Omaha daily bee., 1884-11-01
ANOTHER CATASTROPHE.
A Switch BTgiTG Of lhG B. & NJ.
Jumps tha Track,
Aud Death Results to Wilson, the
Engineer, and Malin, the
Fireman.

the long serics Of railroad accidents which
of late have been frequent along the
lines in this state, and resulted in the
death of two men.
At about IL O'Clock last night the peo.
pile of the city were startled by numerous
shrill railroad whistles and the thought
of fire near the depot instlnctively fol.
lowed 1t was soon reported, however,
that an accident had taken place near the
U. p. bridge, and upon going to that
place the scene of death was discovered.
1t appears from information given by
the men employed about the B. S M
yards that the pony engine No. SO be.
longing to that company had gone down
about 10 o'clock into the lower yards
after q train of empty freight cars. This
train was made up of twenty cars, twelve
of which were drawn by the engine and
eight were placed in front of the pilot
and pushed by her. The cars in front
were to be taken to Gibson station to be
side.tracked, and those behind were to
be taken up into the upper yards. The
train thus made up started out of the
lower yard m the main line for Gibson
station. When immediately beneath the
Union Pacific bridge, and going at a rate
not to exceed ten miles an hour, the
engine was thrown from the track with
two of the cars and the
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN BOTH KILLED.
AS to the cause of the accident there
seems to be difference of opinion. A
few say it was caused by misplaced
switch The plausible and probable
theory seems to bs that it resulted from
several causes. The min track upon
which the train was running at the time
of the accident is considerably curved.
The running of cars and engine at a
reasonable rate of speed even would
create great pressure against the rails
to shove them from their place. 1t is
thought either the switch pin holding
the rails in their place broke or dropped
out and released them from their fasten-
ings. Others say the switch was not
locked, but no proof could be found that
such was the case.
So soon as the whistles were heard the
swtchmen and those about the depot ran
down to the scene of the accident The
engine was found just north of the U.
p. bridge with her pilot turned directly
toward the east, with the tender jammed
into her cab. The engineer, whose seat
wa7 on the right side of the engine,
WAS FOUND DOUBLED INTO HEAP
on her left, below the cab window.
When found ne was lifeless. The work
of extricating his body from the wreck
was done by the use OF axes
in cutting away the wooden sides of
the cab. This took considerable
time but was fualy completed. The
fireman all this time was in standing
position between the boiler head and the
tender. When found he was still living,
but the gauge cocks of the boiler were
constantly escaping steam upon him and
nothing could be done n. once to help
him out of his perlous position. When
found he was still conscious and replied
to the questions asked him by signs,
speaking only once. When first found
and when the steam was playing upon
him in its greatest fury he asked the
men who we're at work about him the
number of pounds pressure in the boiler.
He was told it was only thirty pounds.
81 CAN STAND IT THEM"
said the brave, unfortunate man, the last
words that ever passed his lips. Fully
tnree-quarters cf an hour were consumed
ing =ttlng the bodies out Of the wreck; but
before the work of extrication was COM
pleted, the brave fireman had breathed
his last.
Ghe bodies were taken ont, and laid
face upwards upon the sand and their
coats thrown over them. Later a couple
of doors were brought from Il new build
ing close by and the bodies laid upon
them. The engineer was found to be
crushed about the breast and, as it APP
penred, he was caught between the
boiler head and the tender, and after
ward thrown out by the jumping of the
engine. The fireman was principally
injlred about the breast and abdomen,
bu5 it is thought the occasion of his
death was the escaping steam. -..
THE VICTIMS
The unfortunate men were G G. vii.
son, the engineer, and ID. b. Mslin, the
fireman. The former lived at Fifth and
Division streets and leaves wife who
has been confined 10 her bed by sickness
for the last three months. The fireman
was also man of family, leaving wife
and one child about three months old.
Malin had been married about fifteen
months and resided at Fourth and Wal
nut streets Both were young men not
over thirty-fve years of age. Up to
2:30 this morning their families had not
been notified of the mournful news
which sooner or later must be impaired
to them, and methods at that time were
being devised by their friends to break
the information to the widow and
and friends. Wilson was member of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi,
neers, and it is thought he had a fair.
sized policy upon his life. The engineer
had been in the employ of the company
for several years, and was looked upon
as Trustworthy and reliable employe,
and was sober and industrious man.
H tlin had been at work for the company
only about eight months, and was much
loved by his fellows and co-laborers, and
was always found at his post of duty.
The coroner was notified of the acci-
dent, but had not arrived at the scene of
death at 2 o'clock this morning