Delta chief., 1883-05-30
RAILROAD WRECK.
i Passenger Train ON the Denver and
Rio Graude Goes Through n Bridge
Three Lives F.Ost ard Much Rail-
road Property Destroyed.

road Property Destroyed.
The most disastrous accident that has ever
happened in the Reservation occurred Thurs
day morning, about five O'clock. The east
bound overland passenger train on the Den
yer & Rio Grande went through the bridge
over the Gunnison river, at the mouth of the
Roubideaussth engine, baggage, mail and
smoking cars being precipitated into the
stream No cause can be attributed for the
accident unless it was the high water in the
river weakening the bridge, which was the
first or temporary one put in when the road
was constructed, nine months ago. A new
bridge has been underway for some time, but
has not yet been completed. The river at
this point is confined TO one channel, not hav-
ing any sloughs or lagoons on its side as at
most other points, and is probably twelve
feet deep. The engineer, William Duncan,
fireman Emory and other fireman whose
name we did not learn, were lost. No man
living saw the engine go off the bridge, but
it is believed it ran safely over the weakened
spot, which gave way and went down under
the mail car, throwing the locomotive of the
track and over the bridge. At that early
hour most Of the passengers We're asleep. One
thing is certain, the engineer evidently saw
the danger, set the air brakes and whistled,
then the crash came. The engine went off at
the upper side of the bridge, and now lies
completely Submerged, only slight ripple
on the water marking the spot. Nothing was
seen of either the three men, but they are
are probably buried with the engine. The
Irni- >, Int 81 L,r,
gage car was not much hurt these two float
ed with the stream for some distance before
they lodged. The baggagemaster and mail
agent saved themselves by clnging 20 the
wrecked and floating cars until they lodged.
The mail knocked all to pieces
around the agent, few bruises and good
ducking being the extent of his injuries.
The smoking car went partially off the
bridge, one end being in the river and the
other remaining on the track. Almost the
entire top and front end was broken off.
brakesman sitting in forward part of this car
had a narrow call, but got away with few
severe cuts around the head. An elderly
gentleman in the front end of the smoker was
thrown clear out of the car into the river, but
catching hold Of an iron rod that had bent
out, he pulled himself back in and came out
at the upper end of the car. About a dozen
other persons were in this car. but succeeded
in getting out without getting wet and with
only few bruises. Beyond good fright the
rest of :he passengers were uninjured.
considerable amount of the baggage and ex-
press matter was lost, but to what extent is
beyond finding out The entire contents of
the mail ear was lost.
The sound coaches with most Of the passen
gers were pulled back to Grand Junction;
some of the passengers came on to Delta,
where they were entertained until they could
get transportation east. A large force of men
was put to work, and Sunday afternoon the
bridge was SO far repaired that trains were
run over it. The gap in the bridge was near
ly one hundred feet long.
Three lives. one engine, three cars, 100 feet
of bridging, a considerable amount Of bag.
gage and express matter and the entire mail
lost, besides the delay in travel and business
of the road is the sum of the damages done.