Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-03-22

Denver, COL, Marcn ia wreck,
accompanied by awful horrors, oc-
CURED at $3.50 a. M, Friday, four miles
east Of Florence, Col, and 2S miles
from this city. A binding snow-storm
was raging, at the time. The collision
was headon between two Denver & Rio
Grande fast passenger trains-the
Utah California express, No. 8, west
bound from Denver and the Colorado
New Mexico express No. 16, east
bound from Leadville and Grand juno
tion. They met on sharp curve and
were less than 200 yards apart when
\ the engineers discovered that COLI
sion was imminent.
A Futile Effort.
1t is known that the engineer of the
west-bound train, put forth every pos.
sible effort to bring his train to a
stop, but his efforts were fruitless,
and although he succeeded in check.
ing the speed Of his train the crash
that followed was beyond his power
to prevent, and he went to his death
with his hand on the throttle, faithful
to his charge, This much is voucled
for by his fireman, who, Ceeing the
uselessness of. remaining in the face
of sure death, jumped and saved him.
self. OF the conduct of the entire
crew Of the east-bound train it can
only be said that they died at their
post, for no one lives to tell the story
of their herolsm.
Fire Swept the Wreck.
The disaster was made more hor-
rible by the manner of the death of
many of the passengers, variously es.
timated from 20 to 80. Fire swept
over the wreck, engulfing the victims
in a caldron of flame and leaving only
charred and blackened bones to tell
the tale of slaughter
Thrilling and Awful Scenes.
During the progress of the fire enc
man was seen hanging from a window.
'For Gods sake, save me-" he cried,
but the heat was too intense for the
rescuers to reach him. He slowly burned
to death before the eyes of the crowd
around the flaming wreck
man forced his way into a coach
that had received the brunt of the
shock, and, seeing a young girl pinned
under a seat, endeavored to lift her to
a place Of safety. AS he raised her the
girl gave a gasp and died in his arms.
The rescuer dropped his burden and
seized a man who was lying under a
mass of debris. He dragged the man
10 a clearing in the wreckage, where
other hands carried him to a place Of
safety.
This one man was seen to rescue four
different persons from the wreckage.
Out of a family Of IL, named Hewitt,
only two escaped. The others were
burned to a crisp.
Many Foreigners On Board.
A number of foreigners were among
them, and in their terror they gave up
life without making any attempt to
reach safety outside Of the burning car.
Paralyzed with fear and with prayers
upon their lips they sank to the floor
of the car and were roasted alive.
The Known Dead.
William Hollis, engineer No. 10;
Walter Cosslett, engineer No. 8;
Pueblo.
H. D. sudduth, fireman No 10;
Pueblo.
Edward E. salrd, deputy sheriff.
Denver.
Archibald Whitney, prisoner ON way
to penitentiary at Canyon City, in
charge Of Baird; Denver
Mrs. William Burnside, daughter,
and daughters child. all of Kansas.
town not learned
A. N. Barlllo, salida, Col.
Mrs. Grace Barklo, salida, Col.
F1neas Mcfarland, express messenger;
Denver
Taylor Hewitt, Lebo, Kas.
Mrs. Lillian Hewitt, Lebo Kas.
Pearl Hewitt, is years old; LebO Kas.
Mrs Catherine Hewitt and baby boy
Leho Kas.
I'd Cowley, Lebo, Kas.
Fred Jones, Lebo, Kas.
Fred LemccoIey, Denver.
Mrs. I'd Cowley, Lebo, Kas.
Mrs. Winona Hewitt, Lebo, KAs
Admits Responsibility. =
Pueblo. Col, March It's. p Live.
", Denver Rio Grande night opera
tor at Swallows, admits hts RESPONSE
bility for the collision He was re-
lieyed from duty and will stand sus-
pended until. the matter is thoroughly
Investigated by the onicials. Lively
said
II was dead for rest went to
sleep and did not give No. 10 its or
ders. am responsible for the wreck. |
will not run away. God knows |
sviah knew how / hammered "a 70 Il |