Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-07-14
WRECK ON THE
MONTANA ROAD
Several Freight Cars GO Into the
Ditch a Few Miles Below the
Town Of Moore.
TRAFFIC DELAYED FOR HOURS
No Person is lnjured-Temporary
Track is Quickly Built Around
Scene Of the Wreck.

The regular train leaving this city
for Lombard Wednesday morning was
wrecked three miles the other side of
Moore. eight cars leaving the track
and considerable damage being done.
Fortunately no person was injured in
the least, and aside from bad shak-
ing up, thorough scare and long
delay, the passengers dld not suffer.
A Lucky Wreck.
In good many respects, the wreck
was what railroad men would call a
lucky one. 1t occurred just beyond a
long fill, and the cars going off on the
level sustained far less damage than
would have resulted had they tumbled
down an embankment. 1t is said that
the train was running at a speed of
80 miles an hour when the accident
occurred. The first car to 90 off the
track was a coal carrier. 1t is be-
lieved that brake beam dropped and
threw the wheels off the track. The
other freight cars. seven in number,
were instantly piled up IN the ditch,
the track being torn up and twisted
and the road bed furrowed by the
grinding wheels.
Passengers Get a Scare.
The passenger car and smoker were
both well filled, and all on board got
a bad scare. The jolting was severe
enough to loosen the seats in the
smoker, and with the first shock, ev-
eryone held on to whatever offered a
hold, waiting for the grand smash up.
which they feared was impending.
The cars stopped, however, without a
single person receiving the slightest
hurt.
News Sent to Lombard.
Conductor Butcher at once threw his
telephone apparatus over the wire, and
getting Lombard, gave notice of the
wreck. Word was also sent to this
city at once, and Superintendent Rob-
ertson, who was in town, at once left
for the scene of the wreck. When
the freight cars left the track, the en-
gine pulled away from the train, escap-
ing all damage. The engineer at once
went on to Harlowton, secured an
empty box car, which was fitted up
with seats, and, returning to the scene
the passengers, with their baggage
got aboard, and finally landed at LON.
bard about o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
Clearing Away the Wreck.
wrecklng crew was put to work
as soon as possible, but the task was
such big one that it was decided to
hrst build temporary track around
the scene. This was completed late
Wednesday night, and the train due
here at p. m. arrived five hours and
20 minutes late. Last night the train
was something over two hours late in
reaching Lewistown, but it is promised
that tonight, the train will come in on
schedule time.
Loss is Not Heavy.
Such wreck might easily have in.
volved the railroad in heavy loss,
but as it was, it is comparatively light.
The general merchandise was scarcely
damaged, and as three of the cars
were loaded with wool, this freight
was not injured in the least. The
cars, however, were badly damaged
and altogether the loss Is unofficially
estimated at about $2,5OO. Passeng.
ers who were on the wrecked train
say it was almost miracle that no
one was injured, considering the speed
at which the train was travelling, and
the force of the impact when the cars
jumped the track. The wreckage is
not yet cleared away. but with the
temporary track in first-class shape
this ought not to delay traffic in the
least
First In Long Time.
This is the first accident of any
consequence that has occurred on the
Montana railroad in long time, ow
ing to the care always exercised by
the train crews, and the company has
reason to congratulate itself that this
wreck did not result far more serious
ly. Everything possible that could be
done for the convenience of the be
lated passengers was attended to.