Train No. 17 Goes thru a Bridge

Eleven victims of the wreck of the Columbian at Watauga Tuesday afternoon are still in the hospital at Mobridge. None are seriously hurt. The list of the injured person in the hospital is;
Mrs. J.H. Hetladd, Miles City, Mont., fractured arm,
Elmer E. Brooks, conductor, Miles City, Mont., bruised about the head,
Mrs. O.O. Smith, Mobridge, bruises,
A.J. Hilton, Coeur d'Alene, Ida., bruised about legs,
W.P. Stevens, Minneapolis, cuts and bruises,
Mrs. George Benz, Algamo, Ia., bruises,
N.D. Hodson, Minneapolis, bruised about body,
P.N. White, Norfolk, Neb., cut about arms and body,
E.Y. Rowland, traveling salesman with headquarters at Aberdeen, cuts and bruises.
About fifty persons were more or less shaken up and injured Tuesday afternoon about 1 o'clock when Milwaukee train No. 17 went through a bridge a mile and one-half east of Watauga. The injured were taken to Mobridge on a special train made up at the wreck and taken to a hospital where it was found that not over a dozen were in need of medical attention, according to the report received here.
It is believed by railroad officials that the bridge was burning when engine and several coaches passed over it. The wrecked coaches were in the center of the train and the sleepers and the parlor car did not leave the rails.
The wreck can be considered a very fortunate one for the company and also the travelers as two coach went over the embankment and only for the steel coach many deaths would have resulted. The general opinion is that the bridge was on fire when the train started to cross over and allowed the rail to spread.
Mr. and Mrs. George Menzel was on the train and Mrs. Menzel received some minor inuries.
Taken from Morristown World January 9, 1920