Salem, OR Train Wreck, Oct 1890

THROUGH A TRESTLE

Disastrous and Fatal Wreck Near Salem, Oregon.

Shortly after 8:30 o'clock on a recent night the overland Pacific train, southbound, went on to the north end of a long trestle over Lake Labish, about five miles from Salem, Oregon. The trestle must have given way as soon as the engine struck it, and the train and trestle all went down together. The engine was overturned and half buried in the mud, and following this were the tender, mail, baggage and express cars, smoking car and tourist sleeper. All were broken to pieces. The following is a list of the killed:
McFADDEN, ________, engineer;
McNEAL, TIMOTHY, fireman;
Two Unknown Men;
C. GRIEBEL, of Milwaukee, Wis.,
making five dead in all.

The total number of deaths from the accident will probably reach as high as ten, as many may have sustained what, it is feared, would prove serious internal injuries. The train carried over 100 persons, nearly all of whom were more or less injured.

The bridge is about 600 feet long and from sixteen to twenty feet high. It is supposed that the engineer felt the trestle give way as soon as his engine struck it. He gave one short whistle and set the brakes. The train moved ahead about fifty yards as it went down.

Fires were built along either side of the train to warm the wounded who had been removed from the wreck, and to light the way of the workers who had hastened to the rescue from Salem, Oregon, and vicinity. Laid out on the ground were the mangled corpses recovered from the wreck; reclining on the improvised beds about the fires were the wounded, while standing about, lending what assistance they could, were those less seriously wounded, and around these and everywhere were the crowds who had come to help or from curiosity.

The Cranbury Press New Jersey 1890-11-21
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!