, 1891-09-19
FIVE KILLED.
A Fearful Head End Collision On
the Oregon Short Line.
Theodore Wedemyer, of This City,
Meets Instant Death.
Mail Clerk Lyon Badly Injured But
Will Probably Recover.
Seven Wounded People Taken Back
to POcatellO.
A FearfaI

Special Dispatch to The Leader.
PocArELLo, Idaho, Sept. lS.-One o
the most disastrous wrecks the Unior
Pacific has experienced on the Idaho
division for . long time occurred this
morning about 4 o'clock at Port Neuf, q
station six miles east of this place, pas
seneer trains No. l and 2 colliding, killing
five men and seriously injuring a number
of others. The killed are Theodore We'd
emeyer, a mail clerk running from Hunt
ington TO Cheyenne, and four Indians
from the Fort Hall reservation. The
injured are Engineer Chas. Hoyt, Chris
Mackens and p. III. Gunderson, two
tramps, Mail Clerk Lyons and a squaw.
OF these, Hoyt. Lyons and the squaw are
tho only ones in immediate danger.
Lyons is fearfully scalded and injured
internally as is also the squaw. Hoyt
although not 80 bad. suffers terribly from
= broken shoulder blade and slight injur-
les internally. Mackens and Gunderson
had their right arms broken and are ter
riblv cut on the bodies.
This morning when passenger train No.
2 lett this point the conductor was given
orders to meet, go on the side track and
pass No. l at Port Neuf station. As No.
. neared that point the engineer dis
covered the other train. which being
Westbound had the right of the main
line. just stopping when within little less
than a half a mile of the other train. The
engineer on Nc. 2 felt" his air and to
his CONSERVATION discovered that he had
Immediately whistled for brakes. Before
the trainmen had time to respond they
were almost upon the other train. Con-
ductor Hogan tugged in vain at the air
valve in the car and in a second, with a
crash, struck No. l which was then at a
standstill. The conclusion was over
whelming as No. 2, being behind time.
was going at terrific speed, and not hav-
ing the use of brakes, struck with as
much force as it had attained half a mile
back.
Before the collision the engineers and
firemen on both engines jumped, all es
Gaping uninjured except Hoyt. A scene
of confusion followed which was terrible
to witness. The engines and mail cars
were piled up in a heap. while the air
wal filed with the groans of the injured
and dying men pinned down under the
debris. The first men taken out were the
two mail clecks on No. |, Shinn and
Mcmillan, both of whom were unin-
iured. Then the dead body of Wedemeyer
was found, after which Lyons. Gunder-
son and Mackins were rescued and the
remains of the Indians, who we're multi
ated beyond recognition were taken out.
The dead and injured were all brought to
this city. A coroner's jury in the case of
Wedemyer have concluded that the rail-
road company were not to blame tor the
accident. The remains will be shipped
tomorrow to Cheyenne where the parents
of the deceased reside.
So far as can be ascertained there was
nothing for which to blame the railroad
officials. Superintendent Calvin says:
Our investigation is not yet ended, but
so far we find nothing to conflict with the
engineers story, that he could not work
his air. and as everything was all right
when he left here VIC cannot blame him or
our inspectors"
Should not the switch at Port Neuf
have been thrown open SO as to let No. 2
on the sidctrack?" was asked.
mo-" he replied. 1T was the place
of No. 2 to stop and throw the switch.
As a voluntary courtesy Conductor Bur
bank Of No. l. as soon as his train
stopped, started to throw the switch, but
before he was one fourth OF the distance
No. 2 was pom him."
Engineer Hoyt's story that he had no
control OF the train seems to be fully cor
roborated and the railroad company exon
GRATED.
1t is thought at a late hour tonight that
Mail Clerk Lyons will survive, although
he is scalded fearfully.
The wrecking train is still at work clear
ing up the evidences OF the catastrophe.