Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-07-27
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN ON
FREIGHT NEAR DURANGO
MEET DEATH

grade at this place was steep and II
may be that they had attained such
speed that they could not stop this
train. Mr.. Cuthbert says he was
standing on the steps of his engine
when ne felt one OF the driving
springs fly up and strike the step
and then he knew that something was
wrong A walk back over the track
for half mile shows that something
was dragging and striking the ties
every few yards.
A Herald reporter visited the scene
or the wreck at an early hour.
The two engines were turned over
| on their left sides and had plowed
deep into the ground, tearing up and
demolishing the track. The cabs
| were entirely destroyed and the ten.
der OF the first engine was crowded
right up against the boiler. while the
tender of the second engine was
turned up endways, the upper end be-
ing up on the bank and the lower end
resting on the roadbed. Cars We're
standing on end and lying sideways
on the top Of the cut. all splntered
trucks were broken on anr lying on
the track. while ties that had burst
ed out from the cars that had been
thrown up on the bank were scatter
ed from the track down to the little
s'F voiu, Hv" fcor pclaw Pleres
Of various kinds from the two engines
were also scattered from the track to
The stream, some parts being in the
creek bed.
Had the engines left tne track at
any place except the cut, the whole
train would probably have been pull
ed down to the bottom. Just ahead
of the cut was sharp curve, and aft
er that another one. and 1t is fortu-
nate for the company at least, that
the train went of where it did with
out going any further before leaving
the track.
Almost back to Bocea shovel was
found. which would Indicate that
fireman had either thrown or dropped
II, Indicating the train had gained an
alarming momentum at that point.
The news was spread in town at an
early hour this morning that several
men were killed and the train was
burning, but that was an error. the
fires in both engines having been ex-
tinguished Immediately after the
wreck and nothing burned.
On going to press it is learned that
Engineer Smith and Fireman Allison
are the only dead. The remains of
Smith were found at tne undertaking
| parlors OF George Goodman. under
the process Of embalming. He had
been scalded with escaping steam on
the back OF the trunk and about the
sides OF the body, doubtless having
been pinned under the steam until
his tortures ended In death. Smith
had been making his second trip over
The road. having been brought mere
| from Pueblo TO meet emergencies
arising out OF the increased burden Of
traffic occasioned by the material re.
CURED in building the new broad.
gauge south.
I
son. the fireman on the head engine
had not been recovered from under
the wreckage of his engine. He is
dead under the wreck, is the opinion
OF the survivors of the crew, as the
brush and every means OF hiding
nave been hunted for his body from
The scene of the wreck back to DO
cea station.
| u. A. Cuthbert, engineer on the
head engine escaped with minor in
juries. Cuthbert had signalea Ia,
second engine that his air was GU
and learned that the air OF the seconc
had been escaping through the drum
OF his own engine. When Cutbber
, saw that the engines could not hol,
the train on the down grade. he say
he waved the train crew to lump
John Coshack. an Austrian, fremal
/ for the second engine. and new en-
! ploye, jumped and escaped Injury.
McAllister, brakeman on tn
: double-header. well known In DuraI
: go AZ plumber, was slight; bruise
but walked from the Durango static
TO his home when he was brought il
. John OConneli, conductor and al
J. other brakeman. name not learned
s received slight injuries.
l. DIR. Turrell. Rio Grande surgeon
s Durango, says he mas not learned {
q any serious injuries aside from tn
l. two men who were killed.
FL All who appear to know anytaIu
y OF the cause Of the accident appe:
% 10 concur In the belief that som