The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-05
NERVE OF TRAIN MEN
Engineer Root, Surrounded by
Fire, Stands at the Throttle.
GRAPHIC STORIES OF THE FIRE
Aid for the Stricken People Called for
St. Paul and Other Cities Respond
Promptly and Literally.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. From
the stories of passengers OH the linn.
tied train. which was burned near
Hinckley, the entire train crew de-
serves to be placed on the roll Of honor
for personal heroism. Engineer James
Root of White Bear heads the list. He
was badly burned and almost blinded
and fell from his seat unconscious
Immediately on getting out of the fire.
When about two miles north Of Hinck-
ley. Root first discovered that the fires.
which had been raging on both sides
of the track, were racing him for his
life and the lives of his passengers.
Cinders were flying in every direction
and the smoke was so dense IL at it was
well nigh impossible 10 see beyond the
car windows. even with the aid Of
pow erful headlight
Flames Outrun the Train.
He thought to outrun the aamee,
which were coming after and bearing
down upon him at 6OintIe gait.
When about a mile and half from
Hiuckley, he discovered that tina nre
was too fast for him. 1t overlook the
train and overleaI ed 1t 50 that it was
literally surrounded with flames. The
air was at f1,ng. and the clothes of
10th the engineer aud the fireman
caught fire. Fireman MCGOWAN
leaped into the water-tank. and, seiz.
ing u bucket, dashed wafer several
times over the burning engineer. Roo.
steadily kept at lis post. although
scarcely able to sit upright.
Leaped Into a He'll OF Flame.
In the meantime the passengers
could see nothing, but heard the roar
of the incoming tornado of fame,
and soon the glare outside
was toe much for the reason
Of number of them. The rear car
caught fire, aud as the fumes overlook
it the passengers rushed headlong into
the forward cars. The shrieks of
women and children, as we'll as the
terrified shouts Of the men, increased,
and terrible feelings were aroused by
the urroar of the flames on every
hand. Several of the male pas
seng, IRE, too terrified for further
sell control. leaped headlong through
the broken windows and were swal.
lowed up In the fumes outside. 9th
ers, seeing this act, quickly followed,
and altogether in the next 10 minutes
u dozen men leaped to their death In
the flames in a like manner. The
women, whose terror had Teen pitiful.
for a few minutes before, now Came
heroically 10 the help of the trainmen
in endeavoringt TO soothe the ffrighted
children.
Escaped to Sku:k Lake.
Engineer Root saw that there was no
outlet, apparently, for his train ahead,
and concluded to turn back through
the distance already burned over
rather than encou inter- possibly greater
perils for them. He backed at top
speed to Skunk lake. five miles from
Hinckley. The passengers deserted
the train there an d took refuge in the
swamp, where they spent the night.
This morning relief train from the
north brought them 10 this city. The
relief train carried supply Of hand
cars, which were used IN picking up
the bodies of the dead along the track.
Engineer Root lies at his home al
White Bear too badly injured to be in.
terviewed. He was badly cut by brok-
en- gtaee, but his worst injuries were
from inhaling hot air and smoke.