The Dover, Oklahoma Train Accident
The Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Tuesday, September 18, 1906PLUNGED TO DEATH
NORTH BOUND ROCK ISLAND TRAIN FROM FT WORTH
TO CALDWELL, KANSAS, PLUNGES INTO THE
CIMARRON RIVER EARLY TODAYLOSS OF LIFE ESTIMATED 100
Heavy Rain of Last Night Carried Away Bridge
Cars Are Submerged
Relief Trains Rushed to the Scene from Various Points
Wires Carried Away and Particulars Unobtainable
By Associated PressOklahoma City, Okla., Sept. 18. - A special to the Times- Journal from Enid this afternoon stated that fully one hundred persons were drowned in the wreck of the Rock Island passenger train, which went into the river at Dover. It is reported that one hundred passengers went into the river and that all were drowned with the exception of one man, Floyd Zeist. Four men were seen to fall from the top of one car into the water and were drowned. No names of the victims are obtainable at this time.
Another report from Kingfisher states that many persons were rescued from the wreck, and were taken by a relief train to that place. Many persons, more dead than alive from their experiences, were placed in the hotels at Kingfisher, while a number of bodies were taken to the morgue there. A number of Kingfisher people, known to have been on the train, have not been found.
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Wichita Kas., Sept 18. - A telephone message from Hennessey, Okla., eight miles from the scene of the wreck, says that all cars except the rear Pullman went into the river and that two hundred and twenty-five persons were carried into the water. Only a small number of these are reported safe.
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Kansas City, Sept. 18. - Private messages received here from Dover, Okla., at three o'clock this afternoon said that up to that time forty-seven bodies had been counted in the temporary morgue there.
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Kansas City, Sept. 18. - The correspondent of the Associated Press at Hennessey, Oklahoma, at 3:20 says that at that time the known dead numbered at least one hundred.
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Enid, Okla., Sept 18. - A disastrous wreck occurred just before daylight today, a few miles south of Dover, Oklahoma, when the engine, baggage cars, mail car, and one coach of the north bound passenger No. 12 on the Rock Island went into the Cimarron River, the bridge having been washed out by heavy rain last night. The smoker is partly submerged in the river. Two Pullmans, a chair car, and one coach, composing the rest of the train, remained on the track. The engineer, fireman, express messenger and postal clerks escaped from the river. It is impossible to state as yet how many passengers were in the coach and whether or not any escaped. A brief message received from the conductor gave the only details so far received. The wrecked bridge carried down the telegraph wires, cutting off communication. At 1:30 it was reported that all but four of the passengers on the wrecked cars lost their lives. The train was going at the usual rate of speed when it went into the river, without the least warning. Relief trains and correspondents went to the scene from various points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ardmoreite Special
Enid, Okla., Sept 18. - Rock Island train No. 12, north bound from Fort Worth to Caldwell, Kans., plunged through the bridge over the Cimarron River, 27 miles south of here today. The entire train, except the sleeper, went into the stream.
Of all those who went into the river, it is reported here that only four escaped.
A relief train was at once made up here and rushed to the scene.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ardmoreite Special
Oklahoma City, Okla., Sept. 18. - The engine, two baggage coaches and two chair cars of the Rock Island train bound for Caldwell, Kans., from Fort Worth, went through the bridge at Dover into the Cimarron river at 5 a.m. today. It is reported that 100 passengers were drowned.
One man, Floyd Ziest, escaped after swimming two miles.
No names are obtainable at this time.