The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-09-03
A BROKEN RAIL DID 1T
Another Great Disaster on the Northern
Pacific.
The East Bound Flyer Completely
Wrecked on the Cascade Di-
vision-One Man Killed and
Score Seriously Injured.
Special to the Standard.

SPOKANE FALLS, Sept. "A Hot
Springs, WASH. special says: Eagle
Gorge, on the Cascade division of the
Northern Pacific railroad, 80 miles from
Tacoma and 12 miles from this village
was the scene of frightful disaster at
5:l5 yesterday afternoon. The disaster
was one of the most serious ever expert
enced on the Northern Pacific. At the
hour named passenger train No. 2, the
regular east-bound overland flyer, which
left Tacoma at 2:50 o'clock in the after
noon, was speeding past Eagle Gorge.
From this station the road takes decline
for distance of about three miles and a
half to a curve.
Two engines hauled the train, one of
them, the "big Decapod," used in helping
the trains over the grade, the other, No.
122, new Baldwin. just as the Decapod
reached the curve there came an awful
crash. A rail had been broken, and over
15-foot embankment tumbled engine No.
122 and with il every car in the train save
the sleeping coach.
Amid the roaring of escaping steam
from the Frustrated locomotives was
mingled the yells, shrieks and groans Of
the passengers in the cars that lay toppled
over. some on their sides, others piled
over each other at the foot of the EN-
bankment.
When the Decapod left the track il tore
the broken rail for distance of twenty
feet, completely derailing the train ell
gine, which toppled over on top OF the
Decapod, dragging behind il every other
car.
A strong force OF men at once went to
the rescue of their unfortune fellow
passengers. Conductor Perry of the ILL
fated train and Engineer Green led the
rescuers.
The first car reached was a combi-
nation baggage and express. Its occu-
pants were locked inside and could be
heard calling for help. The car was
speedily broken open and all released.
None were other than slightly bruised and
they at once reinforced the rescuers.
In the baggage car nobody was found
injured badly enough to preclude their
aid as life savers.
When the tourist car was reached a diff.
ficulty was experienced in opening it, but
urged on by the cries of those inside, the
work was at last accomplished. One by
one the passengers were helped out, all
more or less bruised, and some seriously,
but il is belived none fatally hurt.
When the day coaches were reached the
frightful condition Of affairs was strongly
revealed. The first coach lay under the
second. the latter having fallen nearly
across il. The passengers of the upper
coach were first rescued and then the
work on the lower one was begun. The
groans of the wounded in both were heart.
rending. From the lower coach were
brought out two passengers, surely doomed
To die. They were b. f. Young, umpire
of the Pacific Northwest base ball league,
and an unfortunate who when asked his
name, could make audible only the gurg.
ling reply, "Keppler."
Appended is list of the sufferers by the
| disaster:
Fatally injured: BEN +. YOUNG, um.
pire of the Pacific Northwest Baseball
league, of Tacoma.
- KEPPLER, passenger who took the
train al Tacoma en- route to the eastern
states.
The injured are: Z. WHEALEy, of Tracy,
| Minn.
Mrs f. WHEALEY, Tracy, MINI.
DIR. A. II. FowLEy, of Holyoke, Mass.
Miss FOWLER. Holkoke, Mass.
]. FROST, Ellensburg.
WM. GILBERT.
I. FURNEss, district claim agent of the
Northern Pacific railroad, headquarters
building, Tacoma.
JUDD RANDALL, Glenville, MINI.
GEORGE BRoHAsK, Spokane.
II. n. CAMPBELL, Hillsboro, Ore,
L. w. JACOBS, cook on the dining car.
G. A. WooDsoY, porter on the tourist
car.
| GEORGE PURPLE, Edgmore, Mich.
The injured passengers were removed
to Tacoma, where Ben Young died thi,
morning.