Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-10-02
An Authentic Account of the Rail
road Wreck on the N. p, Near
Buffalo, N. D.
Engineer Curtis and Fireman Dodge
Burned to Death-Brakeman
Beaton Recovering.
The Coro 1er's Inquest-Brakeman
Gallagher's Heroic Act-Notes
and Comments.

o"i uoodi1S VI Uuo IoFTlUlo Wr0Ck near
Buffalo and the coroner's inquest at
Fargo:
The desire of unfortunate Engineer
Curtis was to see his wife before he died,
and this, coupled with his extraordinary
vitality, enabled him to endure the fear
full suffering for four hours. While be-
ing conveyed to his home in the carriage
he requested that his -p%antaloons be un-
buttoned as they felt tight around his
abdomen. The poor fellow was told that
his clothing was all burned off. His flesh
was 80 burned it probably contracted
about mis- abdomen.
Arthur Beaton, the brakeman, mani
tested his pluck and unselfshness after
arriving at Fargo by insisting that the
doctors attend to Curtis before they pay
any attention to him. He was quickly
removed to a room in the Headquarters
hotel and DR.. Campbell attended to him.
His clothes we're removed and so thor
oughly saturated with oil were they that
it could be wrung out of them. How
Beaton aver succeeded in extinguishing
the flames under the circumstances is
marvellous.
1t seems that the accident happened
in the pocket of the two grades west of
Buffalo. The freight train had been COM
ing east down grade, and the oil car going
west down grade, and they came together
with fearful force. The engineer put on
the air brake just before it struck the oil
car. The oil car, partially cut in two,
was carried forward on the pilot of the
engine for sixteen car lengths, the burn
ing oil being spilled and scattered along
the track for that distance and setting
fire to the sixteen stock cars simultane-
ously. The car was loaded with gasoline
and the flames are said to have shot 200
feet into the air. Through this cauldron
OF flame the unfortunate victims, their
clothing also saturated with oil, had to
u in order to get to the plowed ground
where they rolled over and over in the
dust and dirt.
It is said that Fireman Dodge looked
like a ball of fire as he ran away from
the train out on the prairie.
1t is rumored that still another tramp
who was stealing a ride had his burning
clothes cut from his person by the con-
ductor of the stock train and that he
ran across the prairie andEhas not since
been seen.
Engineer Wood, of engine No. lis, it
is said, ran after the escaping oil car
with his engine IN a vain attempt to over
take it..
Brakeman Gallagher found Engineer
Curtis about fifty feet from the track
on some plowed ground and assisted in
putting out the fire from his clothing.
Fireman Dodge was found about fifty
feet from the track on the north side,
dead, his clothing still burning. The
grass is all burned on the spot where he
lay.
Fireman Dodge is about twenty-five
years old and we'll liked by the railroad
boys. He has been freing for about a
year and a half. His remains were taken
to Clarimont on No. 8 passenger, last
evening, in charge of j. W. Beebe and
w. Terrett as a committee from the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.
The remains of Engineer Curtis left
for Stevens point, Wis, on No. 4 pas
senger train this morning, being accom-
panied by Arthur Bassett asa represent
ative of the I. O. O. F., and Robert
Dozard of the Brotherhood of Engineers.
The Northern Pacific officials accorded
free transportation to all who desired to
accompany the remains to the place of
burial.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
Last evening Coroner Fish came down
for the purpose of holding an inquest.
He visited the scene of the wreck yester-
day and made himself familiar with the
locality. He swore in as jurors E. s.
Turner, W. T. Burns and P. Golden.
About 8 o'clock the jury viewed the
remains at the undertaking rooms of the
Luger Furniture company and then adj
journed till 10 o'clock this morning.
BRAKEMAN GALLAGHER's STORY.
John J.. Gallagher was the first witness
examined. He was the rear brakeman
on Conductor Meharry's extra freight
which was coming east Saturday night.
They had orders to sidetrack at Buffalo.
They backed onto the south sidetrack.
There were two cars on the siding, one
on the east and one on the west end.
They backed onto the switch from the
east end, G. 1pled onto the east car and
backed up intending to couple onto the
west end or oil car. When they
struck the oil car Mr.. Gallagher no.
ticed that there was no link or pin in the
west end of the east car, 80 that it was
impossible to couple. He then jumped
On to the oil car to set the break or see