The Grit-advocate., 1904-07-08
DEADLY WRECK
ON CRIPPLE CREEK SHORT LINE.
Three Killed and More Than Forty In
jured by Runaway Car Near
Cameron

Cameron.
Denver. July 6.-Three persons were
killed and more than forty injured
some OF them dangerously, by tn,
running away Of a passenger car or
the Short Line railroad at s: 80 O'Clock
last night. while the train was being
remade up at Cameron for splitting
into two trains. one for Cripple Creek
the other for Victor
| A Republican special says: At Cam
eron, before the train is broken, the
Cripple Creek passengers are told to
take the rear car known as the obser
walton car. The Victor passengers
take the coach in the middle of the
train which is switched Off.
The train was on time arriving at
| Cameron and the cars were crowded
| The switching had commenced. With.
out warning. after the car had been cut
/ out, it suddenly started down the
grade. The brakeman, A. B. Ross,
! rushed to the air brake. found it
worthless and advised the passengers
to jump. About fifty took this advice
before the car gained the terrible mo-
mentum in its nearly three-quarters
OF mile run before it was ditched.
Losing control it shot down the
heavy grade with ever increasing
speed. whipping around curves and
threatening destruction Of all occu-
pants at any moment
i. p. Airheart. prominent Mason,
one OF the largest owners of real estate
III this city. with Kearns, made an
heroic attempt to save the lives of
thelr ieilow passengers. Realizing the
speed the car was making. Mr. Air.
heart ran into the car and said: BOYS,
let's go to the brake" Fred Miller,
one OF them, and ]. Kearns, a stranger
in camp, responded and they were
heroically attempting to stop the car
when it jumped the track.
This it did at bridge No. 1S, on a
sharp curve. 1t rolled down an en-
bankment ten feet high and was
smashed out Of all shape. pinning the
passengers into all manner of tangles
OF debris. Few escaped injury.
Airheart. kearns and Miller were
caught where they had stood together
struggling with the brakes. The two
nrst named were killed instantly. Mil
Ter was caught on top of them and
while severely injured may survive.
All OF the passengers were SO pinned
in the wreckage that none of them
could render assistance.
feople OF Cameron had witnessed
the accident and hastened to render
help. The injured were drawn out as
last as reached.
Dr. Torrance was in the rear end of
the car with his wife.
His right arm was ground off and
he bled to DEATH
The excitement and darkness rem
dered the assistance difficult.
Men and women. bleeding and
bruised. were literally dragged from
the car.
word reached Cripple Creek and
created intense excitement. MANY had
friends and relatives returning on the
train from their holiday excursions,
A special was made up on the Mid
land Terminal and hurried to Gamer
on with physicians and helpers.
Nurses were sent out on a special
from Victor. The Short Line turned
every available man to the work of
rescue.
The accident has cast a gloom over
the district.
The majority of the passengers we're
residents of Cripple Creek but there
are number whose names were I'M
obtalnable last night. residents of 9TH
er towns in the district These were
not reported seriously injxred.
Two of the men killed were among
the most prominent in Cripple Creek
L. T. Airheart was one of the pioneer
real estate investors. He owns large
amount or real estate, Is man of
money. money-lender. and stood high
In Masonic circles. He was a leader
Of the business element Of the city
Was about fifty-fve years of age and
has grown sons and wife living in
Cripple Creek.
DR.. Torrance was one of the leading
physicians, also pioneer. and had a
large number of friends. He was 4
prominent member of the Elks, the
Eagles and other fraternities. Was
popular with all classes.
J. kearns, who was killed. was a
Colorado Springs man who had lived
in Denver. He was wounded in action
in the Spanish war He had attended
Colorado College. He was on his way
to Cripple Creek to enter the employ
Of mining company when killed.
w. o. Dresser one of the men badly
hurt, was the last to jump. In his
arm was the baby of Mrs. Hanes. who
escaped uninjured. Dresser sustained
severe injuries to his head and back.
but the baby was uninjured.
This accident is the first of any ma
ture jeopardzing the life of passen-
ger on the line since the road was put
in operation three and a half years
ago. Until recently. all the switching
at Cameron was done on a level side
track, and no car was permitted to be
left standing on a grade without an
engine being attached.