The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-07-18

Which Was Thrown Against a switch
Block and Switch Turned Under
Drivers, DeraiIing Train.
Passenger train No. 9, westbound, En-
gineer J. o. Boyle and Fireman Hugh
Robertson, was wrecked at Falcon sta
tion Friday night at $50 o'clock by hit
ting a COW which was thrown against
the switch block, the impact partially
turning the swith under the forward
driving wheels, forcing engine and
coaches from the track. Some damage
was done but no one was hurt.
Last week the heavy rainfall at Fair
bury, Neb, and Mcfarland, Kan, was
the canse of bad washouts at these
places and necessitated the running of
trains west from Mcfarland over the
Union Pacific track to Limon. The de-
laying of Rock Island traffic piled up
trains thick and fast, and as soon as the
Union Pacific track was secured, engine
mea were hard put to it until the force
became quite exhausted. No. 9 arrived
at LimOn Friday with eDginemen all the
way from Kansas City. They we're well
worn and asked to be relieved, but there
were no engineers who could be sent on
with the train. Trainmaster J. o. Boyle,
an old time engineer, volunteered to man
the engine if fireman were provided.
Fireman Hugh Robertson was given
him and the train pulled out.
Falcon IS the second station east of
Roswell At this place the passenger
trains do not stop, but slow down while
passing the station. The train was en-
tering the yard limits at a speed of about
% miles an hour. Near the switch at
the siding two COWS were feeding. The
shreak from the engine started them
from their quiet and they trotted, not
from the track but toward it, for the
other side. The COWS miscaiculated the
speed of the train, and before the hind
COW could get herself in the clear, the
pilot caught her and hurled Ter hard
against the switch block, which gave
way enough to turn the switch only par
TALLY, letting the forward drivers out
upon the ties followed by five cars, only
four of which, however, left the track.
The train Ploughed along on its peril
Gus foundation for about 80 yards before
it came to a standstill, the engine reach
ing point IN front of the depot The
train did not leave an upright position
but nearly all the trucks from the en-
CINE toward the rear were driven back
ward from their proper position, one
pair making a rent in the floor of the
chair car and tearing up the seats on
the left side, in one of which an elderly
lady was sitting but fortunately she was
not injured.
The wrecker was several days repla-
cling the train on the track. The engine
S43, picked up an extra tender at ROs
we'll and came in by its own steam Tues
day evening and left Wednesday morn.
ing for her run between Belleville and
Kansas City. Fortunately the train left
the track on the south side of the track
Had it lift the track on the north side II
would have colIided with the water tank
and no one can tell what the result
might have been.
The wreckiDg train came 10 Wednes
day afternoon with the damaged car
aud the tender of S43. Five pair o.
coach trucks and two pair of tank trucks
were on fat cars, all badly damaged, anC
the tank Of S43 Oh fat car minus trucks
The cars brought in were on wrecking
trucks, excepting one pair, and were On'
combination baggage, express and mai
coach, No. 933, smoker 2O3, and chat
car 323. All were more or less damaged
and viii be repaired here. The two Pull
man coaches, not being damaged, werr
taken TO Roswell.