The daily sentinel., 1902-11-17
HEAD-ON
COLLISION.
Two Freight Trains Come To-
gether Near Rifle Causing
Loss of Life and Property.

A wreck, one of the most di isastrouS
so far as property loss is concerned,
that has occurred ON the roads running
into this city in a long time, took
place Saturday evening short dis
tance east of Rifle. shortly after fiv,
O'Clock. in which one man was killed
and several others severely injured.
two of them may possibly die.
The wreck was caused by head
end collision between a Colorado Mid
land stock train, drawn by double
header, and Rio Grande freight No.
225, with Conductor Dave Killen. and
Engineer Miller, coming west The
Rio Grande freight had supposedly
clear track to Rifle while the Colorado
Midland extra stock train should have
been held at Rifle. to pass Instead
of that the train dispatcher at this
point. H. M. Sykes, got his orders
mixed. or in some manner failed to
get the correct order sent to the stock
special at Rifle to hold them there
and gave that train right OF way to
Silt, station nine miles east of
Rifle.
The two trains met while the local
| freight was coming down a grade and
just around curve. The cars were
piled in heap, the tender Of engine
| No. % being knocked from the truck
and the engine backed over the truck
| into the first car. The cabooses
were thrown off the track and the
cars of both trains were piled in a
heap.
Asa R. .Tharp, fireman of the Mid
land engine No 90. was standing in
the gangway of his engine when the
wreck occurred and when the tender
bulged he dropped between the en-
CINE and truck. His body was cut in
two Just below the waist and both
parts of it were badly burned and
scalded.
The Midland stock train. which
| was made up at Rifle should have
been held there until the freight ar
the terrible mistake was made by Dis
patcher Sykes. Instead of sending
| meeting orders for the trains. he sent
right of way order to the Midland
which caught the local freight within
few minutes after they had left the
town of Rifle.
The stock ON the Midland were
thrown into the mass of wreckage and
the groans and bellowings OF the cat
tie, which had been injured added to
the horrible scenes of the wreck.
Those who were injured in the
wreck are:
Fred Sifier. engineer of No. %. left
arm and hand broken. eye lacerated
and severe scalp wounds.
W. B. Crawford. head brakeman on
freight train, back injured.
Austin Gavin. of Glenwood Springs
live stock agent for the Colorado Mid
land, all the ribs on his left side
broken and internal injuries.
Those in the caboose of the stock
train who were badly shaken up and
injured by broken glass are: George
Yule, Joe Yule, Henry Richner, A.
S. Ramsey. John Rogers. and Martin
Powell of Denver. drummer.
The injured on the Rio Grande
were taken Immediately to the Robert
Byre ranch. mile and half east of
Rifle, where they are being cared for.
while injured on the Midland were
brought to the Rifle hotel The dam
,.o TO ctock and puuiDmapt will
| amount to about 100000.
The first report that reached this
city was that two firemen had been
killed and that the Rio Grande man
had not yet been found as he was un-
der the engine. But the real truth is
that as soon as the accident occurred.
the fireman of the Grande ran at once
| to farm house about mile distant.
|