McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-10-16
A RIDE TO DEATH.
A Terrible accident on the Union Pacific
Near Eikhorn Station.

A Terrible accident the Union Pacific
Near Eishorn Station.
About nine o'clock on the morning of the
sth, Union Pacific freight train No. 0, was sen,
west in two sections, both under running or
ders to Grand Island. The second section,
consisting of thirty-three empty freight cars
was manned by George Chamberlain. en-
gineer; George Sheldon, fireman; G. B. Miller,
conductor, and two brakemen. At Elkhorn
they were twenty-three minutes behind time
but knowing he had the right of way, Miller
ordered his engineer to go ahead, and they
started for Waterloo. About half mile west
| of ElkhOrn station Is a sharp curve running
through deep cut. As they entered this cut,
going at a twelve mile gait, Miller saw a light
| engine coming down on them at about the
same speed. He jumped into the tender and
made a leap for the ditch, landing on pile of
rails. and badly bruising his left leg. which
was injured in smash-up some time ago.
| Chamberlain reversed his engine, but before
either he or Sheldon could get out of the way
the crash came, and they were both caught by
the tender which 'buckled" up on the cab
and imprisoned them. Both men were so
| firmly wedged in the wreck that it was impos-
| sible to move them, and they lived out nearly
an hour of terrible agony, being literally
| sealded and roasted to death.
The jar of the collision threw the furnace
| door open, and they were unable to move
away from the intense heat, while ut the same
| time scalding hot water poured on them
from the broken pipes: To one of the brake
Sheldon who sa Tas Frying Gods 10 ssSe h%
me out of here" and then realizing that
it was impossible. added: 'It's no use.
boys. I've got to die" A cushion was put I'M
der his back and he Strengthened up and bore
his sufferings without a murmur, until death
| came, an hour later. Chamberlain was con-
scions to the last, and tried hard to direct the
work of the men who were attempting to
'jack-up" the tender and release him. He
spoke of the stream of hot water running on
his legs, and made an effort to close the valve,
but could not reach it.
James Lowery. who was running the light
engine, jumped off and escaped unhurt.
Richard Norris, his fireman, was horribly
mangled, having his left leg completely
and his left arm broken above the elbow. DIR.
Cyrus Baldwin, who CHANGED to be at Elk
horn at the time, attended to Morris, and got
him stan ted on the train for Omaha. At Pa
pilliOn he was met by DIR. Mercer and other
Union Pacific officials, who took him to st.
Joseph.s hospital, where he died later in the
day.
All the actors in the sad drama are young
men and belong in Omaha. James LOwery,
on whom the chief responsibility rests, is
about 30 years of age. About two years ago
LOwery lost portion of one foot in a railway
accident on the Union Pacific.
Richard Norris, LOwery's fireman, who died
at st. JOsep.'s hospital, was % years old. He
was married only three weeks ago, and his
death has nearly craZed his young wife.
George l.. Chamberlain, the engineer of No.
O., leaves wife and two small children.
Chamberlain was one of the best known men
on the road, and, like Lowery, was skillful and
competent in his calling. He was for a long
time on the bridge" run between Omaha and
Council Bluffs.
George Sheldon, the fireman who died at his
post with Chamberlain, was also a man on the
sunny side of 30. Sheldon was unmarried.
George B. Miller, the conductor of No. 2,
who so luckily escaped from the wreck, is all
right with the exception of a bad bunch on
his left knee.
INVESTIGATION AND VERDICT.
The coroners jury charged with the duty of
into the causes which led to the
deaths of Engineer Chamberlain and Fireman
Sheldon completed their task on the 9th.
When the taking of the evidence was finished
the jury retired, and had long struggle over
the verdict Three members wanted to hold
LOwery responsible for the disaster, and the
other three thought there were other attaches
of the road who should be censured. Finally
they agreed upon the following verdict:
George w. Sheldon and George L. Chamber
lain came to their death on the Sth day of
October. 1884, near Elkhorn station. on the
Union Pacific railway, from bodily injuries re-
ceived by burning and scalding in the wreck |
caused by a collision between engine No. 9,
q. p. railway, and engine No. 2, o. & r. V.
railway, at the above time and place, and do
further find that the said accident was caused
by the careleSSneSS of j. w. Lowery, engineer |
OF engine No. =, o. Il X. V. railway. i'll not OBJ |
serving signals carried by first section Of train
NO. on the U. L. railway on said date at |
Waterloo, their meeting point. 1t is further |
found that there are pailiating circumstances |
in the case in two facts: First, that the order |
received at Valley station from the train dis |
patcher at Omaha was not thoroughly under
stood; and second, that the ensineer of the |
meeting train at Waterloo omitted to give no.
ice of his carrying signals in accordance with
1 custom that has become an unwritten but !
most beneficial law.
J. M. LAINs, Foreman.
ID. F. MCKENNA,
FL. MCSHANE,
w. H. KENT,
G. A. NOLTE,
j. w. MEAD,