The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-16

err Belivon stood by him and threw
the switch for the engine to back in
on the siding. AS the engine passed
over the switch they climbed up on
it.
The engine had gone about the length
OF one rail from the switch when the
freight train shot around the curve. it
seemed like lightning Had a man been
at the switch there would have been
time to have thrown it and closed the
main llne, but no one was there and the
frelght was so close there was no time
FOR man to cover even the short dis
lance from 'the engine to the switch
ana IN any event a collision could not
nave been avoided, as the switch en-
CINE was not clear of the main line and
the locomotives must have come to-
gether anyway, and even had the switch
engine been clear of the main line and
could the switch have been thrown so
as to keep the freight on the main track
| a collision was again inevitable, for only
a few yards ahead on the main track
stood the two cars that had been set
there. 1t will be seen, therefore. that
an accident more or less serious was
clearly unavoidabl under the circum
stances, though under either Of the
other conditions than that which hap
pened to obtain it is possible that no
one would have been killed. as the force
of the impact in either of the other
cases would have been far less
| On came the freight train at what
seemed to the few who We're near
enough to see anything Of the accident
at tremendous rate of speed, suppos-
eddy running with clear track as
| should have been the case. Some esti-
mated the speed Of the train as up
wards of IS miles an hour. but that
would appear too high, from the fact that
the train had only had half or three
quarters of mile to get under way.
Fifteen miles, however, was not difficult
with the down grade from the city to the
smelter, and it is estimated that was
about the speed of the train.
Into the siding the freight train
dashed, almost before either crew real
lied that there was danger on the rails.
Fireman Roland, of the switch engine
was the first to discover the danger. His
engine had almost come to a Standstill
was barely moving, when he glanced OUT
of the cab window and saw the head
light of the freight only few car
lengths ahead.
My God, whistle down the brakes
he shouted to his engineer Charles
Frederickson, and then made a break
for safety. Frederckson was quick
witted, and pulling the whistle violently
he sounded the signal and followed b.
land out of the cab. They jumped out
on the right and escaped in safety Just
as the crash came.
The engine crew of the freight did not
awaken to a realization of their danger
till they heard the shrill whistle of the
switch engine screaming down
brakes then they STAYED by their posts
manfully. Engineer White applied his
air, reversed his engine and stayed by
the throttle till the giant engines met
in that terrible embrace. then jumped
through the cab window. In alighting
he was considerably shaken up and
bruised, but not seriously. Fireman
Bowling also remained herocally in his
position. He could do nothing. but con-
cluded to stay with his engineer. He
stood up by his seat in the cab. turning
his face from the tireboX and awaited
those few terrible seconds, fully expect
ing to be killed When the engines met
the floor Of the cab was carried away
from under him and he fell down under
the engine, where a broken water cock
poured scalding steam in his face till
with assistance and his own exertions
he was extricated from his awful posi-
ton and saved a shocking fate.
Conductor Joe Grant and his head
brakeman We're also riding in the en-
CINE. Conductor Grant had gotten in
the engine on leaving the yards to give
the engineer his orders, but intended
dropping off at the first convenient
place to catch the caboose and save go
ing back over the cars. Brakeman
Pierce was there because that was
where he belonged when there was no
occasion for him to be on top of the
cars. When they learned their danger,
both made rush for the gangway to
Jump. Pierce got out safely. So would
have Grant but for what seems to have
he hn ,F f1t rNl,
briefest instant before the crash came
he jumped, but evidently sprained his
ankle, for he was unable to run and
was llmping away when. in the brief
space it took him to go, perhaps Is
feet, the engines met. The force of the
collision carried away the water tank
of the tender of the engine. 1t flew
bodily through the air and fell on the
unfortunate conductor, its sharp edge
completely seVering the left lower limb
so close up to the body as to take away
the whole hip and expose the intestnes
OF the abdominal cavity. He lay in a
semi conscious condition till assistance
arrived.
There We're none aside from the two
crews W,oo actually saw the collision
and these We're SO intent upon the
business they had in hand and On saw
ing their lives that they could give
but imperfect accounts of the details
of what happened. They all agree that
there was a terrible crash and the
two giants stood hugging one another
and painting like human radiators in
a death struggle. The freight engine
being the heavier of the two suffered
the least, but it was completely dis
and demolished while the
switch engine and it's tender We're sim
ply telescoped, the engines cab sitting
astride the boiler like a jockey on
race horse. and the tender closed up
like an accordion. 1t was fortunate
for tie crew of that engine that they
saw and jumped in time, or they would
have been crushed to a pulp. The
empty cars of the freight train were
piled up in most extraordinary man
ner, some crosswise of the tracks, some
mounted on top of others, some thrown
from the track and nearly
all broken. snlintered and twisted be-
yond being repaired. while there. was
not car in the train that did not
have it's ends stove in or that was not
badly damaged. The loaded cars be-
hind the switch engine We're less dam
aged, but they We're badly broken up
ana will have to go to the ShOp