As the engine crossed the bridge, a flash flood wave passed over the trestle shearing off the front half of the train and dragging 88 people to their deaths with 22 missing and another dying later of injuries.
The engineer, Charles Hinman, had been given a thunderstorm caution and had slowed the train to 10-15 mph to watch for washaways.
The Pullman's porter, Melville Sales of St. Louis, quickly pulled the emergency air brakes saving the remaining passengers.
As the flood waters receded, searchers found bodies as much as 22 miles (35 km) down the Arkansas River.
"The body of a woman about twenty-five years old, handsomely dressed, was found twenty-two miles down the Arkansas River and brought here to be identified.