The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-01
Assistant General Superintendent p
l.. Downs and His Son Among
Those Who Perished.
FREIGHT TRAIN BROKE AWAY
DASHED DOWN A MOUNTAIN AND
STRUCK A PASSENGER TRAIN.
String of Casualties Caused by Fire
and ExpIOsiOns-FairviI Wreck
Death List Increased.

SPOKANE, Wash, Aug. 3l.-Al reports
show that the wreck on the Great Northern,
forty miles east of Kalispell, Mont, was
the worst in the roads history and one of
the most terrible in the annals of American
railroading Thrty-four lives were lost and
ten persons injured. Three of the injured
probably will die and the others were Sc
riously hurt. All the victims except three
were Scandinavians. By strenuous and
heroic efforts fifteen of the bodies were
taken from the wrecked cars. All the other
victims were cremated, including Superin-
tendent z. L. Downs and his son, 7. Kirk
Downs. Some reports say at least forty
one persons perished.
There is a heavy grade at the scene of the
wreck. Two engines had taken train of
twenty-eight freight cars up this grade and
had drawn off to take water. While doing
this all the twenty-eight cars started down
the grade. The runaway train dashed down
the grade at frightful speed and crashed
into the rear of a passenger train near the
siding at Nyack. Superintendent Downs's
private car was attached to the passenger,
and next to it was a day coach filled with
railroad laborers from Duluth. AS the run
away train sped by the switch it struck
caboose and day coach on the siding
wrecking them. Fire Immediately started
from the oil lamps in the caboose. The
point where the wild train crashed into the
passenger was several hundred feet away,
and it was two and a half hours before the
flames reached the main wreck. Meanwhile
frantic efforts were made TO take out the
dead and injured. The wreck was piled
high and wedged into almost hopeless con-
fusion, and in spite of superhuman efforts
the flames burst through the wrecked cars
before the work was completed. ]. II.
Blair, colored cook in Mr.. Downs's car, was
taken out alive. but died in a few minutes.
1t was impossible to get at the bodies of
Superintendent Downs and his son.
The runaway tore down the hill at light
ming speed, rounding the most severe curves
at a speed of upwards of seventy miles an
hour where regular trains barely crawled
along. With d roar it burst around the
curve, and, what is most remarkable,
jumped a split switch, which would have
turned it to the side track, and crashed
into the passenger train. There was neither
time nor opportunity for escape. Mr..
Downs's car and that of the laborers was
smashed into kindling wood the occupants
of the private car meeting instant death.
BURNED LIKE TINDER.
The debris and shingles and lumber of
the freight burned like tinder. The train
crew was forced to back from its work of
rescue by the flames. One man worked
his way as far as the private car, where
he saw the dead bodies of Mr.. Downs and
his son and dragged out the body of the
cook. In the laborers' car many of the
forty-six occupants were so pinned in that
they could not be reached and burned be-
fore the eyes of the spectators.
The fire was so fierce that the rear
sleeper could not be saved, though it had
not left the track Its occupants were
hurried into forward cars, which were
hauled ahead out of the reach of the fire.
The flames extended 10 the brush along
side the track and burned the telegraph
poles. a wire broke, and this followed by
storm, greatly retarded Geographic news
Of the wreck. The first news sent went TO
Kalsepell when the wreckers and all the
doctors in that town were ordered to the
scene. The injured were given every at
tention and as soon as possible the train
with its burden OF dead, dying and injured
was taken 30 Kalsepel.
Colonel Downs was one of the most pop
ular railroad men ever stationed here. He
leaves a widow. now visiting in Bakers
field. VT, and one daughter Mrs Rupert
Blue. of San Francisco. Mr.. Downs and
his son left Monday in the private car with
his guests. Lieut.. Victor Blue, an Amer
lean naval officer. and wife They accom-
panied their guests as far east as Minot.
y. D.. and were returning home when the
wreck occurred. Kirk Downs was about
twenty-one years old and was employed as
secretary by his father.
p L. Downs. the dead superintendent.
was born April S. 1S47. in Ireland. He en-
tered the railway service April :. 1865.