The Delta independent., 1888-01-17
SIXTY MILES AN HOUR.
A Runaway Train Jumps the Track.
Killing Two Mon.

Killing Two Mon.
Tho Denver Republican gives the
following account of a serious accident
which occurred on the South Park division
of the Union Pacific Wednesday morning:
"a train of ore cars was partially wrecked
at St Elmo and two men were killed
James Connor. an engineer. and N. Wha-
ley, a fireman. The locomotive and four
cars were wrecked. The accident occurred
by the train jumping the track just as it
entered st. Elmo and while 1t 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 to st. Elmo.
winding around Murphy mountain. They
had gone half mile or more when the dis
covery was made that the speed was too
great and the air-brakes were applied.
They did not work effectively, nor lessen
the velocity, which was becoming terrific.
Every man back Of the engine was sent out
TO fix the hand-brakes, and they were twist
ed as tight as muscle could turn them. But
even this did not check the speed. The
wheels were clamped tight and did not
whirl, but over the glistening and FROST
slippery 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 its five passengers and twelve
cars of ore plunged and leaped at sixty
miles an hour. Sparks flew from the track
where the almost immovable wheels struck
the functions Of the rails. Past boulders
and along precipitous heights the now hope
less train men were carried at lightning
speed. They were helpless as well as hope
less, for to leap to one side would be but to
dash to pieces against the jagged wall of
rock that lowered above them, and to jump
to the other side would mean instant death
from being hurled against trees and rocks
one hundred feet below. 1t was miraculous
that the train did not leave the track at
half dozen places in its wild career. But 1t
hung to the rails until the danger seemed
almost passed, for around another curve
and the straight track through the town of
ST. Elmo would be reached where the grade
would lessen and stop Of the ungoverna-
BILE cars might be made.
"But this curve was not to be safely
passed. The wild speed was too great. As
the engine reached the point where the turn
was the sharpest the wheels left the track
and with mad plunge the iron horse went
over. followed BY four cars of ore. Togeth.
er the iron and wood and ore crashed down,
rolling over and over and piling up together
in broken heap, under which two lifeless
forms were buried. rhe engineer and fre-
man, who had stuck to their posts were
crushed TO death instantly. II was evident
when the bodies were rescued from the
wreck that the manner of their death had
been like the lightning stroke. The re-
manning cars and cabooee of the train, on
which were the conductor and two brake
men, went on short distance and stopped
on level stretch Of grade. Had not the
four cars broken entirely clear and left the
track the whole train would have been
wrecked and In all probability more Of the
men killed.
"Both Connor and Whaley. the victims of
the disaster, lived at Como. Assistant sup
erintendent Rapelje left at noon yesterday
on special and carried with him two cot
nns. The bodies were conveyed to Como
last evening. The amount Of the loss to
the company cannot Be learned until Mr..
Rapelje returns. Responsibility for the &C.
cident rests only with the men on the train,
and perhaps only with the engineer. The
grade from Romlcy b 20 heavy that NO lee
way can be given 10 tzain at all, and II IL
supposed the engineer made the fatal error
Of allowing the heavily-loaded ears 10 get
too great start"