Gilpin observer., 1905-08-03
WRECK ON
THE c. & 5.
Engineer Allen and Section
Boss Ferguson Killed.
THE TRAIN RAN AWAY

rrelBnC Iraln NO. lUf, winch leaVe6
this city every afternoon for Denver was
wrecked Monday one mile and half be-
low Smith hill at 3:15 o'clock. Engineer
William Allen, OF Denver, and John Fer
gusop, a section boss residing below
Black Hawk, were instantly killed.
The train was in charge OF Conductor
Fishburn, Engineer William Allen and
Fireman Abe Golightly. When Black
Hawk was reached several cars we're
added which were loaded with ore and
heavy concentrates. When the train
left this point it consisted Of sixteen
cars and the caboose, all of which were
loaded to their full capacity with the ex-
ception OF two. This made the tonnage
unusually large and apparently too great
for one engine to hold.
At point about a mile this side OF
Cottonwood, where the grade is very
steep. the train acquired speed that the
air brakes failed to check owing to the
slippery condition Of the rails caused by
a drizzlipg rain, and Conductor Fish
burn. fearing that the train was getting
away, ordered the hand brakes set. The
train remained on the track until re-
verse curve was struck when the engine
left the rails and plunged down an en-
bankmept OF twenty feet. 1t became
uncoupled from the cars, and although
engine jumped, the momentum OF the
train was 80 great several cars we're
forced a hundred yards or more past
where the engine landed. The cars that
left the track were smashed up consid-
erabiy, some beyond all possibility OF re-
pairing, and were piled in a zigzag shape
like fence rails. Eight OF the cars re-
manned on the track and were not dam.
aged particle.
Engineer Allen remained at his post
and was caught between the cab and the
boiler, and when found was covered with
dirt and coal. In his left hand he was
still holding the broken handle Of the
air valve. He was badly crushed and
mapgled and his face aud head were
smashed into sickening mass. AS soon
as his body could he extricated it was
placed aboard baggage car and sent to
Golden for burial. Engineer Allen
has a wife and six children residing in
Denver and has two brothers working
on the Clear Creek branch of the Colo.
RADIO & Southern. These took charge OF
the body and accompanied it to Golden
Allen had been in the employ OF the c.
& 8. for the past fifteen years in the ca
pacity Of fireman. He had been runn-
ing as extra engineer the last two years
and the run on which he was killed was
another engineers. He had made count
less friends in this city while working
for the road and many we're deeply griev-
ed over his untimely death. Allen was
a member Of the Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Firemen and under their aus
pices was buried in Golden today.
John Ferguson, the section boss who
was also killed, had boarded the engine
at Black Hawk with the intention of
riding to the Forks OF the Creek for the
purpose Of noting the bad places in the
track and to watch for any washins that
might have been caused by the frequent
rains Of Saturday and Sunday. He was
riding on the right side OF the engine
with Allen and when found his body
was almost in the same position as that
OF the engineers. The body was taken
from the wreckage and held awaiting
the arrival Of Coroner Asquith from this
city, who wont to the scene OF the wreck
about ten o'clock Monday evening on a
light engine. Undertaken Tippett &C.
companied the coroner and brought the
body back to Central to await an in.
quest. Ferguson was native Of Man
chester, England. and had not been in
America very long time. AS far as is
known he had no relatives in this coun.
try, but has sister residing in London,
England.
Fireman Golightly had a very miracu-
lous escape from death. He was on the
engine when it left the rails and plunged
down the embankment. How he got out
OF the cab is mystery to him. He was
thrown about fifteen feet from where the
engine landed, near set OF trucks that
had been under the tender. The only
injury he sustained was slight scratch
on the face. Golightly was brother.
in law Of Allen, the engineer.
Another miraculous escape was that
Of David Davis, q section hand. He was
riding on fat car filed with ore imme.
diately behind the engine and when the
car he was On left the track he was
thrown considerable distance and was
literally buried in the ore. The only