The record-union., 1898-01-19
FATAL RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
AN OVERLAND TRAIN DERAIL-
ED NEAR CoLFAx.
Engineer "Doc" Hackett and Fire
man Edward Lightner Killed
Mo Passengers Hurt.

The first serious accident to a passen-
ger train on the Central Pacific branch
of the railroad occurred last evening,
resulting in the death of two men.
AT 5 o'clock the forward engine of the
west-bound overland train, due IN TINS
city at $40 p. M, jumped the track one
mile east of Colfax, and leaving the
road bed turned over down low en-
bankment.
The second engine followed it's leader
off the track, but luckily turned over
and remained on the road bed, instead
Of plunging upon the engine that Went
down the embankment, or the fatality
list might have been longer.
Engineer c. c. Brown and Fireman
Edward Ldghtner We're on the forward
engine, and as the great machine
lurched and went over both men
went down with it. Engineer
Brown escaped with a few superficial
bruises, and an hour later was walking
around but Lightner, who is a nephew
of Engineer Bonus Lightner, was some
where under his engine, and presun-
ably dead, as up to late hour last
might he had not been found
Engineer ID. z. Hackett and Fireman
c. f. Brown, both of this city, were on
the second engine and the accident,
happening as it did, without warning,
gave neither of them a chance to jump.
Engineer Haekett was badly scalded
about the head and face, besides being
injured internally and at o'clock, two
hours after he went over with his en-
CINE, he breathed his last.
C. F. Brown, Hackett's fireman, sus-
tanned several contusions about the
body. but was not seriously injured.
The mail car, the baggage and ex-
press car. the day coach and the smok-
ing car also left the rails, but did not
leave the road bed, and beyond gen.
eral shaking up none Of the passengers
We're injured.
Mail Clerk Stevens was flung
against the end of his car with extreme
violence. and his back is injured, though
how severely could not be ascertained.
Express Messenger Burke was also
shaken up, but received no contuslons,
and at latest accounts was said 10 be all
right.
D. q. Hackett, we'll known all over
the coast as Don" Hackett, had been
in the employ of the Southern Pacific
Company for many years, and was con-
sidered one of the most careful and re-
liable men on the road His run was
from Sacramento to Reno, his home
station being this city. He leaves
two daughters in San Francisco, and
had relatives in other cities in the
State. He was 45 years Of age.
Edward Lightner was % years old,
and a nephew of passenger engineer
Bonus Lightner. His home station
was Rocklin, Engineer Browns engine
making the run between Rocklin and
Wadsworth. Lightner was well known
in this city, and has host of friends
here to whom the news or his oeath
will be a severe blow.
Two tourist. two sleeping. and din
ing. car remained on the rails, and be-
yond a shock and jar the passengers
knew nothing. at the moment of the
accident. of the tragedy at the front Of
the train.
The track from Long Ravine bridge to
the town of Colfax is on an up grade,
and the train was consequently going
slightly uphill when the engine left
the track The trainmen say that
while the train was two hours late, ow-
ing to delays east Of ogden, it was not
moving al an g. . ssive rate of speed
when the accident occurred. The en-
gines had just pulled out of cut and
struck a small embankment when
Browns engine jumped the track, and
the rear part of the train was left
standing in the cut after the wreck.
Physicians from Colfax were soon at
the scene of the wreck and everything
possible was done to relieve the suffer-
ings of the injured
A special train from this city, hav-
ing on board Division Superintendent
J. B. Wright Assistant superintendent
r. r. Jones, Resident Engineer Robin
son and Dr. Huntington. Chief Sur
geon of the Railroad Hospital in this
city, and his assistant. DR.. Nourse, was
Immediately started for the scene Of the
accident, and the wrecking train, with
a full complement Of men, was also
hurried forward. and work at clearing
the track was pushed as rapidly as pos
sible.
The cause of the accident is not
known, though il Is thought that the
rails may have spread.
The railroad officials expect TO have
the track cleared early this forenoon.
The passengers were brought down by
a special from Colfax.