Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1903-06-10
NARROW ESCAPE
FROM DEATH
A Carload Of Powder
EzplOde8.
Wrecking Freight Near Glendale
Several Persons We're
Slightly Injured

About 10 O'Clock last evening, "a few 7
minutes after No. 3, the south bound
freight train had pulled out of Glen
iaIe the top of one of the freight cars
was discovered to be on IRE, and assee-
ond glance at the car revealed the fact
that the car was the one that was
loaded with blasting powder consign-
ed to Grant Brothers for use in blast
ing in the construction of the Phenix
and Eastern railroad. With remark
able GOODNESS and bravery Brakeman
J. McArdie. who discovered the fire.
gave the alarm and stopped The train
He then rushed in between the cars
for the purpose of uncoupling them
so the engine could pull it away from
the train and thus prevent the des-
truction of the train vheu the eNplo-
sion took place. as it was certain it
would. for the fire had gained such
Roadway that it was seen it would be
impossible to put it out. But the ex-
plosion took place sooner than it was
calculated it would and while Mr. Me-
Ardle was uncoupliue the car the aw-
full explosion of $4,000 pounds OF
blasting powder took place. The most
marvellous thing that has ever happeu-
ed in the territory was the fact that
Mr.. McArdIe was NOT tora into
shreds-in fact be was ouly slightly
injured. He was dazed for q time and
/ does not know himself now he escaped
instant death His escape from in
slant death is all the more wonderful
when it is understood that the explo-
sion tore up the earth for so feet in
/ length and three OF four feet deep and
wrecked the track for nearly 100 feet
/ The powder car was the second car
( from the engine Fireman Shipp had
just jumped from the engine when the
explosion occurred but Engineer
Chas. Chambers was still in his cab
Both of these men We're more or less
injured and how they escaped death
seems marvellous. but their injuries
are said to be only slight. The worst
being The deafness caused 10y the con
cussion
Conductor Wallin and about bali
dozen passengers were in the caboose
when the explosion took place and
several of them we're more or less in
iured but none seriously. Judge Ba-
ker and Chas. Akers were slightly
bruised and cut and man 10y the
name of Sharp was cut above the eve.
The train was made up of eight
cars Besides the ear OF powder there
was a car of railroad spikes. two cars
Of ties, one car of stationery for the
railroad offices at Phenix. one car of
merchandise, and two cars of coal.
F7oar of these cars were consumed 10y
fire which caught after the explosion.
The entire train would have been
burned up but for the good work Of
the citizens OF Glendale and the train
crew and passengers, who pushed the
cars that were not wrecked back from
the fire. The wood work of the en-
CINE was all consumed and it was
otherwise damaged to the extent of
about $1,000 while the total loss to the
company amounts to about $1,000,
which is covered by insurance.
The explosion broke nearly all the
windows in Glendale and was distinct
ly heard and felt in Pheniz. ten miles
away The news was at once sent to
the general offices in Prescott and as
the south bound passenger train vas
two hours late Trainmaster Story.
General Passenger Agent Auewalt and
Mr. Emmert boarded the passenger
and We're ON the scene as soon as the
train could make the run The wreck
ing train was also ordered from Pie
nix and the injured persons were
taken to Pheuix where they were taken
care of. \ telegram received in Pres
colt just before noon today from Dir.
Duffield, said that none of the injured
were seriously hurt
The railroad officials srcak i'm the
highest terms of the conduct of the
train crew under the very trying cir
cumstances and say that Drawer nor
cooler set of men never had charge of
a train. The bravery of Brakeman
McArdle III rushing up to burning
car loaded with powder with the
thought Of detaehing it from the train
to save the balance of the property
from destruction, Is considered one of
the bravest acts that has ever been
witnessed in the territory.