The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-09-14
AWFUL CRASH.
neae-Epd Collision on the Denver a Rio
anoe hoad-At Least Forty People
wore Killed, Burned and Monnded

! NEWCASTLE, Col, Sept. 1.-THE most
disastrous railroad wreck that has ever
happened In Colorado occurred at 1915
rriudy morning mile and half west
OF this town. Denvenver & Rio Grande
passenger train No. 1, westbound. col
hded with a Colorado Midland stoclx
train, going east, wreckino both on.
gines and several cars in both trains.
shortly after the collision fire broke
out In the ruins. The mail. bapgaoe
ana express cars, smoker, day coach
ana tourist sleeper were burned. A
number of passengers who were not
killed outright but who were pinned in
the wreckage and could not be extri-
cdCeu, persisted in the flames. There
were about 200 passengers. 1t is esti-
mated That Is persons were killed and
as many more bruised, scalded and
burned, of whom over six are likely to
die of their injuries.
Inc trains collided on a curve or
oeho round mountain, and there was
no opportunity to avoid the wreck or
even to slacken their speed. The sur
wing tralnmen say the trains were
not running fast, but the facts seem to
be that both the passenger and freight
were going at full speed-about 20
miles an hour for the passenger and 10
or IL for the freight.
One report as to the cause of the acct
dent is to the effect that Conductor Bur-
bank, of the Colorado Midland stock
tram, made mistake of ten minutes
In hguring on the time when the Rio
Orande passenger train passed New
castle, and that therefore he was chiefly
responsible for the disaster. Engineer
Ostrander, of the stock train. couId
either confirm or deny this report if
he was alive, but it is believed he is
under the debris.
The passengers in the day coach far
ed the worst. Out of % people in that
coach only six are now known to have
escaped. All was confusion and some
may have escaped unnoticed.
As In all similar accidents, the en-
CINE men are first to lose their lives.
Engineer OStrander went down with
his hands on the lever.
Robert Holland, fireman on the pas
senger, was SO badly hurt that he died
at o'clock. Engineer Gordon of the
passenger may live, although he is bad
ly injured, and at first was thought to
be fatally hurt. He suffered great pain
from a rupture in addition to his other
injuries. He was thrown over a barb
wire fence by the force of the collision.
Hines, the Midland fireman, was so
badly hurt that the doctors who exam
ined him at five o'clock said that he
could not recover. He was shockingly
burned, but bore his pain bravely.
James keenan,, the postal clerk, will
not live until noon, the doctors say.
He is terribly scalded.
Two express messengers on the Rio
Grande train saved their lives. but
their escape was a thrilling one. They
were James c. Foley and William s.
MeSsagar, both of Denver
1T is difficult to get particulars about
the dead and injured, SO great is the
confusion. In addition to the above
named it is now known that Alex
Hartman, of Hersher, H., has both
legs broken and can not live. His wife
and two children were the first of the
dead to be removed from the wrcckage
At least two cars of stock were
wrecked and the road strewn with
dead animals.
The express car and its contents, of
the wrecked passenger train, were en-
tirely consumed by fire.
Frank P. ManniX, editor of the Vic
tor Record, was passenger on the
Denver and Rio Grande train,
II was in the smoker when the COLI
sion happened" he said, land
was jammed down in the seat.
/ saw daylight on one side
and managed to pull myself out, and,
with the help of Brakeman Daniels.
helped to pull three people from the
wreck. At the time of the collision the
tank under the smoker exploded and
set fire to the train. The scene was
awful. The mail, baggage, smoker,
day coach and a tourist sleeper were
burned, the rear Pullman and a private
car remaining on the track"
Mr.. Mannix is of the opinion that ut
least 40 are dead and burned. FOur
more bodies have been brought in
which are burned beyond any possibil-
ity of Identification.
NEWCASTLE, Col, Sept. 11.-Condnc-
tor Burbank of the Colorado Midland
stock train which collided with the
Denver and Rio Grande passenger has
been arrested. A careful seach around
the Midland engine failed to reveal
the remains of Engineer Ostrander.
It is believed he jumped from his en-
CINE in time to save his life and realiZ-
ing that the accident was due to his
negligence. fled to the hills.
Charred fragments of limbs and bod
les of number of persons have been
taken out of the ruins, but it is not
likely that any more bodies will be
positively identified, and it seems GER
tain that the number killed will remain
in doubt The coroner found Il shaving
mug with the name ''W. Nicholson"
upon it, also gold watch with the
name of f. c. Potter engraved on the
outside.
Fireman Hines and Engineer Gordon
died Friday night.
Vicksburg Quarantines.