The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-16
A Terrible collision.
AN AWFUL HEAD-END WRECK
WORKED DESTRUCTION AND
DEATH IN COLORADO.
Thirty KILLED OUTRIGHT
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIvE
BRUISED AND BLEEDING RES
CUED FROM THE RUINS.
HOLOCAUST ADDED 70 THE HORROR
GrOans and Cries Went I'm From the
Burning Mass--Many Escaped
Through Smoke and Flames.
Causes That Led to the
Terrible Disaster.
HOLOCAUST ADDED 70 THE HORROR

Newcastle Colo, Sept 10.-Thc worst
wreck in the history of Colorado oc-
Cured at II o'clock last night on the
track of the Denver and Rio Grande and
the Colorado Midland Railways, one and
Il half miles west of here. After twelve
hours incessant work by the wrecking
crews in clearing away the debris and
rcscuing the bodies of those who per-
ished. it is yet impossible to secure more
than an estimate of the loss of life, and
not even those known TO be dead have
been identified. Many of the unfortu-
mates will never be known and it is pos
sible that the number killed will always
be in doubt. From the best informa-
ton Obtainablc now fully thirty persons
are believed to have persisted. while 1856
were taken out from the wreck suffering
from serious injuries
The wreck was caused by a head-end
collision between the Denver and Ri6
Grande passenger train, running forty
miles an hour, and special Colorado
Midland stock train, running at a speed
of probably sixty miles. So terrific was
the conclusion that both engines, bag
gage and express cars, smoker and day
coaches and two stock cars were totally
demolished and the. track torn up for
rods in both directions. To add to the
horror Of the scene the wreckage caught
fire from the explosion of gas tank on
the passenger train and burned so rapidly
that many passengers pinned beneath
the debris were burned to death before
help could reach them. =.
The most generally accepted origin as
to the cause of the wreck seems to be
that Conductor Burbank of the Midland
special, anticipating the time of the pas
senger, undertook to 'steal station"
and beat the passenger into Newcastle.
Burbank escaped uninJufed and upon Or
ders from Coroner Clark has been placed
under arrest by the sheriff. The Mid
land engineer. Ostrander, is missing, and
a thorough search all about his engine
fails TO reveal any vcstige of his remains.
1t is thought that when he saw the
threatened danger he jumped from his
engine, and realizing his negligence, took
to the hills.
Mr. and Mrs. T.. H. Strouse. who live
4 quarter of a mile from the scene of
the accident, say that when the two
trains met the shock literally hurled
them otit of bed.
The list of dead and injured, 80 far as
il known, is as follows:
The dead as recognized, are:
Engineer Gordon.
Fireman William Hines.
+. j. Keenan,. mail agent, of Denver.
Robert Shetland. fireman on the Denver
and Rio Grande. of Salda.
Mrs. Alex Hartman and two sons of
Herscher. Ill.
James Errick of Chicago.
Charles Leeper of Clario, Pa.
The injured:
Rev. Alex Hartman of Herscher, ILL.,;
both legs broken and badly burned
John III. ISLANDER of Blackfoot, Idaho;
leg broken and face cut, burned and
bruised.
Miss Pearl Cornell of Alchiel, Ore;
hip dislocated.
]. G. Yeager Of Toledo, o.; injured in
J. Logman of Whittier, Cal; slightly
wounded.
Mrs. Mary Israel of st. Paul, Mimi;
slightly injured.
J. +. Snyder Of Independence, Kan;
slightly burned.
ID. II. Mckinney of Victor, COL; face
burned.
o. V. T'illson of Cooker, Mo-; cut badly
about head
X. II. Brickley of Chicago; back in
iured.
]. G. Young of ST. Louis; cut in fore
head, not serious.
Thomas Nash of Mohbah, Utah; arm
broken, badly burned i'm face.
Frank z. Mannix of Victor, Col;
bruised and slightly burned.
r. w. Shott of Leeper, Pa; badly
bruised.
Brakeman Knapp; leg crushed.
James G. Foley, express messenger;
bruised.
The case Of Engineer Ostrander of the
'reight engine is still in doubt.
Charred fragments Of limbs and bodies