Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-09
. THE RIO GRAsDE ACCIDENT.
DETAILS OF THE COLLISION AT
FOUNTAIN, COLORADO.

Passenger train No. 7, known as the
trinidad express, was wrecked al
Fountain, fifteen miles south Of this
city, about 8 O'Clock this morning.
The train was southbound and In
charge Of Conductor Noyes, Engi.
neer ID. o. Mack at the throttle and
George Sipes fireman. The train
was running on time, had the right
OF way and a clear track, but was
advised that it would meet and mass
a freight train on the side track at
Fountain. The freight train. In
charge Of Conductor West, pulled
into Fountain about fifteen minutes
before the express was due, and the
engineer signalled the front brake
man 70 open the switch, but the lat
Ter Jailed to respond, and the engi-
neer got down and opened and
locked the switch and pulled in onto
the side track, supposing the rear
brakeman would close the switch.
but the whole crew in the caboose
must have been fast asleep, for they
knew nothing about where they
were until the crash came and the
passenger left the track.
The Rio Grande has no depot nor
agent at Fountain, consequently. no
switch lights were on the switches.
and the engineers have TO 20 Il
blind in running the gauntlet Of the
numerous switches at this point.
The engineer had no intimation Of
danger, as he supposed he had
clear track and, as no stop was made
at Fountain, he was making about
forty miles an hour.
He only saw the danger when the
headlight Of his engine flashed
upon the open switch, only a few
feet ahead Of him. With a GOODNESS
and daring only possessed by his
class OF men, who face danger con-
stantly, and thinking not Of his
own safety, but the precious load Of
human freight in his care, he applied
the air brakes and reversed his en-
CINE, when the mighty monster,
''Salida,r No. so, left the track
and plunged headlong down n |
tweDty-foOt embankment, landing
100 feet from the track. Mr.. Mack |
Old not leave his post Of duty volun-
tarily, but rs the engine started |
down the embankment he was
thrown across the cab and out Of the |
fireman's window, over a wire fence |
thirty feet from the track. He arose |
and in a dazed condition made his
way to the engine, where he found |
his faithful assistant, George Sipes,
had met with n horrible death, |
been caught between the |!
engine and tender and crushed TO
death, the tender having been
turned upside down and pinning
poor Sipes' body 10 the ground.
Death was instantaneous. The skull
was crushed in and one leg and one
arm wee broken. In his hands
clutched IN DEATHS grasp was the
handle Of his coal shovel.
The engine was completely
turned upside down, the smokestack
being broken and badly damaged
generally. The baggage car fol-
lowed the engine and tender down
the embankment, and Messenger
West was covered with boxes and
trunks and the like TO a very I'M
degree, but he was COM
unlnjured. The car was
left bottomside up. Next came the
which was laid over on its
side, while the first passenger coach
was in nearly the same position.
The front trucks Of the second coach
)nly left the rails, while the two
Pullmans, in which were all but
.hree or four Of the forty passengers
IN the train, remained safely on the
rack. The officers ofthe road were
It once notified and a wrecking
rain came up from Pueblo and
vent to work clearing the track and
emoving the body Of the fireman
rom beneath the tender, but did
rot accomplish the latter task until
O'Clock, owing 10 the distance the
'ngine was thrown, the track and
he spOngy character Of the soil. The
'ody was taken 10 Pueblo. The
NelCs correspondent visited the
cene OF the wreck today, and from
he manner in which the ears were
Iurled down the embankment, il
GEMS miraculous that Messenger
Vest and the few passengers in the !
erailed coaches escaped with such .
light bruises. The engine was
nocSed to pieces and thoroughly
emolished, the baggage car was
ably used up, the smoker not being s
realty injured. The track was :
torn up, but not badly,
wing TO the engine and cars leaving
entirely and plungiDg Down the /
The accident was clearly the re- !
1lt Of gross carelessness on the part
{ the rear brakeman and the con-
uctor. 1t is said by the citizens Of
that when the rear brake {
ian saw the horrible death his S
had caused, he at once I
iade his escape across the rail- Z
bad.
The man killed, George Sipes, q
we'd in Denver, was married, and
.aves a wife and two children. He J
-as n worthy and industrious young !
GLOW, well liked by the employees !
Il the road.
All the passenger trains, includ-
X the Rock Island and Missouri
'acific, were delayed, all reaching
MS city in close succession at 1915
lis morning. The passengers on {
lie wrecked train were transferred
nd continued on their way south
! an early hour this morning.
oroner MARROW Of this city and AS
slant District Attorney Cochran,
ave taken up the matter and are in
the lawfulness Of the
lilway employees in removing the
Ody Of Sipes TO Pueblo previous to 4
n inquest being held in accordance s
18th the law. They both claim that !
he action Of the railway authorities |
in direct violation Of the statutes, |
nd is being constantly repeated. J
he law requires an inquest TO be {
ED in the county in which the ac- b
dent occurred, and the cause and e
ssponsibility for it ascertained.- a
enUer NeiCs n