, 1888-07-17
A FATAL WRECK.
A Train on the Pan ,ndIe Falls
Through q Bridge.
Engineer Smith IAN Viii
son Kh,
The Bridge Weakened by Excessive
Rains.
Wreck on the Pan Handle.

DENVER, July l6.-The Denver Re.
publican OF to-day says: The train from
New Orleans and Fort Worth, due in
Denver at 1880 o'clock last evening,
crashed through a bridge at Clarendon, on
the Fort Worth division of the road.
Nick Smith, the engineer, and Fireman
James Wilson were buried under the
wreck. Information of the disaster was
received at the Pan Handle office in this
city yesterday morning and the particulars
thus far CLEANED are:
The Denver express, consisting of a
baggage car, the postal car and smoker, a
coach and two Pullmans. was making
rapid time over the new line. 1t was
midnight of Saturday and the train was
due at Trinidad at 6 O'Clock that evening.
The train was then late and was rapidly
making up lost time. In that portion of
New Mexico through which the train was
running there are large ravlnes North
of Clarendon one of these was crossed by
a structure about 300 feet in length, and
it was Upon this hat the train dashed at
midnight. At Clarendon, Engineer Smith
had asked the condition of that particular
bridge, and he was informed by the sec
ton men that it was all right, and was by
them tainted with timidity in doubling its
safety.
As soon as the engine and front car
were full upon the bridge it fell with a
crash. The whole structure had been
weakened by the food, and that to such
an extent that hardly a pile was left
standing. 1t fell into a complete ruin,
and beneath it all were buried the engi-
neer and fireman, who were killed IN
stantly. The baggage car and postal car
went over and were mashed, but the off
cials escaped with ouly a few bruises.
The Fort Worth coach was derailed, but
the Pullman remained on the track.
News of the disaster was Immediately
telegraphed 10 Trinidad, and instructions
were wired from this city to start the train
from that point as a local, and not wait
for the through passengers. This was
done, and this substitute train arrived in
Denver last night only one hour late.
The south-bound train to Fort Worth left
Yesterday morning on time and will run
to the scene of the wreck. If this bridge
is not repaired the coaches will return
with the delayed passengers for this city.
In the meantime the construction trains
from Trinidad have gone to the spot.
Upon the arrival of the local from
Trinidad last evening, very little in
formation could be CLEANED. The train
men were ~reticent and there were no
passengers from any point north OF Trini,
dad.
The Republican representative was in
formed that the locomotive which crushed
into the ravine was No. l6, and was
known as the "hoodoo," from the fact
that it had already figured in several dis.
asters on the Trinidad division. The
Fort Worth 4 New Orleans train will be
run as usual this morning.
The train which came In last evening in
place of the wrecked express, passed
through a very heavy storm in crossing
the divide. Conductor Kavanaugh re.
ported that the rain fell in torrents, and
at Parker's, the scene of the cloud burst
on Saturday, there were indications of
anothar heavy flood. He, however, re-
ports the track in excellent condition. To
avoid any possibility of a wreck by a
washout, the section men had been called
out along that portion of the line traverscd
by the storm and the bridges were thor
oughly inspected before a crossing was at
tempted by any oftne incoming trains.