Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-16
rrnnIBnB nAILnoAD DISASTER.
A Train Load of Excursionists Run Down
--Sexen Killed and Many Hurt.


DENVER. Col, July 12.-An Aspen
special Ia. the Republican says; A horrible
catastrophe occurred at Aspen Junction,
on the Midland road, at ii o'clock last
night. which has filled many once happy
homes in the beautiful valley of the Roar
ing Fork with desolation and death. A
collision occurred between Midland loco
motive and the coaches of the Saturday
Laundry" or excursion train, running
between Aspen and Glenwood Springs.
The coach load of people returning in
happy spirits from the Springs, where
few pleasant hours had been spent in the
swimming pool, were suddenly plunged in
the horrors of frightful railroad acct
dent, which resulted in the killing of two
upon five more, and severely scalding and
burning six others. Engineer Switzer of
the Laundry" train, had run his train up
to the water tank at the junction for water.
When backing down TO get on the main
track to Aspen, the locomotive shot out
from behind the coal chutes. The chutes
are located in such way as to conceal the
engine tracks from view of the track lead
ing to the water tank. The engineer on
the light engine, thinking he could get out
before the excursion train took the main
track, missed his calculation and struck
the rear corner of the excursion train at
the switch
The collision tore the check valve from
the engine. Then ensued scene of terror
impossible to describe. The passengers
were at the mercy of the roaring, screech-
| ing. monster ut their side. Through the
broken check valve torrents of scalding
steam and water poured out upon the help
less. of the % passengers. three colored
men who were IN the forward compart-
ment were the only ones not injured.
Conductor Riley Miller, with the train
tt1 thnt anil. .rn1.
the work of rescue. A 2-years-old child of
Mr. and Mrs. Frank u. Ellis Of Aspen.
was killed instantly. Miss Annie Phelan
| of Cardiff, died soon after she was taken
out. Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Leonard, Mr..
and Mrs. Frank Il. Ellis, Thomas 0'Don-
nell, Miss Mary QDonnell, James Leach.
all of Aspen, and Mrs. A. b. Rogers of
Woody, Mrs. ]. G. Baldwin of Glenwood,
and Mrs. l.. Willoughby, wife of the
county assessor of Garfield county, of
Glenwood, Col, were frightfully scalded
and burned. None sustained injuries of q
serious nature except from escaping steam
and scalding water. The injured were as
comfortably provided for as possible and
placed in the baggage car and brought to
AsI on.
Dr. A. ]. Robinson, the company's ply
stefan, and all the physicians of the city
| were in attendance, and every possible aid
was given to the unfortunate victims by
Agent Waters and his clerks. The cries
of agony were heartrending, and their
scalded faces and arms and shoulders were
sight to behold.
In spite of all their efforts, however,
Mrs Frank L. Ellis, Mrs. ]. G.. Baldwin
and Mrs. W. L. Willoughby died within
two hours. Mrs. Bowers died at clock
this morning and her husband at 10
o'clock. of those still living only one,
Miss Mary 0'Donnell. is considered as
dangerously burned and hopes are enter
tanned of her ultimate recovery.
Coroner Hill of this city, has gone to the
scene of the accident and will hold an in
quest tomorrow on the bodies of those
who died here. While the injured people
were at Aspen Junction the person Of Mrs.
A. b. Rogers was robbed of gold watch
and also 500 in money.
There were also other robberies reported.
With warrant sworn out by r. A. Rop-
ham before Judge Prentiss, Marshal Andy
sutton went to Aspen Junction and ar
rested J. G. Kuhn, cook at the railroad
eating house, charging him with the rob-
berry. Kuhn denied all knowledge of the
money, but says that he was requested by
Mrs. Rogers TO take her pocket-book from
her dress and hand il to some one standing
near, whom she recognized, but could moi
reach. Kuhn claims that he did this. He
turned the watch and some other trinkets
over to the proprietor of the hotel, and
disclaims all intention of robbery.