The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-28
Five Men Killed on the North.
ern Pacific Railroad,
OTHERS CRIPPLED,
Tea Train and a Fast Freight To-
tally Wrecked Near
Missoula.

four men killed. The names of the decease
arc:
MICHAEL RECH, engineer;
ALVIN s. MOFFATT. fireman;
TOM DEVINE, brakeman, and
WILLIE A. ANDREWS.
The wounded are:
Engineer j. B. WAITE, arm sprained.
FRANK j. BoHUERT, brakeman, both fee
mashed;
NORMAN RICE, fireman, leg torn off, AM
an unknown man injured internally.
Thedead and wounded were tenderly liftet
and the latter removed to the hospital a
this place. Michael Rech, the engineer q
No. ID,
DIED ON THE CAR
while being conveyed to Missoula
The tea train had the right OF way over al
other trains, including all east bount
trains, and was to average thirty miles al
hour. The conductor of No. 10 while a.
Bearmouth, east OF Wallace, received
orders to meet the tea train at Turah
After he left Bearmouth orders were re
ceived at Wallace by w. D. MCGEE, tn,
operator at hat place, to flag No. 13 anc
hold it there until the tea train had passed
In the meantime the latter traiu
WAS RUSHING EASTWARD
at the rate CT twenty-five miles an hour
No. 10, in order to meet it as instructed ir
it's Bearmouth order, was also running al
the same rate OF speed. 1t passed
Wallace about the time the tea train left
Turah, and they came together on the ex
IRENE point OF a curve, rounding a frightfu
canyon wall, two miles and a half eastward
from the latter station. The two engines
reared up and fell upon the bank, and tn.
two trains urged on by momentum crowded
themselves in a mass of splinters, broken
iron and tea. The shock was distinctly
heard four miles away. J. B. Waite, engi.
neer Of the east-bound train, caught the re.
Election of the headlight of the other freight
and jumped, receiving merely a sprained
arm. His fireman. Norman Rice, had not
time to save himself, and his right leg was
literally pulled from his body. The head
brakeman of the train. Thomas Divine, has
been found, but is buried under tons ofiron
and wheels, and is smashed
INTO A sHAPELEss MASS,
On No. 10 Engineer Michael Rech was
upon the tank between the two boil
ers. dying from internal injuries, his flesh
being cooked by hot water and steam. His
fireman, Alvin S. Moffatt, a new man on
the road, was dug out from the tender OF
his engine; his back and both legs were bro
ken, and when found he was rolled up in a
ball and his left arm was pulled in two at
the elbow. Frank j. Bonhert, the head
brakeman, had his left foot crushed and his
right foot broken, the remaining members
of the crews were unhurt. A man Jun.
known) was found fatally injured. He was
No. 10, and was either thrown or
down on Jagged rocks neal the
edge oil the river. Willie Andrews was a
mere boy. From letters found on his per-
son he had just
COME FROM BUTTE
and was working his way to Portland to
his sister, Mrs. A. Kohn. He evidently was
riding on the back end OF the tender Of No,
13. The top OF his head was completely
cut off and his brains scattered over the
cars and tender. His death was i%nstanta'
neous, He also had his right hip shattered
He was moderately we'll dressed. The shoe
on his right foot was caught by the toe In
the cars and pulled off his foot, bursting
the shoe-strings.
THE RESPONSIBILITY
lies between the crew Of No. Is and the op'
at Wallace. The crew, by the rail-
road rules, ought to have stopped at Wal
lace anyway and being fully aware that
ahead of them Was coming an extra that
stopped for nothing, for which even the east
bound passenger trains had SO get on
the side track and wait until II
passed them, they should have hesltated
before attempting to make Turah. The
remaining members OF the crew. including
the dying engineer. state that there was no
green light ordering them to stop. our
correspondent interviewed tle conductor
of No. 13, William Dormus, who stated
that while he had none, the railroad might
have objections to any statement OF the
affair being now given to the press. lie
said that at Bearmouth ne received ORDERS
to meet the tea train at Turah. To. DC
this the train must pull out.
HE DID NOT SEE A GREEN LIGHT
at Wallace, so kept on at a rate OF twenty
five miles an hour. Mr.. Dormus Is an old
railroad man, though quite young in years
Evidently from his Bearmouth orders bis
mind was made up to meet at Turah.
William Olson, conductor Of the tea
train, was reticent. His orders were 70
meet at Wallace. Your correspondent could
oct little information from him and he closed
with, THE less a man has to say the bet
ter, but l will see you again. lie had rea'
son to believe that No. 10 would be at
Wallace, and his train was rushed on TIC
destruction. No blame whatever attaches
to Mr.. Olson's train or crew.
William Cloud, the car repairer, was or
the caboose OF the tea train, and received
no injuries. He was lying on the bench OF
seat. rud when the shock came he was
thrown backward to the end OF the seat
and then SnOC Clear dCIOSS SAS Wv"
sufficient force to push his feet through
half-inch partition. w. D. MCGEE, the Wal
lace operator, told the MINER reporter tina
HE O GLIDING ORDERS
for both trains to meet and stop at tina,
Mace. He said that night trains are
always required to stop and get a clearance
His light was burning and was visible iol
at least three-quarters OF a mile. He die
not know why No. 13 went by. He hearo
the report of the shock clear to his place
quite distinctly. Some passengers were a
Wallace waiting to come down to Missoula
and among them were Henry Hammond
and Robert Baskerville. Both OF thes'
gentlemen remarked to MCGEE, "She is mo-
going to stop" MCGEE replied: Eyes; can
YOU see my Aag?" Yardmaster sloat Wit
.. large force OF men, assisted by othe
railroad officials, is exerting all efforts t.
GET out the remaining body. that OF Ton
Devine, the brakeman on the tea tram. a
well as clearing tho track OF the wrecke'
cars, but having no derrick n nothln
hut hammers, wrenchs and jacks, his effort
make slow Roadway. He is
Dyvc A TR JACK