Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-10-01
BURNED TO A CRISP.
A Northern Pacific Engineer
and Fireman Meet Death
in the Flames.
A Sunday Morning Wreck Near
Cattle Burned and
Stampedetl. .ia4
An Unusual and Fatal Railroad
Disaster A Train OH
a. 2 Fire.
Roasted to Death.

Roasted to Death.
A fatal freight wreck occurred on this
division Saturday night about / o'clock
that has cast deep gloom and sorrow
over the railroad men and their friends
along the whole line and particularly at
this place where the unfortunate victims
were we'll known.
1t appears that Conductor Mahary 8
freight train was switching at Buffalo
station in Cass county, and that a box
car loaded with coal soil in barrels, be-
came detached and started to run down
the grade which is quite heavy at that
point. The car was not stopped when it
first started for some reason. The car
ran very rapidly west for about two
miles when it crashed into stock
train OF twenty-three cars bound east, in
charge Of Conductor Smith and Engineer
j. H. Curtis. The collision was such as
to split the box car and sactter the con-
tents in every direction. The train ran
about sixteen car lengths before it stop
ped, and the oil from the car became
scattered under the train and engine
and Immediately caught fire. Then fol-
lowed u scene of destruction and death
that has seldom been witnessed on the
Northern Pacific. The greater portion of
the tram appeared to catch fire at once
and huge flames mounted almost in
stantly high into the air. Men and ami
mails were at once ablaze with flames
which were impossible to extinguish.
Fireman w. E. Dodge was quickly
burned to death, although he ran out on
the prairie beyond the telegraph poles.
While lying on the ground he was seen
to raise himself on his elbow. 1t is
also thought that he was injured inter.
nally. Engineer Curtis's clothing was
also saturated with oil, and he too
jumped or was thrown from the cab and
ran out on the prairie, but before assist
ance could reach him bis clothing was
OuAAcu S1oou AAOtu ulIu duu IL Is
said pieces OF flesh fell off
when the body was being removed.
The places where the engineer and fire
man lay on the grass were burned for ten
feet around. Head brakeman A. E.
Beaton was also badly burned, but was
rendered assistance and, while his 10.
juries are OF a severe character, will re-
cover. Beaton tried to extinguish
the flames on his clothes by rolling
on the prairie, but conld not do so. He
filed his hands with dirt and sand and
rubbed 1t on his face and neck. This
partially prevented the action OF the
flames.
Another victim. tramp who was steal
ing ride was also found on fire. His
clothing was partly removed by the train
men and, although badly burned on
hands and face was sent to the hospital
without serious injuries. Dead and in
jured we're at once taken. to Fargo.
Four doctors came from Valley City on
the switch engine, and other physicians
we're soon in attendance.
The oil which began blazing under the
stock cars and in the hay at the bottom,
caused another horror. Live cattle we're
slowly burned up amid their fierce bel
lows of pain. About 25 Of the 1926 cattle
we're extricated and in their fury and
blinded by the glare of the burning
wreck, charged indiscriminately around
on the prairie, making the efforts of those
seeking to help the injured train men
additionally hazardous. There were seven
stock men on the tram in charge Of the
cattle and it is SAID that their chief object
seemed to be to rescue the stock at the
expense Of assistance to the train men.
Eight cars Of cattle were cut lose from
the train and run back ont of harms way.
These and the % that were saken from
the cars were all that were saved.
Rear Brakeman Conners says there
was no great noise heard or any jar to
indicate serious collision. The engine
was not badly damaged and after the
train stopped, the steam "blew off,"
TO Conductor Smith and those in the
rear end OF the train, it seemed as il an
explosion had occurred as soon as the
car Of oil was struck. The train men
thought the engine had bursted her boil
or. The coal oil covered everything and
caught tire from the engine. The fire
was communicated to all parts Of the
wreck simultaneously and blazed with
the most intense fury. Everything was
burned that could burn. The wreck was
cleared away yesterday and trains on
time last night; although No. l. west