.MTI4MA.MTAyNTU1

They were two Brothers Austin & Asahel Root who came out here a month or two since from Vermont 18 & 21 years old, the younger went to work at the bridge but took sick & has been unable to work most of the time with Dysentery. The older worked at the tracklaying, very steady one of the very best men. Thursday his brother sent to him to come down and see him. He went intending to stay a day or two but finding the train going up at dusk suddenly concluded to go up - and was killed. How I pitied that boy, left alone here so far from home - entirely destitute and sick. I feared he would really break his heart. But I have got him up here & believe he is better, I will take care of him. I got to the river before Mr Mason arrived from below. Met him there with the dreadful news. Took every measure to urge forward the completion of the bridge - so we can get Engines & cars over from the 1st Div. Then came up with Misters Mason Olson & Griswold with much effort succeeded in getting them through to the end of track by 12PM so they could go on. I got back to the wreck, where Mr Mitchell was already at work clearing away the fragments with a large force of men. The wreck is a complete one. Our great 10.000 engine as perfectly used up as I ever saw one, laying lead downwards in the ditch; the machinery fairly raked and Four Cars entirely destroyed. The dead were buried at DuQuoin Old burying ground on Friday afternoon. Austin A. Root, Harding Keating, Jacob Randleman; all young stout men, 20 to 25 years old, healthy & active; on the same car they were on were four oldish men rather weak & aguish looking who were all saved. Friday night I got down here & by 9 slept. I had been on my feet from 5am Thursday. In the night Friday, by great good fortune, Goodale got back from St Louis with the repaired cylinder heads of the old Medford. They went to work on her & got her running before night Sat. Mitchell & his men succeeded in clearing the wreck & track. I took all the force I could muster to the River, worked there all day & got back tired at 10 P.M to hear then of Taylor's death. got men at work on coffin &c But I finally got to sleep & slept till almost 10 this morning. Mitchell got the Medford started at 4 P.M up to End of Track, came back this morning & has gone up now 3.30 P.M with another load. I regret the Sabbath work but it seems unavoidable. The whole country is waiting for us 1000.00 would not pay for the delay of a day now unless the Medford worked today. The whole line must stop tomorrow. The Engine working today all can get to work tomorrow. I never did order Sunday work. That I could not prevent I did order not to work today at the bridge which was taking a great responsibility - if the rain had not taken the responsibility.