St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-13
Frightful Accident on the
Colorado Midland at As
pen Junction.
Seven Persons So Severely
Scalded and Burned That
They Die.
A Broken Check Valve Per-
mits Steam to Escape
Into a Coach.
Twenty-Five Of the Twenty
Five Passengers at the
Mercy of the Steam.

ASPEN, Col, July 12. "A horrible
catastrophe occurred at Aspen June
ton, on the Colorado Midland road, at
u o'clock this morning, that has filed
many once happy homes in this beauti-
full valley with desolation and death. A
collision occurred between a Midland
locomotive and the hind coach of the
daylight excursion between Aspen
and Glenwood Springs. The coachload
of people returning from the springs,
where few pleasant hours had been
spent, was suddenly plunged into all
the horrors of frightful railroad accl-
dent, which resulted in killing two peo-
pie outright. inficting fatal injuries
to five more and severely scalding
and burning six others. Engineer Swift
ger, of the excursion train, had run his
train up to the water tank at the juno
ton for water. When backing down to
get on the main track line, light en-
gine shot out from the coal chutes,
which are located in such a way as to
conceal the engine tracks from the view
of the tracks leading to the water tank.
The engineer on the light engine, think
ing he could get out before the eXcur-
sion train took the main track, made
the attempt, but struck the rear coach
of the excursion train at the switch.
The force OF the collision tore the check
valve from the engine and poured scald-
ing steam and water into the wrecked
coachload of people. Then ensued a
scene of terror impossible to describe.
The passengers were at the mercy of
the
Roaring. Screeching Monster
at their side. Through the broken
valves torrents OF scalding steam
poured out on the helpless victims. Of
the twenty-five passengers in the car,
three cOlOred men who were in the rear
compartment were the only ones unin-
jured. Conductor Miller, with the un-
injured passengers, Immediately began
the work of rescue. A two-year-old
child of Frank Ellis, of Aspen, was
taken out dead. Miss Annie Phelan
died ten minutes after being rescued.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joe Leonard, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Ellis, Thomas O'DOnnell,
Miss Mary O'Donnell. James Lynch, all
of Aspen; Mr.. and Mrs. A. 3. Rogers,
of Woody, COL; Mrs. J, c. Baldwin, of
GlenwOod, and Mrs. l.. Willoughby, of
GlenwOod, were frightfully scalded
and burned. The injured and dead
were placed in the baggage car and
brought to this city, where all the
physicians IN the city were in atten-.
dance, and every possible aid was given
to the injured. The victims cries of
agony were heartrending, and the
scalded faces and arms and bodies a
sight to bring tears of pity. In spite Of
all efforts to save their lives, Mrs.
Frank Ellis, Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs.
Wiloughby died within two hours
from the time of the wreck. Mrs.
Rogers died at 5 o'clock this morn
ing and her husband at 10 o'clock.
Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs. WillOughbv
were the most frightfully burned. The
latter begged piteOusly to be kept alive
until her husband could reach her. OF
those still living, Miss O'DOnnel will
die.
Inhaled ScaIding Steam.
1t is hoped the others will recover,
although the inhaling of the scaldiDg
steam may result more seriously than
at present anticipated. While the in
iured people were at Aspen junction
the person of Mrs. A. B. Rogers was
robbed of gold watch and chain and
also s12O in money. There were also
other robberies reported, but not au-
thenticated. With warrant sworn out
by R. A. Ropham before Judge Prentiss.
Marshal Sutton went to Aspen Junction
and arrested J. g. Kuhn, clerk at the
railroad eating house, charging him
with the robbery. Marshal Sutton now
has his prisoner in the county jail. He
disclaims all knowledge of the money,
but says he was requested by Mrs.
Rogers to take her pocketbook from her
dress and hand it to some one standing
near, whom she recognized but could
not reach. huhn claims he did this.
He turned the watch and some other
trinkets over to the proprietor of the
hotel, and dIsclaims all intention of
rObherV