, 1905-12-08
TRAINS ABLE TO PASS SCENE OF
WRECK AT WILKINS AT FIVE
O'CLOCK THURSDAY
AFTERNOON.
Operator At wilkins, Said to Have Be-
come Insane in Sensational Dis
patches. Not in Least at Fault, Con-
ductor of Freight Train Taking
Blame Upon Himself-Roush
Handling of Heartless Scooter.

The track at the wreck of the Over
land Limited at wilkins station was
cleared at 5 o'clock last night and this
morning, between 4;30 and 10 o'clock,
five east-bound passenger trains pass
ed this station, two of them CONSOLE
dated into one-No. 4 Of yesterday
noon and No 6 of last night. The con
ductors report that the scene of the
wreck is one of the worst looking
sights they ever saw. The iron frame
work and wheels of tho mail anu COM
posite car are mute evidence of the
terrible fire following the splintering
of the car and wreckage is strewn
about for some distance. 1t was re-
ported hat two corpses, being taken
eastward for interment, were consum-
ed in the fire, which gave rise to the
story that more than ten men had lost
their lives.
The operator at Wilkins, reported in
a sensational newspaper dispatch from
Cheyenne as having gone insane when
he heard of the wreck, he being respon-
sible. is pronounced absolutely ground
less, as the operator Was in no wise to
blame. The conductor, Darrell, declar-
ed last afternoon that he was at fault,
having forgotten that four trains were
to pass him. He saw three pass. 1t
was said that he had committed sui
eide, but this is denied today.
Trainmen passing through this city
today bring wor of a just rebuke to a
scoffing passenger in one of the cars
of the wrecked trains. The fellow had
left the car and was warming himself
at the fire in the burning cars. He
looked for a moment, heard the agoniz-
ed screams of the victims, as the flames
slowly licked their faces, and then saiG,
Let 'em go. They are going to hell
anyway No sooner were the words
out of his mouth than he was struck
by a train guard who stood near, knock
ed fiat on his back, and as he arose to
his feet was booted off the right of way
and told not to show himself there any
more. If he came away from the scene
of the wreck on any of the trains none
of those who knew of his heartless re
mark were aware of the fact.
Conductors Marks and Fitzgerald
passed the scene of the wreck late yes.
Iterday afternoon and declare the sight
is one of the most impressive they
ever witnessed. 1t showed the terrible
force of the impact.
1t is denied that the freight train
was running at so great a rate of speed
as given in the press dispatches yes
terday. The train had just left the sid
ling at wilkins and could not in the
short distance west of the switch have
gained a speed to exceed ten miles al
hour.
The reports from the trainmen II
charge of the trains to the general su
perintendent at Omaha convinced Mr.
Park that the conductor and engineeI
of the i~ll-starred freight trail
were at fault in the matter, and tina
the conductor had acknowledged tina
he had overlooked his orders. There
was no fault with the orders and NJ
lother excuse for the accident than tina
he had failed to note that only three
Of the four passenger trains had passed
him when he pulled out for Greer
River.