Arizona republican., 1896-09-01
COLLISION ON THE N. X P Coupling Breaks and the
 Train Parts. Conductor Phillips Left Leg
 Badly Crushed.
Several Other Passengers Rec sive Minor Bruises-The Accident
 was Unavoidable.

IA distressing accident occurred yes terday morning on the M. & P. train coming from Maricopa. The train consisted of three boXcars, the regular passenger coach and combined smoker and baggage car. The train was in charge of Engineer Tarney and Prenty Phillips, depot agent here, who vol unteered to go to Maricopa and take the train in, as the regular conductor was detailed to look after the special train that came in about 8:30 o'clock yesterday morning.
 When the train arrived within few miles of the Gila river the coupling broke between the second and third cars, parting the train. The breaking of the train set the automatic brakes, which called the engineers attention at once to what had occurred. He whistled for brakes and opened the throttle at full speed to get away from the rear section. The automatic brakes on the engine were set and could not be released without stop ping, but knowing the danger of doing so, Tarney let the wheels drag. He would have cleared the way but for the fact that in running up a grade the engine stopped, not being able to run with the brakes set. The result was the two sections crashed together.
 Conductor Phillips as soon as he heard the whistle for brakes rushed out on the baggage car and attempted to mount the boXcar in front. Before he had mounted the ladder the crash came and he was thrown from the lad der. His left leg was damned above the ankle and badly mashed The col hSion derailed the trucks of the coach es and one boxcar
 Engineer Tarney was thrown from his seat in the cab ito the tender, but escaped with a few bruises and jumped back at once to his post.
 The passengers in the coaches were unaware of what had occurred until the cars collided. All were thrown from their seats and more or less jarred up.
 The following persons were more or less injured: Walter Porter, baggage master, was thrown against a pile of trunks and received discolored optic, besides being scratched with splinters.
 Governor Franklin was thrown against the seat in front of him and his face bruised.
 Miss Patricia Hutchinson escaped with a cut lip and a few teeth loosened
 Mrs. Frank Cox was bruised about the face and her teeth loosened.
 J. w. PrOsser, of Davenport, was injured more than any one with the exception of Phillips. The water cool CT struck him and knocked him over. His side and leg were almost denuded of the cuticle. Ben Crawford was in- jured in the side
 The passengers were placed on the forward section of the train and taken to Phoenix. A crew and engine were immediately dispatched to the scene Of the wreck to clear the track. As soon as that was done the train was hauled back to Maricopa to allow the special overland to pass. The train arrived here last night about o'clock
 As soon as Mir. Phillips was brought to the city he was taken home, where Dr. Helm dressed the injured leg. The physician thinks the foot can be saved but it will keep Mr. Phillips in bed fo1 some weeks.
 No one is to blame for the accident as 1t was one of those accidents liable to occur at any time The train was all right when it left Maricopa or it would not have gone as far as it did The crew acted with promptness wher the warning was given and the col llslon was altogether unavoidable.