The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-05
SPLIT SWITCH
RESPONSIBLE
For the Wreck of the Great Northern
Flyer at Troy.
SWITCH LOCK TAMPERED WITH
Half Dozen Passengers Injured in
the Wreck of No. Sunday-Two
Passenger Cars Derailed and De-
Observation-Disclosures Escapes From
Death or FrightfuI Injury.

Great Northern Flyer No. 2. east.
bound, was wrecked about two miles
east of Troy early Sunday morning,
resulting in almost a score of pas.
sengers being injured, although only
seven received injuries any ways
serious. The train was going at a
moderate speed or the casualties
would undoubtedly have, been much
greater. After leaving Troy the
train jumped the track at a switch,
piling up the day coach and smoker
in a mass of ruins. but the other cars
remained on the track. There were
large number of passengers in the
two derailed cars, and scene OF
great excitement and confusion en-.
sued. The shock was terrific and the
terror stricken inmates of the over.
turned cars emerged shrieking and
crying, while the wounded added
their means of pain to the general
uproar. Some order was restored
and the injured were cared for as
much as possible until the arrival OF
the special from this city having on
board number of doctors. The lat.
ter rendered every available aid, and
found to their surprise that none OF
the injured was in a serious way, Sc.
we're cuts and bruises being the most
they had to contend with. All of the
injured, with the exception of Con.
ductor Neary of this city. were en-
route to eastern points.
The wrecking train from this city
was hastily summoned and succeeded
in clearing the track so as to allow
the wrecked train to proceed after
a halt of several hours, it reaching
this city at about 80 p. m. Upon it's
arrival here the two most severely
injured of the passengers were re.
moved to the hospital, while the 9th.
ers continued their journey. The list
of the injured is as follows:
Mrs. Helena Grochowski, of Du.
luth, Mimi, several ribs fractured
H. N. Johnson Of Spokane, shoul-
der bruised
H. Kilroe of Spokane. head cut and
bruised.
Gus Skoglund Rossland. B. c., Sc
we're bruises on head.
Mrs. Thomas Kahn, Wine City
Mich, side injured.
Mrs. Wray, Toronto, Canada, hips
bruised and other injuries.
right hip bruised.
Mr.. Wilson, Sioux Falls, N. D.,
hips bruised!
Guy Cochrane, Corvallis, Mont.
dislocated shoulder, and cut above
eye, also a number of bad bruises on
head He was the most seriously
injured and. with Mrs. Grochowski
was taken to the Kalspell hospital
for treatment.
Conductor Neary sustained bad
cut on the left cheek, and cut above
the left eye.
The wreck is believed to have
been caused by some one who had a
grievance against the railroad com.
pany, and took this manner of get
ting revenge. The switch lock had
been pounded off. and was after
ward found denied and bent near by
The switch had been turned partial
ly, but not clear over, as the wreck.
ers were cunning enough to know
that the end desired would be at
tanned, with no danger of the engine
crew noticing the switch being
turned. If the latter had been turned
completely, the engineer would have
noticed it and brought his train to a
stop. AS it was. the engine and bag
gage car passed over in safety, but
the others We're piled up in a mass
There is a number of hoboes always
hanging around this place, and train
crews have more than once had trou
BILE in keeping them off the cars, and
it is supposed that some of them who
were forcibly elected from the trains
sought to revenge themselves by
wrecking the train. Men who were
formerly employed on the different
railroad work in Idaho constitute the
larger number of hoboes, and there
are many desperate characters
among them who would not hesitate
to wreck train and kill and injure
innocent people could they do SO with
an even chance to avoid arrest. A
strict investigation of the causes
leading to the wreck has been insti
tuted, and if it can be shown that the
wreck was caused purposely every
effort will be made to hunt down the
miscreants and bring them to JUS
tice.