The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-12
RESULTS IN
TWO DEATHS
Two Freight Trains Collide
Near Essex.
A TERRIBLE DISASTER
In Which Engineer Fittz and Fireman
Warner Meet Death.-Brakeman
Wapel Seriously Injured.
A TERRIBLE DISASTER

Two freight trains collided about 10
o'clock last night, near Essex, and as
result two men were killed, and one
seriously, if not fatally, injured, and
two others slightly hurt
The east bound train in charge Of
Engineer Harry Fittz and Fireman
James McLaurie were running on
orders to meet two trains, a freight
and passenger, at Essex. The west
bound freight with Engineer r. g.
Thompson and Fireman Albert Warn,
was running on the same orders.
When they reached Essex, instead of
heading in on the siding, the train
was run on to the east end, with the
evident intention of backing in.
It is reported that just at the time
the west bound train was ready TO
back in on the siding, No. 16 swung
around the curve under a full head
of steam. There was a crash as the
two engines met, and when it was
possible to reach the demolished en-
gines. it was found that Engineer
F'ittZ, going east, and Fireman Albert
Warn, west, were killed, and Brake
man Barney Wafel seriously injured.
The latter had both legs broken, AMI
he is said to have been injured in
ternally.
Just how Engineer Thompson and
Fireman McLaurie escaped instant
death is not known. They are report
ed to have been painfully, but not
seriously injured.
Both wrecking crews were called
and We're soon on their way to the
scene of the wreck. Up to a late
hour this morning, after almost -
hours OF unceasing labor they had not
succeeded in clearing the track of the
wreckage.
One authority states that at least
twenty cars were demolished and that
the wreck was the most serious which
has occurred on the Kalispell division
in years.
Engineer Fittz is an old employe
OF the road and has been a resident of
kalispell number of years. He had
host of friends, and the news of his
death caused a severe shock to them,
He leaves a widow and one child, a
boy about 4 years of age.
Albert Warn, the dead fireman,
has been working on the Kalispell d.
vision about two years, and had a
great number of friends in this city,
His parents are said to reside at
Hope, Mich.
superintendent Kennedy left for the
scene of the wreck shortly after it &C.
CURED and had not returned up to a
late hour
1t is reported that the dead and
injured will be brought to Kalispell
some time today.
LATER
No 3, the west bound passenger
train has arrived in this city with the
dead and injured from the wreck at
Essex.
From reliable information as to the
manner in which the two men was
killed, leaves no doubt of the horrible
suffering they must have experienced,
before death came, which was but a
short time after the crash
When found, Engineer Fittz was
jammed between the tender and cab
with his head simply crushed into a
pulp. But it was Fireman Warner
who died the most horrible death. He
was caught between the boiler and
the tender and literally roasted and
scalded to death.
The bodies of both men were taken
to the undertaking establishment OF
the Kalispell Furniture company upon
their arrival.
Brakeman Wafel will in all prob
: ability loose one of his limbs owing
!, to exposure after the wreck. It is stat
, ed that he laid in the snow for some
: time after being hurt, and that dirt
: got into his wounded legs.
, Engineer Thompson and Fireman
McLaurie escaped by jumping and
other than a severe shaking up, were
uninjured.
There is a story to the effect that
the extra freight coming west ii
front of the passenger, in coming
down the grade into Essex, got be
yond the control Of the train crew
and that both rains were going at the
rate of - miles an hour when they
crashed together.