The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-08-16
A Terrible Accident.

Shortly before six o'clock last Friday
evening, Oscar LeFranc, who was fish
ing in the Goldsborough creek canyon
discovered trestle No 9, on the PENN
sular "cut-off'' to be on fire, and at the
same moment, heard the rumbling OF
the logging train on its way down
He rushed up the short curve above the
trestle to stop the train but twas upon
him. The engineer blew for CDR axes
and reversed his engine, but the time
was too short. Having performed his
duty Engineer Ben. Snider got out
from the lever in readiness to jump,
when fireman Jim Bateman'said Lets
stay with her, Ben, and they did.
AS the engine reached the trestle
they could see through the smoky haze
enough to show that the trestle was
badly burned and the rails spread, and
when the middle was reached the
heavy engine crashed through into the
burning heap of logs and timber about
twelve feet below.
Geo. Woodcock, who was riding on
the engine jumped at that moment,
and found his way through the burn
ing heaps to safety, although badly
burned. The engineer and fireman
did not fare so well. Engineer Snider,
though badly scalded, saved himself
from the wreck, but noticing that his
partner, Jim, was held down in the
burning cab went back to his aid.
With his b1istered hands he lifted a
big tool box and lot of wood from the
tender, which held the fireman down
with his feet in the mouth of the open
furnace, while the escaping steam was
blistering both, the a brave engineer
persisted and managed to free the fire
man and assist him from the horrible
situation. The brakemen set their
brakes and all got out on the logs au
instant before they came together with
resistless crash. When they went
forward and assisted the engineer, fire.
man and Geo. Woodcock to safety, it
was discovered that two men, who
were riding on the chain box in rear of
tender. were missing, and must GER
tainly have gone down in the wreck.
William Johnston. who was also rid
| ing in the same place, and John Hud-
son, who was there but at the last
stopping place had moved back to the
| logs to escape cinders, both found
| themselves safe and sound after the
scare of their lives. The missing men
were Nels Peterson and Thos. White,
who were undoubtedly crushed by the
logs and killed instantly. Their bod
les were cremated in the wreck, under
the heavy logs and burning tender and
could not be reached. Word was sent
to Shelton and-Eugineer Snider started
to walk down tho suffering excrucia-
ting pain at every step. Reaching Geo
Shorter's place he was taken in a wa
| gon to his home where doctors were in
readiness to dress his injuries. George
Woodcock and Fireman Baten1an were
taken to camp 10 near by and both
were brought to town that evening.
Woodcock was burned by fire about
the hands face and neck but his in iur-
les were the lightest of the three and
he is now improving rapidly at the
Commercial hotel. Poor Batema n
was burned and scalded all over his
body with the exception of the soles of
his feet and his breast. Flesh hung
i'll rolls and dropped off, exposing the
blood vessels in many parts. His case
was hopeless, but everything was done
to relieve the great agony which he
suffered until death came to his relief
Saturday night. Ben Snider was
scalded all over his limbs and hands,
and burned about the head. While much
skin surface is destroyed and his recov-
cry necessarily slow, we are thank
full that Ben will be as good as ever in
a few weeks. He is receiving every
attention and the best of medical skill.
The ''dinkey'' was fired up and a
large crowd reached the wreck about
8 O'Clock. A bucket brigade soon put
out the fire, and the debris was remov-
ed to reach the missing. men. The
trunk and several members, supposed
to be Nels Peterson, were gathered up
but a skull, evidently all that remain
ed of Thomas White, crumbled at the
touch. The next morning however,
ISmall portions of the 1attcr'S >extremi-
ties were found under the water of the
creek. The wreck presented a sad
sight and it looked as though the de s.
truction was complete. The wrecKing
crew has been at WORK this week and
Wednesday evening the splendid No 3,
the Co1npany's largest locomotive was
brought down to the shops. though
stripped of its cab and wood work, ap-
parently capable of repair in ever y
other particular. The tender and sew
eral cars are a complete wreck, moth
ing remaining but the trucks and iron
WIN iHC oCOilS HdS Uecn cleared
away and work rebuilding the trestle
will begin at once.
4 No fire was near the trcstle on the uI
trip, but several fishermen brought in
word that the trest1e was in DANCE,
: that afternoon, and Manager Dobsor
was on the way, when he received wore
of the wreck just before he reached the
spot. While there was dan ger from