The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-01

Spokane, Wash, Aug. 31.-all reports
show that the wreck on the Great
Northern. forty miles east of Kalispell,
Mont, was the worst in the roads his
tory and one of the most agonizing in
the annals of American railrOading.
Thirty-four lives We're cost, mostly for
eign Iaborers. whose names could not
be learned, and ten persons were in
Jurcd. Three of the injured viii surely
die and the others were srfOusly hurt.
By strenuous and heroic effort fifteen
of the bodies were taken from the
wrecked cars. III the other victims
We're crsmated, including Superinten-
dent 2. L. Downs and his son, L. Kirk
Downs. J. II. Blair (colore u, cook in
Mr. Downs car, was taken out alive,
but died in few minutes. 1t was
impossible to get at the bodies of Su-
perintendent Downs and son
There is n severe grade near the scene
of the wreck. Two engines had taken
a train of tWenty-eight freight cars up
this grade and drawn off TO take water.
While doing this all the twenty sight
cars started down the grade. The run
away train tore down the hill at a
lightning rate. rounding the most Sc
we're curves at a speed of upwards of
seventy miles an hour where regular
trains barely crawled along With q
roar 1t burst around the curve and.
what is most remarkable, jumped a
It to the sidetrack and crashed into
the rear Of westDOund passenger No. 3
near the siding at Nyack. Superinten-
dent Downs private car was attached
TO the passenger and next to it was a
day coach filed with railroad laborers
from Duluth.
Fire Seizes the Wreck.
AS the runaway train sped by the
4 switch it struck caboose and day
coach on the siding, wrecked them,
and he fire started from the OIL lamps
in the cabOOse- The point where the
wild train crashed into the passenger
was several hundred feet away, and
y was two and half hours before the
flames reached the main wreck.
Meanwhile frantic efforts were made
to take cut the dead and injured. The
wreck was piled high and Wedged into
almost hopeless confusion, and in spite
OF superhuman efforts the flames
burned their way to the wrecked cars
De gre the work was completed.
Mr.. Downs GER and that of the Ia
oorerS were smashed into kindling
wood. the occupants of the private car
meeting instant death. The debris and
shingles and lumber of the freight
burned like finder. The train crew was
forced back from it's work of rescue.
One man penetrated as far as the pri-
vate car, where he said he saw the
dead bodies Of Mr.. Downs and his son
aud from where he dragged the corpse
" NiAS tpph- IN the ldDorerS car many
or ting Iorty-six occupants were so
pinned in. that they could not be
reached, and burned to death before
the eyes of the spectators.
The fire was 50 fierce that the rear
slesS1er could not be saved though IL
had not left the track. Its, occupants
were hurried into forward cars. which
were hauled ahead out of reach of the
hre.
Flames Burn Telegraph Poles.
The flames extended to the brush
alongside the track and burned down
the telegraph poles. A wire break fol-
lowed which, with a storm. greatly re-
tarded telegI aphic news of the wreck.
Ihe frst message sent went to Kali
ispeI. whence the wrecker and all doc
tors were ordered to the scene. The, in
Jured We're given every attention and
as sOoc as possible the train. with its
gruesome burden OF dead, dying and
injured was taken TO Kalispell.
Colonel Downs death has cast a
gloom er the entire city. He was one
Of the best liked railroad men ever sta
stationed here a native of Ireland and
"a years old, he has spent thirty-three
years in railroad service. Tomorrow he
was TO have assumed the duties Of vice
president of the Spokane Falls &
Northern and of the KOotenaf Valley
roads. at the personal request of J. J.
Hi. lie leaves 3 widow now visitiae
in Bakersfield, Vt. and one daughter
Mrs. Rupert Blue of San Franchises.
Mr. Downs and his son left Monday
IN the private car with Lieutenant Vie
tor Blue. American naval officer. ana
wife They accompanied their guests
as far east as ldinot, and were return
ing home when the wreck occurred
Kirk Downs was about 81 years old
and was employed as secretary by his
father.
J. Henry Blair. 5hS cook. also resides
here. He was abSLt 80 Yeas old, and
leaves widow and four young chill