Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1882-03-31
SOLEllN s,pznIB'WOOD.
A Collision Causes the Death Of e. Young
Man on the Morn cG ais Arrival at
His New Eonle.
James r. Winslow, the Pioneer Lumber
Dealer, Receives a Full Train Load
Of all Kinds Of Lumber.
They are Still Flocking to the Garden of
Eden from Michigan, Pennsylvania
and all East
The Collision.

At half-past six O'Clock on Sunday
morning freight train bound west COLI
ded with another bound east at Spirit
wood, ten miles east OF Jamestown The
east bound train had just arrived, and
having the right of way stood on the
main track. The engineer Of the other
train, by some miscalcuiatlon, ran ut lull
speed until within about hall mile OF
the station. He soon after discovered the
train ahead Of hun and tried to stop, get
ting his speed down to eight or ten miles
an hour when the collision occurred. Bis
engine rebounded, telesuoping box car
containing settler from Norwich, CANA
da, named Henry Z. Mott, and five head
of horses, together with cmigrants' move
ables. Mott was instantly killed. One
horse was also killed. bat the others,
strange to say, escaped serious injury
Mott was young man about twenty-five
wears of age and was about to settle on
land near Spiritwood. The track was
blockaded for several hours.
In the afternoon the coroner, VIM. Ell
mer, held an inquest, at which the fol-
lowing testimony was submitted:
F. NJ. Thompson, sworn--Statcd that
he was engineer of the train bound west
and it was foggy; couldn't see the whist
ling post; did not see the reflection OF the
headlight until within three OF four train
lengths, or abont onc-cighth mile OF 9th
or train; whistled for brakes reversed en-
ginc and tried my best to stop; sand in
sand box was wet and wouldn't run; en-
CINE slid along the track; was going twen-
ty miles an hour when collision occurred;
one brakeman was on engine and got out
to set one brake; fifteen miles an hour is
the usual speed, and is the rate of time
fixed by the company; am frequently in
the habit of exceeding this rate; could
have stopped, or nearly stopped, at the
depot if sand had not been wet; intended
to stop at depot; did not slack up because
/ did not know where | was had orders
to meet other train here; east bound ira in
had right OF road; intended to switch my
train at west end OF switch; whislling
post is near the track; it was my duty to
look out for post, aud If | had been at
tending strictly to duty | could have seen
it. although the night was Ioggy; l and
fireman Jumped from engine wien with
in car length Of other engine; train was
slackened to eight or ten miles an hour
when collision occurred; l. knew when L
loft sixth siding that car containing de-
ceased was next to the engine at eleven
O'Clock; did not know at time of collision
thSt deceased was in the car: | was rum
Ming wild train; fifteen miles an hourfcg-
ulation applies to wild as well as regular
trains.
Geo. Schoomaker, conductor of west
bound train, in course OF testimony said:
Train was running about fifteen miles an
'Nour. full rate of speed; it was an unusu-
Al rate of speed at which TO De running
whe 4 nearing station; could have stop
nod If train had been running at ten miles
an hour--usual speed when approaching
station: triI to stop train; directed my
men to nut IN brakes when nan mile
from Mace of accident; did not hear en-
rine whistle for brakes just before coins.
ion; nv habit is to approach staelohs AT
slackened speed; orders are not TO exceed
six miles an hour in approaching slatlon
or siding; ought to have conlmenceu
Stacking speed two miles east OF nplfit-
wood in order to reduce speed IRON ~
teen to five miles an hour; dlc not kho"
deceased was on train; both men were
onClClcO 10 passage W cl''i :'''4c
against the rules of the company tor pas
aenrers on freight train to ride IN a box
car: the caboose was crowded tull; there
was no more seating room in IT until after
train left Whcatland.
Nathan kellam, engineer cast bound
train: His train had right OF way; az
rived at Spiritwood two OF three minutes
before saw other train coming; called Tor
brakes: reversed engine and started my
train back; l and fireman left the en-
gine. e.:,, .;,od
s.orpse: death resulted from injuries from
two blunt bodies striking violently against
chest of deceased: lower part OF chest ana
left side severely injured by conclusion
vith said blunt bodies: left leg broken
half way between ankle and Knee JOINT;
scalp confused and face bunged.
The jury returned the following Vef-
dict:
Henry E. Mott came to his death in con
seouence of collision between two
freight trains belonging TO the Northern
Pacific Railroad company. and that salu
S,ollislon caused the death OF deceased,
which took place at Spritwood, Ill Stuts,
man county, D. r., on the morning OF
the 26th of March, 1882: that the cause OF
aaid collision was the negligence of Fred
Thompson, engineer OF the west bound
| train.
/ Attest:
WILL ELMER, Coroner.
T. H. BowDITCn,
j. j. ROPER,