The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-11-22
STIR Up ON RAILWAY
Accidents, Though Harmless,
Creating COmmOtiOn.
freiRhts Kan Away, and, Worst of
All, Negro Cook on Private
Car Was Upset.

II the stories are true which drop from
the rails along the line of the 0. R. &.
N, there Is just now more or less iolly
shaking up among the train crews, es-
peclally on the freights. 1t appears
that men are leaving the service both
voluntarily and involuntarily, or as the
employees say, Five are discharged or
resign and four new are hired, and the
result Is constant shortage"
The stirring up has arisen from several
accldents-happy accidents though they
were-which have happened within the
month
First, a double header freight train,
Conductor Leach, flew down the Colfax
NIL and through large pau of the city
one frosty midnight, fire flying from the
steel rails in quantities calculated to
rlng mp lire department Lit was liken-
Ell by those awake at that hour to
screaming shells from big guns, but
happily no damage was done. The run
away was proved to be due to defective
brakes and no one was censured par
ticuIarIy.
One dark night last week the same
train was halted at Lee Siding and six
cars and the caboOse left standing on
the main track while the engine worked
the sidiDgs. In the caboose were half
dozen German Russian settlers of the
locality bound for COlfax. The brakes
OF the detachment on the main line were
not hard set, and presently the headess
train began to move, first gently, then
gradually increasing its speed. The
Rnsslan passengers were a Jolly set of
fellows and thought little of it, though
remarking that they seemed to be going
In the wrong direction.
Fourteen Wild Miles.
The caboose passengers never realized
1T, but they were backing down the IA
mile incline from Lee Siding to Winona
wild, and it was we'll for them that the
track was clear.
by the time EndicOtt was reached
they were whizzing at an estimated
speed OF so miles an hour. There is no
telling how they flew from there to Wi
mona. 1t is only known that they did
fy
AS soon as possible after the caboose
and six cars disappeared on the down
grade the engine on the switch gave
chase, but was unable to overtake the
runaway until it struck the upgrade be-
You'd Winona.
1t ia understood that the conductor
exhibited a preference to resign, but
this has not been accepted.
Smashed Official Car.
But these small things were as no.
things compared with a jam at Tekoa
one night last week. The official car,
carrying from ruperintendents down
entered the yards there a few nights
ago. The engineer was signalled to
drive onto a switch. He did so and
bumped bang into a "Y" full of cars.
The negro cook was tossed over his
range in the private dining car; high
official, unnamed, is said to have passed
gracefully through of a big plate glass
window and others we're either jamme d
or startled.
These few discrepancies started an in
vestigatiOn, as the management of the
road is particularly DESTROYS that the
best and safest service be given. The re-
suit has been many changes in the work
ing force, with the idea of furnishing
safety.
While some of the employees growl
about the heavy work thrown upon
them, it is a recognized fact that there
have been fewer wrecks and less danger
to travellers upon the o. r. & n. than
upon any other line in the west.