Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-01
the CoLLI.ioN ON The NORTHERN

MIssoULA IN. t., Nov. 29.-The first
special tea train bound east. and the
west bouDd express freight No. Is, col
iided between lurah and Wallace, tif
teen miles east of Missoala, FRIDAY
morning. at 6 O'Clock. wrecking the en-
gines and SIX cars Of each train. Tn.
killed and injured are Michael Rich
engineer of tue freight, crushed anC
scalded, dying in five hours; Alvin s
Moifitt. fireman Of the freight. instant
" killed; Thomas Devine. head brake
man of the tea train, instantly killed
William A. Andrews, tramp, instantly
killed; Norman Rice, fireman of the tea
train, leg badly crushed, died this
morning; Frank Bohnert, head brake,
man of the freight. left foot ampu,ated;
Fitzgerald, a tramp, pelvis bone broken
and internal injuries; j. b. Waite, en-
gineer OF the tea train, jumped aud
escaped with slight injuries. Both
trains we're running at high rate of
speed and met on a curve, 50 that they
came together With immense force, com
pletely demolishing the engines and half
a dozen cars. The tea train had the right
of way and was going east on passenger
tine. The freight train received orders
at Bear Mouth to meet the tea train at
Turah, but the night operator at Wal
lace received notice 10 hold both trains
for orders. and he displayed the usual
signal, green light. The freight train
ran by, however, without stopping, and
the collision occurred four miles below.
The Coroner's jury has not yet com.
pleted the inquest. VIM. Dofemus,
conductor OF the freight train, has been
arrested and Is in the county jail await
inc the verdict. He claims to have seen
no green light signal at Wallace. The
2ineer, now dead. who should have
stopped 40 Wallace for clearance,
even without a signal TO stop for orders
being displayed. The dead and
wounded we're brought to the railroad
hospital here and every possible atten-
tion given by the railroad authorities.
A track was built around the wreck, so
that no trains were delayed by the aoci-
dent. Letters found on the body OF
Andrews show him to be from Butte.
% route home 10 Portland, where his
sister, Mrs A. kohn. lives. Orders
have been received TO send his body to
Portland.
From passengers and train men who
al Portland Sunday the orr
loHsdn 10 in receipt OF some statements
not given above. The operator at Wal.
lace maintains thai be exhibited the
green light, and that be can prove il by
IL least I'VE witnesses. Rech, the en-
sineer, said after he Vas taken 30 the
hospital at Alssoula. and q few minutes
before be died, "Find out whose fault
4 Il. and say l forgive him" This
would clearly indicate thai be did not
zee the green light, else in his diving
be voald have been manly
enough 10 acknowledge his error, II be
had committed one.
II l. stated thai II was net uncommon
for trains. when everything was OK ;"
10 run y wallacs without stopping for
a clearance ordtr. though II was a VIC
ls,isn 81 the rules.
One gentleman who arrived yesterday
stated that be heard that the green
light vas exhibited by the operator. who
then retired in his office, and a gust of
sind ex,ineuished the light just before
the train came by. This Is the only
ieeory that rseonciles the positive state
mt nt On she enc side that the light vas
shexs, and on the other side that there
xas 10 light When the train passed.
The collision ocexrred on a level
ssrxtsh Of road In canyon. with
mountains 10 the left and the MisssulA
river - the right. The freight Vas CON
ing down grade, RAINING neasly twenty
miles an hour, aud the tea train. witch
was not heavy, Was tearing east on the
level stretch at q speed vel toward
thirty miles an hour. There was nc
time for breaks. and the engines came
together With nearly as much force a.
= single engine w0ald run into solid
vail at The rate of tfsy miles an boar.
The escape of the engineer az the tea
train - @Iracaious. As stated above.
the accident occurred on an ossxAra
carve Ar. Watt, who vas keepine an
ordinary lookout, observed = simmer
90 the outer rail. not hundred wares
ahead Of hlEa. he exclaimed: = Nv
tfoc' Thai mast be Thirteen" he
sailed ~ his fireman 10 iaup, and lespxd
frofn the cab 10 ling dova Tue steep en-
aank@snt toward the RIVER. The fire.
man attempted 90 follow, bot vas TOO
isse. he was esaeht between tie cab
and The tsndsr. HIS right leg vas
broken above and helox the knse ana
his left ies Vas crushed TO Q islly.
Death cape TO his relief.