The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
The Wreck on the Santa Fe Pacific

|. Two engineers and fireman killed,
one fireman and conductor badly in
jured, two engines and twenty-six cars
of valuable merchandise burned; lis the
result of the wreck which occurred
Monday evening three miles east of
Mcclellan on, the Santa Fe Pacific. En-
gines 105 and ,109 were run from Wins
low, as a ble-header, on a train Of
Itwenty nine cars OF tSerchandise for
California paints, conductor Thos. j.
O'Keliy in charge. On the 100 were en-
gineer James Watson and fireman Ford,
engineer Frank Newton and fireman
Bert Sperry were the crew Of the 105.
The train crew we're conductor O'Kelly
and brakemen Gillespie and Foster
The trip to Williams was made without
incident, and all went we'll till the train
got to Supai. Leaving there the air
brakes, for some reason unknown, fail
ed to workgand the train quickly got
beyond control of the train men, and
dashed madly down the mountain side.
The speed attained was terrific, and the
few brakes the crew were abie to set had
no more effect in staying the runaway
traip than packthread stretchedacross
Niagara would have to hold back its
waters. At g. clrve three miles east of
Mcclellan, the engines and train left
the track, and were piled up in a chaotic
mass Beyond description. Some idea
may be gained from the fact that the
length Of Engines and train was nearly
one thousand feet. and they were piled
up in length of one hundred and
eighty feet or less.
The wreck caught fire end was en-
tirely consumed.
On report being received at Winslow
a train was hastily made up and sent
to the scene. Not until Tuesday morn
ing were any definite reports received,
and the air was full Of rumors. It was
learned that engineers Frank Newton
and James Watson, and fireman Bert
Sperry were killed and fireman Ford
and conductor O'Kelly injured.
The body of engineer Watson was
recovered from the mass OF burning
! debris. taken to Flagstaff, where it was
embaimed and brought on to Winslow
Tuesday night. On its arrival here the
Masons, Of which order he was an hon
ored member and Worshipful Master
of Winslow Lodge, took charge of the
remains. and conveyed it to their hall
where it lay i'll state untll Thursday
when funeral services were held over
the body and the remains shipped OF
No. 2 for Brandon, Wisconsin, the place
Of his nativity. E. A. Sawyer and Mrs
Chas. Woods accompanied Mrs. Wat
son with the remains. NJ. Watson wa'
one of the oldest engineers on the roae
and one of Winslow's most highly res
pected citizens. His widow has tn,
heartfelt sympathy of our entire com
munity in her irreparable loss.
It is reported that portion OF th
body of engineer Frank Newton hat
been recovered, but was mutilatec
a.ud burned as to be beyond reeo8ni
tion, and was only identified bya mem
orandam book found III his hip pocket
Frank was universal favorit5 and hat
! q host Of friends in cur city. Ills WIZ
is completely prostratad over the sac
occurrence, and has been the recipien
Of many kindnesses and receiyed th'
sincere coincidence Of her numerous
friends, 49,.
/. Up to the time Of writing the refnain'
of fireman Sperry had not been l.I;.s:s... TecGy
cred, and it is feared that his remains
.'nave been entirely consumed.