, 1900-05-26
SURPRISING FREAKS
TWO GREAT LOCOMOTIVES DC
QUEER THINGS IN THE
YARD.
Theory of "the Working Out of Des-
tiny" Exemplifed-Why the East
ern Mail Was Late-RailrSad En-
ployes Not to Forcibly Eject Men
From Moving Trains.

The mail from the east yesterday
was late, that is, later than usual. 1t
reached Laramie on the second section
of No. 3 at 2:15 p. nj. The Denver
Post, explaining the cause of the de-
lay says:
Two great locomotives on the I'm
ion Pacific did surprising and ineXpli-
cable things this morning. Railroad
men say all wrecks proceed from two
causes-care.essness of the working
out of destiny
One locomotive sprang forward in
a ghostly manner and the fireman's
hands We're tied-he had no control
over the throttle. The wreck happen
ed before he was aware Of it. The 9th
er monster of iron and steel lost its
main-pin, blew u its cylinder head,
almost stunning the engineer by its
"suddenness.
In the union depot yards occurred
the first accident, shortly after 7
o'clock this morning. Switch engine
2O7 was taking out of the yards the
coaches, baggage and mail cars Of the
Kansas Pacific train which had arrived
at $40 a. m. There was no one in
the train, as it was unlOaded and the
through Pacific coast cars-the sleeper
and chair car. had been coupled, upon
its arrival in Denver. to the Pacific
coast fast mail. To haul his train
was the magnificent No. 1887. the big"
gest locomotive to enter the union de-
pot, and one taken from the main line
for the Denver-Cheyenre service.
THE train left at I o'clock, but had
not proceeded out of the city limits
when suddenly No. 1437 lost her main
pin, blew out her cylinder head and
peeled" her boiler, leaving her a bad
looking wreck, and useless until re-
paired. =,
Road engine $50 was Immediately
ordered to take the place of No. 1887
and came from the freight yards to
llt uHlpu uIDoN. It Nlto NV liz
crews were working quickly, as the ac-
cident to No. 1437 had made the Chey-
enne connection a possibility, only, in
stead of a certainty.
at had taken but a few moments.
The crippled No. 1437 was still, up the
track, wreathed the steam. No. $50
painting as if eager for the run against
time, stood ready on the switch. 1t
was just as the switching crew on No.
POI was taking out of the yards the
Kansas Pacific cars to turn them on
the "Y" track for the coach yards
They were approaching the switch
when Kimmel heard a grind and tho
escape of steam and, leaning out of
the cab, saw No. $50 bearing swiftly
down upon the train. He shouted:
Look out; you'll run into u.s. but the
words were not out of his mouth be.
fore No. $50 crashed into coach ass
and overturned it.
mo. $50 had struck the car in thu
center with its pilot and cylinder
both of which were wrecked. 1t had
hoisted ass over, detaching the heavy
trucks, denting it in, and scratchinc
it badly. The wrecking outfit was Or
dered to the scene, No. $50 was pulle,
away, and by 10 o'clock the track
were clear.
The fireman, Thompson, who was
left alone in the cab of engine $50
says he has no conception of how tho
engine got away from him. 1t CAV,
a sudden leap. he explained, and dash.
ed toward the Kansas Pacific train
Before he could grasp the throttle the
crash came.
What adds to the peculiar feature
of the accident is this: 1t makes the
trio that railroad men believe in faith.
fully. One accident is always followed
by two others: they come in series of
threes."