The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-10-27
Special pispaieh to The standard.

Great Falls, Oct. 26.-The worst rail-
road accident that has ever occurred
In Northern Montana took place at
o'clock this morning at Hinsdale, on
the main line of the Great Northern. in
Valley county. Two main line enei-
neers lie dead and three fircmen are not
expected To live. Fifteen cars contain
ing a valuable shipment to the coast
have been destroyed. News Of the acci-
dent only reached here at . o'clock to-
night by the crew of a Southern
freight. Details are very meager and
at the general Offices of the Montana
Central here nothing will be added.
The collision occurred between a
stock train travelling East and a
double-header freight going West.
Beth trains were travelling about 25
miles an hour and were within few
miles of Hlnsdale when they came to-
gether around bend. John Hayfield.
engineer of the head engine ON the
double header, and Harry Neate. en-
ginoer on the stock train. Were Instant
ly killed. William Prentiss. jr., engi-
neer OF the second engine on the freight
train, escaped without injury. The
three fremen ON the engines were all
expected 10 live. One of the firemen.
whose name Is Rogers. and the only
fireman's name obtainable. has been
given up 10 die before morning. lmme-
diately after the accident the cars. 10
Of which were smashed into spliniers.
took fire and 10 of them burned. These
were all in the freight train and con-
tained the most valuable shipment that
has gone over the line I'm several
weeks
The cause Of the accident II said 10
be due "a an error on the part of As
sistant Train Dispatcher Dunn. who
Immediately, on learning of what had
occurred. deserted his post and has not
since been seen. He has heretofore
been known as a nest careful operator
and for years held the position Of
chief dispatcher for an Eastern rail;
road in Chicago.
Boih of the dead engineers live in
Glasgow and there have families En-
gineer Hsyiield. who was on n vacation
during the past summer visited this
city and left many friends ON depart
ing for home. Both dead men are well
known and for years have been In the
employ of the Great Northern. The
stock train. which contained q ship
mcnt Of sheep belonging to J. II. Long
ing large numbers of sheep here. was
taken back to Malta and is now being
held there.
At II o'clock tonight special
from Glasgow to the Northern Mon
fana office of the Standard gives the
following account Of the wreck.
Three miles east of Hinsdale at S:1i
o'clock this morning the most serious
wreck that has occurred on this divis-
ion Of the Great Northern took place
when a doubie-h, ader. hauling 30 emp
ties. teloscoped into a stock train run
ming East. Two men are now dead as
"A result OF the accident and several
were seriously injured
The dead are Harry Neale. engineer
on the stock train. and Fireman John
Garten ON rear engine Of the double
header. Neale was "A married man
with wife and two children residing
in Glasgow. Garten will also be
mourned by n wife and children who
reside In Beatrice. Neb. he was re-
Gently from Great Falls. where he had
been employed In similar capacity.
The injured are John Hayheld. Glas-
gov. engineer. injured i'm the back.
ankle sprained, badly cut about head
and face and one rib broken John
owens. Glasgow. head brakeman. right
leg broken below the knee and back
sprained. Alphonse I.andonctt.. fire
man on Ncale's engine. shoulder brok-
en-, ankle spraincd. ear almost severed
from the head and badly cut about
head and face.
Both trains We're running at the rate
of ~ miles an hour when they came
together In a narrow cut just around a
sharp bend IN the road. The banks On
both sides were high and covered with
rocks. and how any one On the engines
escaped with their lives is little short
IL n miracle. Immediately after the
collision tire broke out and % cars were
totally destroyed before the flames
could be eNtinguished. Four ears were
loaded with copper, the Others were
,mpties The stock was saved by the
coupling pin breaking and being on n
grade. the cars ran back out OF reach
OF the ilames.
The sight presented by the wreck was
horrible. the injured lying on the rocks
groaning and crying for water while
the trainmen and few hubocs who
escaped uninjured hurried water TO
them from MIX river in their hats af-
ter removing them tn a place of safety.
Ncnl". who. IL he jumped. made the
leap too late, met instant death. the
carload Of copper going right over his
body.
All day long the wrrcking trains
Were working. hut AT dark this even