Drag Creek

Searchers are devoting all of their time to dragging the creek and searching along the bank, believing that no more bodies will be found in the coach.

Fatally Injured

Many injured persons were being given treatment in local hospitals. The fatally injured are:

Mrs. S. E. Thoen of Kensett, Ia., F. L. Case, Henry, Ill., and Mrs. Henry Unzen of Minot, N. D.

Road Open Tuesday

Railroad officials state that they hope to have the bridge repaired by Tuesday morning.

The Aberdeen Daily American, Aberdeen, SD, 4 Jun 1916

Four More Bodies From Train Wreck

MASON CITY, Iowa, June 4. - The bodies of four additional victims of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific wreck at Packard, Iowa, Friday were recovered from the creek into which the train plunged today, making a total of thirteen found to date. Two persons are missing. Among the bodies found was that of Harry Farrell, 30 years old, of Louisville, Ky.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 5 Jun 1916
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!