The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-21
WRECKS ON SEATTLE g. NORTH ERIN
Two Engines Go Into Washouts and
Fireman Perishes.

Two Engines Go Into WAshouts and q
Fireman Perishes.
HAMILTON, Wash, Nov. 20.-ESpecial. l.
Two railroad wrecks occurred on the Seat
tie & Northern railroad within twenty-four
hours. One of the firemen, named Ed
Cole, was killed and several of the crew,
including the conductor, considerably
bruised. The wreck occurred at III so last
night, two miles west of Hamilton. Super
intendent Phelps was on the train, which
was due from Anacortes at Hamilton at
5:30. The warm wind of Friday night
had melted the snow in the hills and
swollen the Skagit river and tributaries to
torrents and the low lands were inundated,
and the railroad men realized that there
was danger. The train had safely passed
over what was supposed to be the worst of
line, and was feeling its way along very
cautiously. Only one passenger was on
board. Just as the superintendent had
said to the conductor that all danger was
passed, there came crash and a sudden
halt, followed by . scream from the engi-
neer. Tho track had been undermined,
and as the engine bore it down a rail
punctured the boiler. The engine and
tender settled in q mass of ruins in the
yawning cavity. but the engineer. Dan
~
Ed Cole, his fireman, was found in the
water on the opposite side limp and I'M
conscious. 1t was supposed he had been
partially strangled in the water. but all
efforts to recusitate him proved futile. and
an examination of the body disclosed a
bruise on the left breast showing that he
had received probably fatal blow before
falling into the water. The train con
sisted of engine. tender. mail car and one
coach. The precipitation of the former
deraied the mail car, roughly shaking up
its occupants and fitting The car threaten
ingly on the brink OF the embankment.
being held from overturning by the weight
of the coach to which it is coupled.
Superintendent Phelps and two brake
men, who were uninjured, walked a mile
and half 10 Lyman, got a hand-car and
by O'Clock were en- route to Anacortes,
where they secured another engine. Two
fiat cars were loaded with rails, ties and
materials and tools for raising the wreck
and with q passenger coach attached
started for the scene OF the disaster.
When this train reached Lyman it was
nassing over a high embankinent of clay
shat was apparently solid. Superintendent
Phelps was riding between the engine and
tender. and the engine passed over in
safety. hut the embankment sunk beneath
the tender. the rails spread and the coach
rolled off on its side jolting on the ties
and throwing the material off the Tat cars
one of the rails driving its way through the
front window of the coach. Though seven
teen messengers were aboard no one was
seriously injured. Indeed. one old lady III
the coach carried in her lap basket of
eggs. not one of which was broken IN the
tumble of the coach down the enbank-
ment.
This last wreck left Superintendent
Phelps al the end of his immediate re-
sources. One engine was in the ditch, 4
total wreck, another was between two
wrecks, a mile and half apart, with no
facilities for either fuel or water. The
third and only remaining engine was over
on the Great Northern, assisting in con-
struction. He walked into Hamilton this
evening at o'clock and wired Tor help.
lie and his men have been on constant
duty FOR thirty-six hours. aud though ex-
hauSted, he cannot sleep.
Ell Cole, the dead fireman. was MEN,
Der OF the brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and was an exemplary young
man. He leaves young wife and three
small children, two of them but few
months old. He is said 10 have had 1880
insurance on his life. His young wife is in
Hamilton, moving 20 this place from Ana
cortes only last Wednesday,