The age-herald., 1901-09-01
RaiIr0ad Disaster in Montana One of the Worst in An- /
 naIs of RaiIrOading
SUPT. DOWNS AND SON KILLED
Runaway Cars Dashed Into Passenaes Train, Tearing 1t Into spllnters
 and the Whole Mass Was si Soon In Flames.

Spokane, Wash, August sf-All reports show that the wreck on the Great North ern. forty miles east of Kalispell, Mon-
 tana, was the worst in the roads history
 and one of the most terrible in the annals
 of American railroading. Thirty-four
 lives are lost and ten persons were jn-
 jured. Three of the injured will surely die
 and the others were seriously hurt.
 By strenuous and heroic efforts fifteen
 of the bodies were taken from the wreck ed cars. All the other victims were cre- mated, including Superintendent P. T. Downs and his son, T. Kirk Downs.
 There is a heavy grade near the scene of the wreck Two engines had taken a train of twenty-elght 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 creshed into the rear of a passenger train near the siding Tt Nyack Superintendent Downs private car was attached to the passenger, ans next to it was a day coach filled with railroad laborers from Duluth As the runaway train sped by the switch 1t 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 1 wreck. Steanwnile frantic efforts were l made t. take oul the dead and injured. The wreck was piled high and wedged
 into almost hopeless confusion, and in | spite of superhuman efforts, the flames 1 burst through the wrecked cars before | the work wns completed. J. 1T. Blair, col 1 ored cook in Mir. Downs car was taken l out alive, but died in few minutes. IL was impossible to get at the, bodies of Superintendent Downs and his son.
 At Lightning Speed.
 The runaway train tore down the high grade at lightning speed, rounding the most severe curves at speed of up- wards of seventy miles an hour, where regular trains barely crawled along. With a roar 1t burst around the curve, and what is most remarkable, jumped a split switch which would have turned 1t to the side, and crashed into the pas- senger train There was neither time nor opportunity for escape. MT. Downs car and that of the laborers was smashed Into ldndling 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 its work of rescue by the flames. One man worked his way as far ts the private car where he saw the dead bodies of MT. Downs and his son, and dragged out the body of the cook In the laborers car many 4t.- utxr of1to un min ned in that they could not be reached and burned before the eyes of the spec tators. h
 Fire Burned Fiercely.
 The fire was so fierce that the rear sleeper could not be saved though it had not left the track It's occupants were hurried into forward cars which were hauled ahead out of the reach of the fire. The flames extended to the brush along side the track and burned the telegraph poles A wire broke and this, followed by storm, greatly retarded telegraphic news of the wreck. The first message sent to Kalispell whence the wreckers and all doctors in that town were ordered | to the scene The injured were given every attention and as soon as possible the l train with It's burden of dead, dying and | injured was taken to Kalispell.
 Colonel Down was one of the most pop | ular railroad men ever stationed here. A
 native of Ireland and 54 years of age, he
 had spent thirty-three years in railroad
 service. Tomorrow he was to have as- | sumed the duties of vice-president of the | Spokane Falls and Kootenai Valley road, | at the personal request of J. J. Hill. He leaves widow, now visiting in Blake | field, Vermont, and one daughter, Mrs. | Rupert Blue of San Francisco.
 | MT. Downs and his son left Monday | in the private car with his guests, Lieut.. | Victor Blue an American naval officer. and wife. They accompanied their guests as far east as Minot, N D., and were re turning home when the wreck occurred. Kirk Downs was about 21 years of age and was employed as secretary to his father.