, 1906-10-11
Details of the Accident.

In a collision between two freight
trains between Aurura and Ridge, a
bon county, last night, with three train
crews and an unknown Russian tramp
aboard, five men were killed and three
injured. one engine was totally de-
stroyed, two o engines were quite
badly damaged and twenty-five cars
were piled in a heap, fire adding to
the destruction wrought by the i'm
pact of the trains. Provisions of all
kinds were scattered about and thou
sands of dollars worth of merchandise
was rendered unfit for use. The hor-
ror of the scene almost beggars de-
s~cription.
Four Die Instantly.
Four of the men were almost instant
ly killed, the fifth dying before medi-
cal aid could reach him. MIR. Sims
has both legs broken lies in a Sc
rious condition. He was brought TO
this city on train No. 2 this morning
and taken in charge by Drs. Stevens
and McCollum, local surgeons for the
company, and will be sent to the Den
yer hospital. Coroner Bennett OF Raw
Inns was hurried to the scene and took
charge of the remains OF the five men
Misunderstood Orders.
A railroad man, discussing the
cause of the wreck, said he could at
tribute it to but one cause. A train
order was not sufficiently understood
by the men receiving it. Between Au-
r,,ro ,-I D;J~z thara 10 q Gnrfinn 0f
double track, the new portion, to be
used later as a ~west-bound track, not
having yet been placed in commission
The train order was directed to the
crew of the west-bound train, and the
engineer in charge of the head engine
is believed to have understood that
he was to use the new track as a pass
ing track only. Having the right OF
way Of the east-bound train, he did not
take the new track, knowing that he
did not have 10 take siding for the
other, and the two trains met on the
old line between Aurura and Ridge.
Question of Right Of Way.
The crew of the west-bound train
had orders % wait at Aurura until a
certain time for the east-bound train.
When that time expired, according to
the rules of the road, the w~est-bound
train had right of way over the east
bound train and started for Ridge, US
ing the old track. The crew OF the
east-bound train, believing that the
train in the opposite direction would
have the right of way over the new
line, started for Aurora on the old line,
meeting the do~uble-header midway.
Officials viii Investigate.
An investigation will be had to lay
the cause of the wreck and the blame
for the collision. Trainmaster Letts
and District Foreman Sullivan were
at the scene of the wreck, superlntend-
ing the clearing Of the line the re-
sumption of business.
Crushed by Heavy Train.
The west-bound train was going
down hill and the impact was heavy
enough to reduce the second engine 10
scrap and wreck practically half OF
each train. The crew Of the east,
bound train, of course, used what III
time will be east-bound track, not
knowing that the double header was
bearing down upon 1t with two mon
ster locomotives and thirty-four heaV
ily loaded cars on a down grade ane
believing 1t had a clear run to the mex
stopping place.
Had Hurry Orders.
The west-bound train left Laramie
at $40 yesterday afternoon, in charge
of Conductor Foy and with two en-
rtnes and two freight crews. The en-
gines were No. 1884, with Enginee
Murray and Fireman Sims In the cab
and engine No. 1906, with Engineel
Rasmussen and Fireman Kelly aboard
The train was what is known as al
"expsdite," with general orders to ge
through az quickly as possible. on'
full crew was accompanying the sec
ond engine to Rawlins to get a train o
east-bound stun awaiting there. IN
sa-Aaaau I