The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-12-24
lag % or she viii be on US !"

-asa--.---------~--~-----------i
flag 40 or she viii be on u.s."
Even In the mental suffering OF ey-
cry one about the scene, the bravery
and thoughtfulness OF the dying con-
ddctor was sufficient 10 bring words
OF praise AMI cornmendation.
Porter Hslls. telling Of his expert
e0ce, said:
Il went 10 the smoking car and be-
gan to get the injured out. The car
was the most awful scene / ever wit
messed. Men were jammed into all
sorts OF shapes. They were on top Of
each othsr and buried under heaps OF
dirt and seat cushions. When ] tried
10 INT one man out found others 80
tightly wedged into the same place
that several had to be aided at one
time, got seven men out before ]
stopped there. The dead were badly
bruised and some OF the scaldei were
IN such "A fearful condition that they
would better be dead. Some OF those
had lost their eyes entirely. The bag
gage and clothing Of the passengers
we're scattered all over the ground
Some OF It was soaked with blood,
while In the piles OF It could oe seen
many toys. telling the pathetic tale OF
Christmas shopping that came to such
pitiful end"
AT 3 o'clock this morning there re-
malned small ,rowd clustered around
small bonfires At the scene OF the
wreck. watching the railroad men at
work clearing up. As the light from
the bonfires tiickered up It's rays were
cast on a human form pinioned In be-
tween the car. II was that OF man
unknown and the body was 80 fast that
aothlng but the head protruded and
the remainder OF the bod was PIN
ioned beneath tons OF wreckage.
Whether or not there are any Others
beneath the wreckage will not be
known until late in the day when the
full extent OF the disaster is made ap-
parent.
In describing the wreck one OF the
tralnmen said;
Half way around the curve the To-
comotlve struck the big timbers In III
path and began with lightning Ike
rapidIty TO careen, then roll ana
with the ponderous train crowding X
fell over on its side. The instant j
dla 49, the momentum OF the traii
behind II sent the tender clear. over tn
prostrate locomotive like football an
before II could stop 1t was lying o
the water level some 20 feet below
Next came the baggage car whic
went over the locomotive top an
lodged with one end near the water
The smoker OF the train was smashe
like kIndling. The sleeper still crowd
ing but not breaking, swept alons
literally tearing up the steel rails a
though they were made Of paper.
"The first sleeper then finally stop
ped. resting directly over the locomo
tive. The dining car remained safel
on the track and the steward and GREY
were not harmed. When the grindin
and crushing of steel and wood ceased
there was for the moment a dead sill
ence. Then came the means and erie
of angui al from the poor wretche
who were being scalded or burned t
death"
When asked If there would be an
: investigation on the part of the rail
road officials, superintendent D. W
DGer said:
az don't think that an investigatio
on the part of the railroad compan
is necessary to explain this affair."
is all too apparent !" Pointing TO hal
dozen heavy timbers under the coach
ne said;
'Therc is the cause of it. An ex
ira frc,gh: west bound has droppe
those tlmbers on the track and pro
ceeded unconscious OF the trouble
had LEFT behind"