Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-08-29
On the Northern Pacific
Railroad.
THE DEFECTIVE TRESTLE
Supports Were the Cause OF the
Horrible Mishap-Many Per-
sons Seriously Injured.

An article In the Spokane Spokesman
OF recent date says: The Palouse
freight went through q trestle west Of
Spokane last evening, killing one man
and seriously injuring another. As
every one in Spokane knows, there are
q number of trestles en- the Northern
Pacific railroad between this city and
Hangman creek. The first one il lust
west OF Brownies addition over the Med
ical Lake road. II lie probably 100 feet
long, and is made OF large timbers, which
were being removed by force of dozen
or more workmen.
The Spokane and Palouse train passed
over the trestle about 3 p. NJ, and the
Washington Central train was equally
fortunate an hour later. freight train
also made the trip without causing any
alarm, but Just as the workmen had put
on their coats and taken up their things
preparatory to quitting work for the day
the local Spokane and Palouse freight
came along and started across the trestle.
Engineer Spear was at the throttle.
Fireman NJ. Flaherty was shoveling coal
in the firebox, and Brakeman Mike Hof-
felt was sitting in the lookout OF the ca
III. G. Mcdonald, Conductor G. w. Sanis,
Assistant Roadmaster J. j. Lynch of 3l2
East Fifth street were seated in the ca
boose with w. X. Long OF Pomeroy, who
was taking fifteen head OF cattle TO Sand
Point, and j. w. Mcconnell, cattleman
OF Oaksdale. Suddenly, just as the en-
gine was about midway on the bridge, it
began TO sway; there was loud cracking
noise the trestle trembled and then
went down with a terrific crash, throw
ing three OF the freight cars together
and breaking them into kindling wood.
FIFTH TIME-sRvES MONTHS.
One car rolled over and only had q
board or two knocked out of its bottom !;
the caboose was jerked sideways, while
the engine kept the track, though stand
ing almost perpendicular on the tender.
Brakeman Hoffelt had seen the en-
gine sway, and got on the roof OF the
cahoose with the intention OF jumping
of. but he was too slow asl was thrown
violently off TO the ground fifty feet be-
low, the caboose tumbli after him, but
fortunately falling in the debris of the
cars and not touching him. lie escaped
with but scratch.
Everybody else in the car was equally
fortunate except Roadmaster Lynch,
who had his back badly sprained.
The engineer also escaped, but the
nftEan Wa- uore unfortunate AMI Nas
crushed about the chest between the en-
Ene AMI tender. lie was taken ont and
carried 70 the hospital, but died as he
WAS being taken To that institution.
There were four freight cars in the
train. One was loaded with twenty-four
head of horses aud eight colts belonging
% w. H. Campbell OF Genesee, who was
shipping them 10 Nebraska. There was
also car OF hay and wheat and car OF
furniture. The horses fell at the bottom
of the pile, with the cattle ear and grain
nnon them. Several head of horses were
killed instantly, and some of the cattle.
Others died later, and still others were
~ lily hurt that they had to be killed.
There were some swine with the cattle,
and those that were under the larger an
imals were mashed fiat. Dead and dying
horses lay for some distance along the
road. There was a little colt with its
front legs broken lying near its mother,
while an older colt was rescued, safe and
sound, and was seen scampering up the
hill. The cattle were also badly injured
except two or three. which were saved.
Those who are inclined to be snpersti-
tions will not want to travel in Caboose
No. l423, for this was the fifth time in
seven months in which il has been
ditched, which fact possibly accounts foi
the dexterity of the brakeman in prepar
ing 10 jump. The engine was No. 80.
THOSE ROTTEN TREsTLEs.
The accident was caused by the sup
port of the trestle not being plumb and
by many of the timbers f,eing gery rot
ten, so that when from the jar OF the
passing train some OF the supports
slipped and the weight of the cars wal
thrown on the decayed timber then this
crash came. II the train had been fivs
minutes sooner, IL would have caught ths
repairing crew, and several more meI
would have probably been killed.
As SION as news OF the wreck cached
town many stories were circulated. Ths
west-bound passenger train, IL was said
had been wrecked, and one man nshee
into drug store with the information
that thirty passengers had been killed
Crowds walked or drove 10 the wreck
and watched the process OF clearing.
The body OF the dead fireman wa
taken in charge by the Brotherhood o
Firemen. and was taken to sprague fo
burial. He was single man. % year
OF age, and universally admired.
Roadmaster Lynch is resting quietly
and saws the doctors have assured hin
he will soon be well again.
The accident DELAYED the trains sew
eral hours, and had it not been for tn
good work Of the flagmen several acei
dents might have occurred.