The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-15
A FRIaHTEuL CASUALTY.
A Railroad Disaster Unparalleled in It's
Features.


Features.
FOUNTAIN, Col. May l4--A most hor-
riblo railway catastrophe occurred here at
2:45 o'clock this morning, which has no
parallel in the history of the State. At
2:il o'clock the north-bound Thunder
bolt" stopped at the station for orders.
She had hardly come TO stand-still when
n caboosc and four loaded freight cars,
which had broken away from through
freight at Colorado Springs, thirteen miles
away, came dashing down the long grade
at lightning speed, crashing into the ex-
press and piling the caboosc and first car
in ruins on top OF the engine and baggage
car. The car next TO the cabooso
was q hugo tank OF naptha which,
in being wrecked, scattered oil over
the depot, ears and adjoining buildings,
caught fire, and In an instant everything
was in flames. The engineer managed TO
escape without injury, but the fireman
was struck by flying timber and seriously
injured. The Pullman and two day
coaches Of passengers were hastily de.
tached from the burning baggage car aud
run down the track TO safe distance from
the fire, which had now envoloped the de-
pot and was rapidly approaching the last
car of the runaway freight, when the
alarm was given that this car was loaded
with powder and for every one 10 run
for their lives. All who heard the
warning attempted TO obey, but had
gone but a short distance when
the II, 900 pounds OF giant powder with
which the car was loaded, exploded, shak.
ing the earth ~ though AN earthquake.
Tie pport was distinctly heard in Pueblo,
twenty miles away, aud the houses In this
city shook as from an earthquake. The
sccnc after the explosion Is beyond de
scripiion. every one of the twenty houses
| in the city almost totally destroyed, To
| gether with the new Baptist church, which
was blown from its Foundation and scat
tered over acres Of ground. Men, womoi
and children were knocked scnselcss, an,
pieces OF broken rails, car-whecl
| aud timbcrs were carried with teftiii
\ force Tor half mile. Rails were tori
from the track, carried 100 yards and thol
driven three feet into the ground, while
number Of freight ears, standing on th
side track. were blown 10 atoms. Tia
ward Of the Newton Lumber oompan
took fire and WIS completely destroyed
People standing q quarter Of u mile iroI
the explosion were hit 10y flying fragment
and badly wounded. The dead are
follows
{. h. Smith, manager y The NCw,'
Lumber company, who was trying 10 G
! tinguiah the flames az the depot when u
I explosion occurred.
The burned remains ~ nm unknow
man; an unknown railroad man traycliI
ON Chicago, Burlington 4 Quincy pa,
Lawrence Wcihart, German carpenter
Mr. Wejrg, killed while standing "
yards from the trick: H. lluichins, n me
chant, sixty years old.
The wounded are Walter LOOMS, Cha
S. Hatch, Mrs. j. NJ. Hatch, Mn. 4. !
Lubbock, Miss Manic Hatch, \. J.. ~
and wife. VIM. Butler, Miss VI. Bell, Mi
Lulu Bell, II. u. Ellsworth, n. Murm
Miss Mary Denny, A. J. BENEDICT, "
knight, 81. Louis; j. g. Mum, Toni
stone. An unknown man, supposed
he Frank Scipman, was killed.
The coroncr's jury, after viewing III
dead, adjourned 30 meet NJ Color,d
Springs Wednesday next II N alm1
impossible 30 grt any accurate figures
10 the amount Of damages.