The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-20
DEATH ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN.
Fearful Slide OF Train With Locked
Wheels Down Murphy Mountain.
I'm, IL. Flc..,..,- Il....l.LIl,l.

Wheels Down Murphy Mountain.
From NE Denver Republican.
4 serious accident occurred on the South
Park division Of the Union Pacific yester-
dav morning. 4 train Of q cars was par
tally wrecked ~ St Elmo and two men
were killed-James Conner, an engineer.
and NJ Nhaley, fireman. The locomotive
and four cars were wrecked. The accident
occurred 10y the train jumping the track
lust as II entered ST. Elmo aud While il was
running at lightning speed.
The train of twelve cars started from the
Mary Murphy mine. known as Romley.
loaded with ore. The grade IS very heavy
down 10 st. Elmo, winding around Murphy
mountain. They had gone half mile or
moe when the discovery was made that the
speed was too great, aud the air brakes
were appl ed They did not work cffrc-
lively nor lessen the velocity, which was
becoming terrific. Every man back of the
engine was sent out 10 fix the hand brakes
and they were twisted as tight a. muscle
could turn them. But even this did not
check the speed The wheels were clampe /
tight and did not whirl, but over the glisten,
ing and frost-sllppery rails the engine and
cars slid like the wind, tearing around
curves and over the brief straight stretches
Of the track. The train was beyond human
control.
Three miles down the steep grade the
train, with It's Ave passengers and twelve
cars of ore plunged and leaped at sixty
miles an hour. Sparks flew from the track
where the almost immoveable wheels struck
the functions of the rails Past bouiders
and along precipltous heights the now hope
less trainmen were carried at lightning
speed. They were helpless as well as hope
less, for to leap TO one side would be hut to
dash 10 pieces against the Jagged wall of
rock that lowered above them, and TO Jump
10 the other side would mean instant dealt
from being hurled against trees and rocks
100 feet below II was miraculous that the
train did not leave the track al a half dozen
places in its wild career. But it. hung TO
the rails until tho danger seemed nlIaost
passed, for around another curve and the
straight track through the town Of st. Ell
mo would be reached, whore the grade
would lessen and Il stop of the ungovern-
able cars might be made.
But this curve was not to I've safely passed
| The wild speed was too great AS tho en-
| CINE reached the point whore the turn was
the sharpeSt the wheels left the track. and
with a mad plunge the iron horse went over,
/ followed by four cars Of ore. Together the
| iron and wood and ore crashed down. roll
! ing over and over and piling up together in
a broken heap, under which two lifeless
I forms were buried. The eng neer and fire
men, who had stuck TO thor posts, were
| crushed 20 death instantly 1t was evident
| when tho bodies were rescued from the
/ wreck that the manner Of their death had
| been like the lightning stroke. Tho re-
malning cars ana CabOoSe of the train, on
which were the conductor and two brake
mon, went on n short distance and stopped
| ol a level stretch of grade Had not tho
! four cars broken entirely clcar and left the
track tho whole train would have boon
wrecked, and in all probability moro of the
| mon killed