The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-09-06
GREAT NORTHERN WRECK.
Thirty-six Lives Lost and Thirteen
Injured.

AhlFty- SIX LIVES Lost and Thirteen
Injured.
st. Paul, Mimi, Aug. 31.-Advicas
received at the Great Northern head
quarters in this city place the total
number OF dead as a result of the wreck
at Essex, Mont, at thirty-six. The
number OF injured was thirteen. and at
least three are fatally hurt. The re-.
mains OF the dead recovered. together
with the injured were taken to kalis-
| pell, and the injured are now in the
| hospitals at that place receiving medi
cal attention. The body of Superin.
| tendent t. i. Downs was recovered late
tonight. 1t was so badly charred that
| identification was possible only through
articles found near the body. The body
OF his son is yet unrecOvered, aud il il
feared that 1t was completely incinerated.
| No list OF the dead other than that al.
ready given has been received. The
| Others killed were Scandinavian labor
ers, and 1t Is impossible to identity them.
! owing to the condition in which their
bodies were found.
A Pioneer Press special from KaIispell,
Mont, says:
The wreck at Nyack last night was
the worst in the history of the Great
Northern, in that more lives we're lost
than ever before. Thrth-six deaths
have been reported up to the present
time, and in all probability more will
follow. Five dead were brought to
kalispell, thirteen wounded and serious
ly hurt, one of whom has since died. OF
fOrty-three men in the day coach on the
rear OF the train only thirteen we're
saved, and only five dead we're gotten
out OF the burning ruins, the remainder
being completely consumed, it being i'm
possible to find even their bones. as
nothing remained but ashes when the
fire burned out. The scenes at the ca
tastrOphe were heartrending in the ex-
treme, there being many poor creatures
pinned IN under the wreckage, whom the
passengers and trainmen were doing all
IN their power to eXtricate from their
frightful position. The wreckage mad
taken fire Immediately after the collision
and 1t was with the greatest difficulty
that the few saved were taken from the
ruins Several men we're loudly calling
Tor help, begging that il they could not
be gotten out they be killed. rather than
suffer death by the rapidly approaching
flames.
People were compelled by reason of
the intense heat to stand aside and see
the victims burned alive, powerIess to
lend aid or assistance.
Fire Fed by Shingles.
Ten cars of shingles were on the rear
OF the freight train that caused the
wreck, and as soon as it struck the
passenger train the cars burst
and the shingles were thrown in all d.
rectiOns over the wrecked passenger
cars
In almost an instant the whole was
a mass of flames Ond the work of rescue
was rendered dangerous.
The wreck was caused by an east
bound freight train of twenty-eight
cars, which was at Essex, the head en-
gine of which went forward, leaving a
helper engine in the rear to hold the
train. The helper engine set the air
brakes and left the train standing on
the track and went to coal up.
Conductor Matthews was in the Office
getting orders and both brakemen we're
with the engineer. 1t is believed that
the air leaked and that the train slipped
away without the train crew knowing it,
and dashed down the mountain at q
tremendous rate of speed, variOusly
estimated at from seventy-fve to 100
miles an hour, going down the hill dis
tance of seventeen miles, when it over
took the passenger. The train was
moving in the same direction as the
runaway, otherwise the disaster would
have been greater.
The men on the passenger train had
not the slightest warning of their
danger.
There is nothing OF the wreck left but
smoldering ashes and burnt and twisted
iron rods and chains.