The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1895-05-03
WRECK ON THE 0. ?.
A Brakeman Was Instantly Killed and
the Conductor Afterwafd Dies,


the Conductor Afterwafd Dies.
The worst wreck in the history Of
Oregon Pacific railroad happened with
freight train last Monday afternoon
at bridge "a, just west Of tunnel No. 8,
about one and a half miles east Of Pho.
neer and twelve miles east Of Toledo,
the nearest telegraph Office. The
freight train was going west. It had
just unloaded several cars Of ties, pas.
sed through the tunnel and upon the
bridge, when, as nearly as can BE- told,
one Of the rars jumped the track, the
Jar Of the humping causing the bridge
to break and go down. 1t fell just
as the engine had crossed.
The Albany Hearld gives the follow.
ing account Of the wreck:
The accident happened at the bridge
across Yaquina river which beigns
about forty feet west of the west end
Of the tunnel. The engine was on the
bridge when it is thought a car heavily
loaded with stave bolts jumped the
track, and striking the timbers caused
the bridge to collapse, Fowler said he
saw the cars going down and he
jumped. He was hurled against the
timbers in the edge Of the tunnel and
brusied considerably, but was not seri.
ously hurt.
The passenger train was about forty
minutes behind the freight train, and
unless they were tagged must have
emerged from the tunnel to crash into
the wreck. Fowler ran through the
tunnel and tagged the passenger
train, which proceeded at once to the
scene of the wreck. This was about
$50 p. m.
When they arrived several farmers
were already doing all in their power
to help the victims of the disaster.
Brakeman Wilcox was nowhere to be
seen and Conductor Campbell was
pinned down to a flat car by falling
timbers and was crushed into insensi-
bility. 1t was only after forty minutes
Of hard work that he was extricated,
and in spite Of prompt medical assist
ance from the relief train which ar
rived as soon as passible, with DR.. G.
W. Maston, the company's surgeon,
from this city, and train from Yaqu-
ina with DR.. Rich on boaad, be never
regained consciousness, and died at
las yesterday.
From W. NJ. Toner, who was on the
passenger train, and Conductor Tway.
who had charge Of the relief train,it is
learned that the bridge was one Of the
hest on the road and undoubtedly the
cause of the accident was a car jump
ing the track.
The engine and tender remained
upon the track, having crossed in
safety, but the top of the cab was
knocked off by falling timbers, one Of
which struck the fireman, Robert
Perciful, and his hand was badly
bnrned by grasping hot steam pipe.
The engineer, Arthur Casteel, escaped
without injury.
The remains of Brakeman Joseph
Wilcox were found beneath the wreck
in four feet of water, be having been
instantly killed.
The remains of Conductor John
Campbell were taken to Corvallis. He
is brother OF Mrs. E. U. VIII, Of this
city, and was a bright, capable young
man, liked by everybody. He was a
member Of the Conductors Union, the
A. 0. U. w. and knights of Macca-
bees.
The remains of Brakeman Joseph
Wilcox were brought to this city, and
will be taken 10 Philomath for burial.
His wife will have the sympathy of all
in her affiicition. The deceased was a
young man of excellent habits and was
popular with all who knew him.