The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-09
Description of How Rapidly it Was
Accomplished Recently Near
St. Paul.
The Reason the Railroads Have for
Clearing Up the Debris
Very Quickly.
A Wrecking Train Always Ready, Fitted
With Everything Necessary for the
Occasion-Illustrating the Work.

Did you ever watch a wrecking crew at
work? 1t is q sight worth going miles to
see, says the Minneapolis Tribune.
Twenty-seven freight and fiat cars and a
locomotive piled in a heap in utter confu-
sion, the whole mass illumined by the rud-
dy glow of the fierce flames that were de-
molishing thousands of dollars worth of
property. Now and then from the top of
the burning pile a blazing timber falling
with a crash and rolling Town the bank.
leaving a trail of fire. And again a pair of
red hot wheels released from their wooden
moorings %dropping with a splash into the
river, through whose s~eething waters they
send a dull red CLEAN, that gradually fades
and finally disappears. Throngs of men
crowding toward the flames and shielding
their faces from the intense heat. and at
taching to some as yet unignited projection
a hugo chain. Then Il locomotive, with n
tug at the chain, scattering the burning
embers in all directions. And about and
porvading all, the peculiar aroma which is
characteristic of burning wheat.
All this and more was spread out before
the man who happened in the Mississippi
valley between st. Paul and Fort Smelling
last Thursday evening, after two trains had
tried to pass upon a single track u short
distance below Mendoza. To-day the pas
senger train might look in vain for the spot
of the disaster, except for the scorched
leaves and limbs of the trees near by, for
the destructive genius has been followed by
another, who, if he does not restore. Mt
least conceals his predecessors work. This
is the province Of the W, eclIing crew, which,
under the supervision of the roadmaster. is
put in full charge OF the vicinity of tho
wreck when any such casualty occurs. For
Il while 4 beautiful variety of scenery is a
drawing card to any route of travel, but
when that variety is obtained by in
terjsctions of occasional demoralized
smoke stacks or ash hoHps of burned
cars it ia not wanted and not sought. A
man may forget that a railroad pnsses
across the old farm of some self-madG
statesman, or TIL ough the archives of some
noted Indian sapulchre. but no always
shndders at the meation of Ashtabula
bridge snd never fails to wa ke IN when the
brakeman calls Rio or "Kouts," OF
't~hatsworth."
That is why, next to reoponing communi,
cation, the first effort Of the unlucky rail
load company is to clear nwny the wreck.
And for this work the comnnuy Keeps on
every division II working train, CARRYING a
derrick Car, times, spikes, ffo,H. and lum-
ber cut in various shapes, which experience
has shown 90 no convenient in sucn emer-
gencios. These traina Hre nlwavs ready to
start At n inmates notice, almost, an tho
crew is gathered IN the q~uic.est possible
May. Other departments of tho anl vice
md the great II my al tho unemployed
fte quick md literally drawn nv
On, and mn hour from the time of u serious
wreck III all that Is necessary to atnrt the
wreckcts on their way. For in tho affairs
of n railroad. tn III scarcely any other
work, time Ia money and DELAYS AFRO CIV
Alvc. This Is the first conside ation - I'll