, 1889-01-24
FRIGHTFUL WRECK.
The Trestle Over Hangman
Creek Gives Way.
A Freight Train is Dashed to
the Bottom, 40 Feet.
The ola Structure Weakened by Do
rallied Car which shook ths
Timbers-Ons Killed.

TImbers-Ons kiiieu'
As a west.bound freight train on the
Northern Pacific was nearing the trestle
work over Haugman creek about $3.50
O'Clock Sunday morning, a man named
Gustave Hahndorff, who was stealing a
ride to Ellensburg, fell oil and under the
wheels and was literally cut to pieces. 1t Is
supposed the body derailed the car which
down grade and the engineer did not no.
tice anything wrong. When the train
passed on the trestle the wheels of the de-
rallied car bumped against the ties of the
structure which is ITO feet high. The
continuous jarrinR broke the link Of the Car
ahead, and the engine and two
cars passed over in safety.
The force of the remainder OF the
train jsmmed the dat car down into the
into splinters and precipitating the ten
cars and nearly the entire bridge to the
Rulch below. The cabose and one car re.
manned on the track on the east eide and
one fiat coal car hung over the edge OF the
embankment.
All the cars we're empty, but the force
Of the derailed car striking against the
timbers was terrific, and the trestle was
not too strong. IL was one OF the weakest
lTcoLlcS vi Juc EudS, anu IdtitOuu "Cu soy
it should have been replaced by an iron
one long ago. The structure WAS built
when the road was first constructed, at u
time when good timber was scarce. 1t
was of pine wood and some of the timbers
were worn by age. Not vestige
Of the trestle remained standing. 1t was
piled together in an inextricable mass
with the shattered cars at the bottom of
the gulch. IL the train had been com.
Il,
have been u fearful loss Of life. As 1t was
the trainmen had u miraculous escape.
The caboose in which the crew was seated,
vas within few feet of the awful preci.
pice when the coupling broke, and the
engine had Just touched solid ground
when the crash came. The loss TO the
railroad company will therefore not be
heavy.
At the inquest Sunday evening Conduc.
tor Drobasks said that Hahndorf asked
him for free ride as he did not have
money enough TO pay his fare. He was
refused. He evidently stole around to The
other side of the train and got aboard.
Drohaska's g theory is that Hahndorff found
il too cold on top of the car and decided to
Climb down to fiat car after the train
was in motion. He missed his footing and
fell between the cars on the track. The
body, which was cut in half, threw the car
OF the track, which was. in Drohaska's
opinion, the cause Of the accident on the
trestle.
Hahndorf was German. The papers
found ou his person it was learned that he
had been working at Ce9lam. He told
Drohaska that he came from Tacoma. He
mad about $40 in cash in his pockets.
Oaly Drohaska were examined at the in
quest. The coroner did not inquire into
the condition Of the trestle before the acci-
dent. and the jury did not. for want OF
testimony on the subject, determine wheth-
or the Northern Pacific company was in
any vice subject TO blame.
The west-bound train oh Sunday was de-
layeG until o'clock In the evening. whea
arrange meats were made with the Seattle,
Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad Company
to take the train out over its tracks via
Medical Lake to Cheney. u is not yet
known whether the trestle will be rebuilt
of wood or iron. The feeling here is very
strongly in favor of the latter, as it
similar accidents in the future. The
bridge below the trestle is Of wood
and was declared unsafe some time ago.
Every tine train load of passengers is
carried across their lives are imperiled.
This bridge should also be replaced by On
iron structure. it is said by railroad men
and others. None OF the officials Of the
road were here to make u statement in re-
gard to the matter, and a dispatch to
headquarters at st. Paul on the subject
remained unanswered.
Il WAS said that the Seattle. Lake
Shore L. Eastern railroad demanded $4,000
each in advance for every Northern Pa
cific train that went out over its tracks
from here, because the Northern Pacific
has been charging the Seattle. Lake Shore
j. Eastera $50 in excess of regular rates
for every car load Of steel carried oyer it's
lines. and trying to crueh its rival in other
ways.
'How much will the Northern Pacific
have to pay for the use of the Seattle,
Lake Shore & Eastern road until their
trestle is repaired?' asked a REVIEW re-
porter of Superintendent of Construction
Heed Of the latter road yesterday after
noon.
THAT is matter of private nature
which do not care to MENTION" said Mr..
Reed. "But there is one thing sure, and
privilege" and u significant smile fitted
across the face OF the superintendent.
Agent Stimmel of the Northern Pacific
had nothing to say about the cost of run
ming over the rival line.
negotiations for the sale of the Posr-
man mine to Boston syndicate are still
pending. The mine has been temporarily
shut down on account Of the lack Of trans
portstion for the ore which is awaiting
shipment. A few men will be kept at
work, but to increase the 500 tons of con-
csntrates already ON hand is deemed i'm
prudent until some means for their speedy
shipment is made apparent.
The Wardner News says that work on
the Sierra Nevada Is progressing with Its
accustomed vieor in tunnels A. B and G;
the principal operations being confined to
tunnel A. In this large amount OF stop
ing is being done and the ore procured is