The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-24

on the bridge at the time. All brakes
We're set on the freight at the time of
the collision, but failed to work owing
to the snow and ice on the tracks. Be
cause of the wreckage no trains were
run until p. M, when spur track
was completed around under the north
end Of the bridge. While the tracks
We're tied up the eastbound Wisconsin
Central and Northern Pacific trains
were sent around by way of Gladstone,
the st. Paul & Duluth to St Paul, and
all westbOund trains We're sent over
the Milwaukee tracks to Minneapolis
Passengers on the Mississippi street
car line were transferred across the
tracks
During the heavy storm the snow had
drifted considerably in the yards. and
at Z O'Clock yesterday morning a work
train made up of fifteen fiat cars with
engine No. $50, in charge OF Engineer
turlong, and a gang of men under
Foreman Rafferty, began the wolS1 of
removing the snow. One load had been
tahen out, and the men were on track
loading for the second trip when the
accident occurred.
The eastboUnd Wisconsin Central
extra freight, in charge Of Conductor
Hitter and Engineer Smith. made its
appearance on the Bunker Hill incline.
1t was seen by the Workmen in the
yards, but attracted no particular at
tention. as stop was supposed to be
made above the Bunker hin ser1aphore
until the tracks could be cleared.
Instead of stopping. however, the
train
CONTINUED TO APPROACH
with increasing speed. Realizing that
something was wrong. the frightened
workmen and the crew of the work
train deserted the train and waited for
.
man and Brakemen Edwards and Lay
bourn jumped from the freight some
distance up the track but Engineer
Smith remained at his post almost un-
til the moment of the collision. Then
HE sprang from the cab just before the
engine was overturned.
The work train was completely teIe-
scoped and driven back against the
supports of the great iron bridge with
q terrific crash. For a moment the
bridge trembled, and then there was
a second crash, as the structure yielded
to the shock. The debris of the bridge
came down to add to the piled up mass
of wrecked fat cars in the yards The
freight engine was converted into scrap
iron and the switch engine was de-
rallied.
T. II. Line. in charge of the inter-
locking switch device in the yards, inn
mediatelY notified Supt Fowler of the
disaster and a wrecking train was
made up and arrived on the scene with
In an hour in charge of Foreman Smith
and Engineer Smage.
The work of clearing the tracks was
begun AT once and force of men were
started building spur track under the
north end of The bridge. which still
stood 10 accommodate traffic It was
completed late in the afternoon, and in
The meantime other arrangements were
made for handling trains. Another
sang was set at work lacking up the
COLLAPSED bridge ana pu ting in temper
cry wooden benCs in place Of the ones
knocked out
During the afternoon the city en-
Giheer YVES notified that the railroad
company would have the
BRIDGE TEMPORARILY OPEN
by tonight
General Superintendent Clark. of The
81 Iaul d Duluth, was among the
party of officials whc visited the scene
OF the wreck during the dav and made
a thorough investigation irtc the cans \
of the disaster. Engineer Smith con
duc;cr Hitter and the brakemen were