The daily sentinel., 1902-01-30

4 FRlGHTFUL WRECK.
Three Men Dead as a Result of a
Collision on the Western.

At exactly sos o'clock this morning a
head end collision occurred between two
freight trans on the Rio Grande West
ern railway at mile post 270 between
Cisco and Whitehouse. Engineer Will.
liam Tuskey of engine No. 5O4, pulling
freight known as fret No. II, was buried
beneath the wreck. When his body was
taken out several hours after the wreck
occurred he lived but a few minutes and
then expired.
Conductor Fl. D. Webster of the same
train, who was riding on the engine was
killed outright. D. A. Buckley, head
brakeman OF the same train, had both
legs broken above the knees and died
while being brought to this city with the
body Of Conductor Webster
Conductor Webster was on the engine
to pass over to the east bound freight
some special orders This accounts for
him being on the engine at the time Of
the accident, as he expected to meet the
east-bound at blind siding.
First No. II as the west bou nd freight
was known left this city last night &C.
cording to the train record at 2:5O
o'clock, second No. II was to follow. The
east bound freisht, in charge Of Jack
Raglan OF this city had orders to meet
second No. II at Cisco According to
all accounts obtainabls first No. II was
overlooked, there being no orders for
same, it being understood that first II
had right Of way and that the east bound
freight would look out for it. The only
presumption then as cause for the ter
rible accident. is that the conductor Of
the east bound train overlooked freight
train known as first No. II with the dis
astrous result recorded.
Engineer Coppic OF the east bound
freight train said today that he and his
fireman jumped. He stated further to
friends with whom he was talking that
he doubtless saw the freight train. nrst
No. II first as he rounded the curve.
Had he not jumped when he did he
would have been caught. In fact, said
Coppic, had l waited one car length
longer l would have been caught by a
heavy car of timber which was a short
distance back Of the engine.
Second No. II returned at IL o'clock
to this city with the bodies OF Conduc.
tor Webster and head brakeman D. A j..
Bulkley. At the time that the train re-
turning with the bodies mentioned, left
the place OF the accident, the body of
William Tuskey had not been recovered.
but when that train reached Fruita q
telegram WAS received that the body had
been taken from under the wrecked
train and that he lived for short time
thereafter.
AT the station many railway men were
present to proffer their Offices for the
dead. The bodies were at once taken
from the caboose and taken to the un-
dertaking establishment of W. b. Ban
mister.
No more shocking accident than the
one this morning. has occurred on the
lines centering in this city, for many
years. Both Engineer Tuskey aud Con-
ductor Webster we're we'll known here,
ndNluk Ocou iOuk tlulO hCoidcub bo ouo OOth
having served on the Rio Grande and
the Western. Both men are the heads
Of families and both have property in
terests in the city and one Of them Con-
ductor Webster some farming property.
They have been regarded as two Of the
most trusted employees Of the roads
which they have served and they might
be called model citizens.
Conductor Webster is perhaps the
best known Of the two men. he was .
conductor on the narrow gauge years
ago and has been in the railway service
for many years. he was man Of very
quiet and retiring habits and was con-
servativs in everything he did. He
leaves a wife and several small children
to mourn his loss. He was member Of
the local branch OF the Order Of Railway
Conductors and in that organization had
always been looked upon as one OF the
strong and conservative men OF the divis
ion. He was known to a greater portion
OF the citizens OF Grand Junction and
was in every way man to be trusted
and respected.
He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in
1859, being at the present time 43 years