Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-26
RELIEF TRAINS RUN.
Took Tons OF Provisions TO Mercnr
And Brought 20 Persons Back.


Took Tons OF Provisions TO Mercur
And Brought 20 Persons Back,
Through the generosity Of the Oregon
Short Line and he Salt Lake & Mel
cur Railroad companies a relief train
vas dispatched to the scene yesterday
afternoon arriving in Mefcur shortly
before 0 o'clock and returning to Salt
Lake at AS this morning.
Although all had been notified that
hey could come into Salt Lake free of
charge as the guests Of the railroad
companies, most Of the unfortunate
residents Of the burned out city elected
to stay wnere they wore, In all, but 20
PEOPLE awaited themselves OF the OPP
yortunity. Those who came In had
friends in this city and nothing left In
Mercur 10 keep them there. Fully so
per cent Cf those who came in on the
train were miners who had been caught
az work or else had been working on
The night shift and were In bed at the
time Of the outbreak. Quite a number
Of the latter were wearing borrowed
clothes, while the men who had been
working in the mill or mines were clad
IN the regulation oyeralls and jumpers
stained yellow with ore.
The special left Salt Lake at 1850 p.
m. after having taken ON board nearly
two carloads OF supplies In the form of
bags Of hams, sacks OF flour. sugar,
salt, sides OF beef cases of crackers,
dozens Of cheeses, 500 loaves Of bread,
bedsteads, potatoes, cans of tomatoes
.,I kts h. a..
OF lard and dozens OF articles that were
welcomed on their arrival.
On the train were half dozen ladies
whose families were In Mercur and for
whose safety they were greatly dis
turbed John Dern, president Of the
Consolidated Mercur Gold Mining COM
pany. Frank d. KimbaIl OF Mccormick
& CO. IS Mercur branch bank, Fred Dern,
George Airs, Judge Dlehl and the rep
resentatives OF the press completed the
party,
The train which consisted OF seven
coaches and two baggage cars, made
good time, passing the northbound pas
senger at point below Sandy. The
train was slowed up and as the cars
passed the welcome news was shouted
across the intervening space by the
refugees" TO the effect that nobody
was seriously hurt and all had been ac-
counted for in Mercur.
AT Lehi brief stop was made while
additional supplies In the form OF cases
Of butter, beef and sacks Of sugar were
placed on board. These were donations
70 the needy by the cities of Lehl and
Provo.
A quick run was then made TO Fair
field, where the work of transferring
the supplies to the cars of the Salt
Lake & Mercur road was undertaken.
Owing TO the fact that there was no
one on the spot 20 assist In this work
every ablebodied passenger took on his
coat and proceeded to get down to busl-
ness, The sight OF Judge Dlehl strug-
Cling manfully under the burden Of a
sack Of potatoes across the platform
would have gladdened the heart Of any
''vag" who had at any time come un-
der the judicial eye. The representa-
tives Of the press. also had lots OF fun
in struggling with 2O0-pound burdens
and holsting them over the side OF a
fat car John Dern Is authority for
the statement that they all nobly
graduated as stevedores. The work
aA'RbABiFHtl III a WHY filNIl kDdtt
OF time and when completed, there was
not man without q limp collar and
who was not frescoed with -four and
spots Of grease from pit to dome.
When manning was reached. the train
which had been cut down to three cars.
was again split and the little bulldog
cog-wheel engine pushed the car load
ed with provisions and newspapermen
ahead followed by another cog engine
which hauled the passenger coaches. In
this order the procession headed for
Mercur around those wonderful curves
and steps on the mountain side which
at times would have permitted the
occupants Of the car ahead 10 throw
potatoes on the other train beneath
had not the tubers been so valuable.
IL was close upon O'Clock when the
,ummit was reached, and few minutes
ater the train drew up al the OH Mer-
eur boarding house. Here was sta
Toned a committee OF men and boys, 10
n number, which had been selected by
Mayor George w. Luft They at once
proceeded TO unload the cars and store
he provisions In the clearinghouse for
distribution later TO those who were
n urgent need OF food.
While this proceeding was In full
swing many women. and some men
begged to be allowed to carry away
TO eat. They we're not there
N the role OF beggars either, for they
rad the money to pay for the goods.
Their money was not required Of them,
however, and after things had been
around somewhat the
God was systematically doled out ac-
,ording to previous arrangement In
his manner close upon 800 families were
supplied last night. Had the relief not
been sent the condition OF the people
would have been serious as most of
hem had nothing to eat since break
'ast.
The start home was made at 10 .. m,
ly which time there We're 20 people on
he cars who elected TO come TO Salt
lake.
Among those who were there was w.
r. Burton. a machinlst In the Golien
tate mine. who was the second man TO
inter the burning OQuirrh hotel and
dick In the doors OF the rooms and get
Iut the sleeping miners He lost his
'lothes. but otherwise escaped Scott
rec.
Charles Zwekswevh. the tailor. whose
'amily resides in Salt Lake. was an
lther Of the passengers. lie has for
he past two years been operating
business in Mercur He lost every
hing and rad To borrow some clothes
n order 10 come TO town.