The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-12-26
such a pitiful end.

AT 80 clock yesterday morning there
remains a small crowd clustered about
small bonfires at the scene of the
wreck watching the railroad men at
work clearing up. AS the light from
the bonfres flickers up it's rays are
cast on a human form pinioned in be-
tween the cars. 1t is that of an un-
known man and the body is so fast
that nothing but the head protrudes
and the remainder of the body is
pinned under tons of wreckage.
1t may be some hours before the
body can be taken out. 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 apparent.
In describing the wreck one of the
trainmen said
Half way around the curve the To-
comotive struck the big timbers in its
path and began with lightning like
rapidity to careen, then roll, and with
the ponderous train crowding it, fell
over on it's side. The instant it did so.
sent the tender clear over the pros
trate locomotive like a football and
before it could stop it was lying on
the water level some twenty feet be-
low. Next came the baggage car
which went over the locomotive top
and lodged with one end near the wa
ter. The smoker of the train was
smashed like kindling wood. The
sleepers still crowdlng. but not break
ing, swept along, literally tearing up
the steel rails as though they were
made of paper
The first sleeper when finally
stopped, rested directly over the loco
motive. The dining car remained safe
ly on the track and the steward and
crew were not harmed. When the
grinding and crushing of steel and
wood ceased. there was for the mo-
ment a dead silence. Then came the
means and cries of anguish from the
poor wretches who were being seald-
ed or burned to deatn."
When asked if there would be any
investigation on the part of rail cad
officials, Supt. D. w. Duer said:
Il don't think that an investigation
IN the part of the railroad is necessary
to explain this affair. 1t is all too ap-
parent" Pointing to half a dozen
heavy timbels under the coach he
said: There is the cause of it. An
exrta freight westbound has dropped
those timbers on the track and pro-
ceeded unconscious of the trouble it
had left behind"
Singuarly. in such an awful crash
most of the fatalities were caused by
scalding steam. A story of courage
and heroism seldom equalled is tod of
Ben Nichols, steward on the dining
car. When the terrible slide of the en-
gine dragged the train whirling side
ways along the road, Nichols was in
the dining car. After being toss
about for a time he made his escape
from the car and ran toward the
smoker, which has been reduced to a
mas of wreckage.
The crash had torn the escape valve
from the top fthe engine, the steam
was shooting into the car and envelop-
ing the struggling passengers. TIE
escaping steam was the first thing
that attracted the attention of the
steward. Taking off his coat he to e
the garment into shreds and with the
ags he plugged up the pipe and shut
off the steam. Temporary relief was
thus given to the sufferers. Then,
climbing through a broken window
Nichols leaped into the dark car. now
.i.led with scalding steam. The ter
rIble screams of the injured made it
confusion where to begin the work of
.orm at hand, Nichols carried it out
Of the car and placed it on the frozen
ground. This was repeated until Other
.escuers had arrived. and one after
mother of the bodies were handed out
Intil fifteen had been rescued. At this
Joint the steward was compelled to
leap to the ground, being exhausted
and overcome by the heat and steam.
others entered the car and continued
The work of rescue. They were soon
ejoined by Nichols, who once more
ecovered. For hours the work con-
dnued, it being difficult even with
he aid of the wrecking crew, which
aad reached the scene. Many of the
victims were wedged between heavy
,imbefs, and it was o'clock before
ali the injured had been removed. Fol-
lowing the wreck thieves were detect
I'd robbing the dead ands injured. Two
white men and two negroes are now in
the Dawson police station, charged
With this crime.