The daily sentinel., 1906-12-26


occurred on the Rio Grandc Western
railroad in several years took place
on Monday night near the little sta
tion of Mounds, Utah, and as result
three well known railroad men are
dead and another is badly injured.
The dead are:
Thomas MeGrath, of Helper but
formerly of Grand junction.
NJ. Conroy, of Grand junction, fire
man.
w. II. Carter Grand Junction, fire
man.
w. B. Vaughn, of Helper, former
Iy of Grand Junction, n fireman was
dangerously injured.
The news of the wreck reached
Grand junction at an early hour yes
terday morning and cast II shadow
over the Christmas celebrations and
brought sincere sorrow to more than
one home.
The Senti el has made every effort
to get the accurate details Of the hor-
ribIe event.
The wreck was result of n collis-
ion between the double header engin-
es of Rio Grande passenger No. 3
west bound, and the engine of water
train.
Train No. left Grand Junction at
2:5O o'clock on Monday afternoon.
When it left here two engines were
pulling. Engine No. GA was in charge
of Engineer Daniel Carpenter and
Fhman w. II. Carter, this was the
regular No. engine. Engine No.
62 helped pull No. 3 to Green River
and there this engine was relieved
by No. ~ in charge of Engineer
Thomas McGrath and Fireman NJ.
Conroy These two engines were in
charge of the train when the wreck
occurred.
Each morning a water train con-
sisting of from ten to twenty cars
leaves Helper. Utah, and goes down
to Mounds and Woodsides to give
water.
In charge of this train We're Engi-
neer Couchinsum and Fireman w. b.
Vaughn, formerly of this city. on
its downward trip the water train, as
is the usual custom, left a number of
water cars down at Mounds. It
then made its trip to Woodside and
in the evening started on its return
trip to Helper, intending to back on
to the switch at Mounds and get the
cars it had left there.
The water train was being pulled
by engine No. 142. The water train
reached Mounds just obut the time
1t was expected that No. 3. which was
to pass. would go by. 1t was now
dark. The water train ran on past the
little station house at Mounds on the
head of the switch some distance west
of the station. The train then back
ed onto the switch and coupled onto
the ears that had been left there. As
the Sentinel learns it this switch is
on somewhat of a heavy grade, the
| incline from the rear end of the
switch to the main track being very
marked. The engine was for a few
moments left standing afoul of the
/ switch. that is standing across the
main track. every car was on the
siding. 1t is stated that the crew
of the water train supposed that they
we're protected from No. by flag
man at the station, as is the usua
; custom. But TO ALL accounts the flag
man had gone OF duty believing thai
! the water train was in the clear anc
} that the track was open for No. 3,
Going at a rapid rate of speed
! making up as best 1t could for los
; time No. 3 with her two big engine
! pulling heavily, came In sight o
! Mounds. The engineers saw no flag
3 man and naturally concluded that tn
: track was clear and made no enor
to lessen the speed. 1t is reporte
: that the headlight on the first No.
= No ~ had either gone out or wa
: very weak. ,
= Then came the fun crash No. y
: two big locomotives plowed in the tn
= water trains engine and tender an
= the series of terrible scenes that 10
= lowed cannot be described
= The front engiAe Of No. 3, No.