The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-09-14
WRECK CAUSED BY
CARELESSNESS
Blame for Collision at Laugh.
ton Rests on Engineer,
Who Forgot Orders

upon the Southern Pacific, half a mile
beyond Laughton, small state five
miles west of here, occurred a few min
utes before IL o'clock yesterday. The
second section of west-bound passenger
train No. crashed into the third Sec
tion of east-bound No. 6, carrying
large party of returning Knights Tenn
plar, consisting of the Hugh de Payen's
commandery No. 20 of Melrose. Mass,
and Sutton commandery of New Bed.
ford Mass.
Fireman A. L. Hicks of Rocklin. Cal.
on engine 2677. and a coal passer were
killed and about thirty people injured
Hicks was pinned between the tender and
cab. his body badly crushed and scalded
with steam. He died soon after being
extricated from the wreck. The coal
passer boarded the train at Reno and
was down in the tender shoveling coal
when the accident occurred. He was
killed instantly.
An official investigation will be held by
the railway company and the RESPONSE
bility may be attached to OPERATOR Can
rel of Laughton and Engineer Isoard.
who was in charge of the first engine on
:econd number 5, which ran past Laugh
ton, contrary 10 the orders that he re-
ceived at Reno. To Operator Cantrell Is
attached blame for displaying green
flag at Laugh.on when the third sectio:,
of east-b bound number had not yet ar.
rived and taken the Laughto1 sdetrack
in order to allow second number to go
ahead.
The trainmen and station officials here
are unwilling to talk about orders, but
1t appears that second five was ordered
to wait at Laugh.on until the third sec-
tion of No. took the switch there. When
second No. arrived second No. was on
tor there displayed green flag the en-
gineer on the first eng ne of second No. 5
supposed that the coast was clear and
ran ahead. If he had thought he would
have known that the third section OF
No. had not been passed. but as many
other good men have done-he forgot.
The wreck is one of the most expen-
sive in life and property that has taken
place on the Southern Pacific in this sec
| ton for years. 1t occurred on a heavs'
curve. about a quarter of mile west
of Laughton's station and not over 100
left the track several years ago. killing
nine Indians and smashing several cars.
1t is remarkable that the engineers on
bo.h trains lid not see the impending
collision in time to avoid such frightful
results. From a half mile in either dI
rect;on, on account of the great curve,
clear view of the track may be OBJ
laiEed. with the exception of one spot
about 800 yards west of the wreck, where
a clump of trees hide the View. Beyond
this. howeN er. the vision is Gear. Fos
tunately for the crews and passengers OF,
he approaching disaster and the emer-
gency brakes We're applied. With SPARKS
flying from the rails and fearful grind
ing noise the east-bound passenger came
almost to a s,andstill but the flying
mass of iron and wood, carrying its i'm
mense load of human freight from the
east sped onward and did not check un-
til the mighty crash came that snuffed
out the lives of Fireman Fl cks and
young Harry C. Davies. the lad who
boarded the west bound train at Reno
and was passing coal from the tender to
across the mountains
Engineer Isoard was hurled through
a window and fell bleeding down the en-
bankment by the side of his ruined en-
gine. but his brave fireman. who hac
just stopped to throw another shovaifai
OF coal. was caught between the tender
and the engine and fearfully crushed.
The esca ping steam fairly cooked mis-
body. but in spite of these horrible in
juries he lived for several minutes after
being extrcated. The death of yonns
Davies was instantaneous. His body WAS
pinioned between the tender and engine,
and when it was removed there was nor
a spark of life remaining.
When the impact of the trains cr'Ss
the day coach on the west-bouni ram
leared from the track and with mighty
plunge shot over the embankmeat, tais.ng
on the north side of the track with its
rear end just off the rails. 1t turned al
most upside down and many of the seats