The state herald., 1897-09-17
MANNED AND ROASTED.
Terrible Fato of = Large Number Of Per-
sons In tho New Castle Wreck.

I
sons in tho New Castle Wreck.
Denver, Sept. 1.-THE Rocky Noun
tain News this morning prints the fol-
lowing special from New Castle:
1t will be weeks before the public
will know exactly how many lives
were lost in this mornings wreck at
| this place. 1t was absolutely the most
horrible affair that ever occurred in
Colorado. Out Of nearly 100 persons
who were on the Denver & Rio Grande
train only about half have been ac-
/ counted for. The number of persons
on the train can only be approxlmated
by the tickets still in possession of
Conductor w. l.. Hawthorn of the pas
senger train.
He has over ninety and believes that
several We're lost during the excite
ment.
1t was strange fatality that brought
the trains together just at the only
spot within several miles at which
such an accident could happen. The
direct cause of the calamity will only
be known after Coroner Clark has
made an investigation.
Both roads claim that their trains
had the right away.
InOSe ueau are.
William Gordon, engineer passenger
train.
William Hines, fireman on cattle
train.
]. II, Keenan,, mail agent, Denver.
Robert s. Holland, fireman Denver &
Rio Grande railroad. of Salida.
Mrs. Alexander Hartman and two
sons. of Hercher, Illinois.
James Errlck, of Chicago.
Charles Leper, of Clarion, Pa.
Six unidentified remains in the
wreck.
Rev. Alexander Hartman, OF Her.
cher, Illinois.
Several others were seriously injured
and may die.
The frightful scene at the wreck
for two hours after the crash will
never be described. A pandemonium
of horrors and agony relgned. The
shrieks of the mangled mingled with
the believing and roIrs of the mutt
lated cattle of the stock train. From
all sides the cracking of fierce flames
and the rushing of steam added to the
din. 1t is no wonder that the unln-
jured passengers lost their heads and
had no system of rescue. Women with
children dead or MANNED at their sides
were pinned beneath heavy timbers
and twisted steel bars. They begged
and shouted and cursed and prayed
for Just few moments help that their
offspring might be saved.
In one shrek would go up prayer
for delivery; while the next would
be n supplication for death by bullets.
Anything to end the frightful physi-
cal pain and mental suffering. One
woman died singing. Her voice grew
weaker and weaker until the flames
which licked up around her finally ST.
fenced her tones forever. Who she
was is not known. Time and inquiry
from friends can alone offer a clue to
her identity, as well as the knowledge
of the names OF the others.
A Niagara OF water would not have
saved many of the victims. 1t was
wreck made horrible by flame rather
than by explosion. The latter force
was weak compared with the former.
A gas tank under one of the ears ex-
ploded and injured or killed probably
less than six. The explosions of the
locomotives were hardly more serious
than the blowing on Of cylinders and
fittings. But hardly had the rumble
of the great crash subsidized before the
great mass OF wreckace was ailame
at every point. In less time than It
takes 10 tell II the metal fittings of the
coaches were bending and twisting.
They We're at white heat. and when
dlsintegrated fair Idea OF the terrific
heat can be gained from the appear
once OF the great heavy pieces OF metal
this morning.
Then the work OF exploration began.
Two half consumed bodies were taken
out and carried to the morgue. On
them were fragments OF jcwelry and
watches which may furnish the only
means OF Identification. Small frag-
ments OF calcined bones were found
by the searchers, but they We're en-
tirely too small to furnish any clue to
identity. or even rs to the portion OF
the skeleton from which they came.
All day long the wrccking crew
worked and tore at the tangled mass
and by o'clock In the evening a mar
row space was cleared for the relaylng
OF tracks that traffic might proceed and
the rails We're hastily relaid.