Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-11
RAILWAY DISASTER.
WORST WRECK IN THE HISTORY
OF COLORADO.
AT LEAST THIRTY PERSONS KILLED.
Many Taken Ont of the Debris, suf-
fering from Serious INJURIES
Number of Dead Can Never BE
Positively Ascertained.


The worst wreck In the history OF Colo
rado occurred at 1926 this afternoon. on
the Denver and Rio Grande and the Colo
rado Midland railroads, one and a half
| miles west of here. After twelve hours
7 work, 1t is impossible to more than es-
| innate the loss OF life, and not even
| those known TO be dead have been identi-
fed. Many Of the unfortunates will
never be known. and 1t is possible that
the number killed will always be in
doubt. From. the best information. fully
thirty persons are believed to have per-
ished, while 1s5 were taken out of the
wreck suffering from serious Injuries.
The wreck was caused by a head-end
collision between a Denver and Rio
Grande passenger train, running at the
rate of forty miles an hour and a spe-
cial Colorado Midland stock train, run
ming at thirty miles. So terrific was
the concussion that both engines. the
baggage and express cars the Smoker,
the day coach, 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 wreck
caught fire from an explosion of
"Pinch-gas" tank. and the fire burned so
rapidly that many passengers pinned be-
meath the debris We're burned TO death.
The most generally accepted theory 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 "A station"
and beat the passenger into Newcastle.
Burbank escaped uninjured, and upon
orders from Coroner Clark, has been
placed under arrest by the Sheriff. Mid
land Engineer Ostrander is missing, and
thorough search about his engine fails
to reveal any yestige of his remains. 1t
is thought that when he saw thc threat
ened danger he jumped. The list of
dead and injured so far as known, is as
follows:
DEAD AND INJURED.
+. ]. KEENAN,. mail agent, of Denver.
ROBERT $. HOLLAND, fireman, Dem |
yer and Rio Grande railway, Salada.
Mrs. ALEXANDER HARTMAN and |
two sons, Of Herscher, III.
JAMES ERRICK, Chicago.
CHARLES LEEPER, Clarion, Pa.
WILLIAM GORDON, engineer passen- |
ger train.
WILLIAM HINES, fireman.
The injured are:
Rev. ALEXANDER HARTMAN, |
Herscher, Ill; both legs broken and badly |
burned.
JOHN II. STANDER, Blackfoot, Idaho;
leg broken, face cut, and burned and
bruised
Miss PEARL CORNELL. Alciet, Ore.
hip dislocated.
J. c. YEAGER, Toledo o.; injured in
ternally.
J. LOGMAN, Whittier, CAL; slightly
wounded.
Mrs. MARY ISRAEL, st. Paul, Mimi;
slightly injured internally.
j. +. SNYDER, Independence, Kan;
slightly burned
ID. II. MANERNY Victor, Col; face
burned.
O.'V TITSON, Cooker. Mo-. cut badly
about the head.
r. II. BRICKLEY, Chicago; back in
jured.
j. G. YOUNG, st. Louis; cut in fore
head. not seriously.
THOMAS NASH, Mohab, Utah; left
arm broken. badly burned in face.
FRANK p. MANNIX, Victor, Col;
bruised.
r. W. SHOT. Leeper, Pa; badly
Brakeman KNAPP, leg crushed.
JAMES c. FOLEY, express messenger,
bruised.
WILLIAM S. MISSEMER, express mes
ienger bruised.
The case of Engineer Ostrander, of the
reight train, is still in doubt.
Charred fragments of limbs and bodies
# a number of persons have been taken
'ut of the ruins, but it is not likely that
py more bodies Will be positively identi-
"a, and IL seems certain that the num-
er killed will remain in doubt. I
As soon as the news OF the wreck {
cached Glenwood. a relief train was
ant from that place, and this afternoon !
he more seriously wounded were re- ,
lOved TO the Denver and Rio Grande !
ompany's hospital, at Salada. Ten I
odies were found in the ruins of one I
ar. and four I'm another. The charred | !
smains of two women were found
heir heads and lower limbs were burned .
+. In the dress bosom OF each was 5
lund lady's gold watch. upon one OF $
hch was inscribed: From mother TO e
annie" I
from all parts OF the coun- {
y. enquiring for friends and relatives, .
e pouring in constantly. v