The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-03-20
8 KILLED IN WRECK
Iead-On Crash on Denver & Rio
Grande Near Pu bio, Col.
HcTIMs WERE INCINERATED
Passengers and Trainmen Pinned Be-
meath Burning Wreckage Were
Roasted to Dcath-UudeliVered Or
dcrs Cause Of Disaster.
ders Cause Of Disaster.

Pueblo. Colo. March II. 7.-Thirtyhve
porsDrs were crushed 10 death IN
collision OF two passenger trains
a.ar Adobe COL. On tae Denver & Rio
Grauae railway and more than a score
ni th. victims were iYclnora-ed beyond
ilcn'ii,atiau by hr. tha' destroyed
the wrcckei coaches More than
score aoic .uW,l. hut an Will prob
ally recover
The wreck was due 10 un delivered
orders. heavy mountain grades,
binding snow storm. sharp curve
and thc slippery condition OF the rails.
only TIE locomotives. baggage and day
coaches were wrcefel. the sleeping
cars escaping almost unscathed.
Many OF the dead were home-seckers
bound Tor the northwest The three
crushed locomotives set fire to the
spllntcrel coaches and IT. was hours
before an The bodies were recovered.
the nares being so hot that rcscuers
could NOT approach the dchri until the
fuel burned out.
II was Wild stormy night in the
mountain canons when the Two heavy
trains met. Binding snow darkened
the rocky gorges and speed was not
hieh
suddenly headlights flashed ont and
Il was realized by the engineers that
something vas wrong According to
Fireman !. II Smith. OF the west
bound train. Engineer Walter Cosle't
applied the emergency brake. but the
slippery rails allowed the momentum
of the heavy train 10 carry IT on to
the fatal crash
The impact was scarcely noticeable.
hut the trains crashed and ground mo
each other. The helper engine OF the
westbound train acted as a cushion.
minimizing the force and weight OF the
heavy mountain engines. This helper
was crushed together like SO much
paper and the larger locomotives ran
through the mesh of iron and plowed
each other to pieces.
Fireman Smith was the only one OF
tho engine crews 10 escape The bag
gage car OF the wcstbound train broke
in two and three coaches were
squeezed together The baggage car.
the mail car and a coach of the east
bound train buchled. but none Of the
cars telcscopcd.
Hardly had the noise Of the wreck
ceased when a sheet of fire ran
through IN, shattered cars of both
trains In the forward coach OF the
westbound every seat was occupied
by passengers. \ number of foreign
ers were among them. and in their
terror they gave up life without max
ing anv attempt 10 reach safety ont
side the burning car. They sank 10 the
floor of the car and were roasted alive.
The cooler ones in the car seeing
their danger. rushed tor the windows
and doors. and with the aid OF the
passengers in the rear cf the train
and those members Of the train crew
who were unhurt managed 10 reach
the oren air. Many were injured by
the rough handling they received or by
flying glas-.
When tho occupants Of the two
slccping cars saw tat nothing could
be done 20 check the hemes. they
aided the troinmcn In pushing back
the mdamlgcl cars.
One Of the pathetic tragedies oi inc
disaster was the wiping ont OF all bur
two of the family OF Taylor Hewitt. OF
Lebo an. Father mother daughter.
crandchild AMI tie wives of the sons
are missing. The two sons f. A
Hewitt and W. l.. Hewitt. are among
the injured in the hospital here. each
Of them having leg fractures in addl'
tion to other injuries Z. \. Hewitt
said that he had a dream several
months ago in which his family was
all killed. He says he saw just as
plainly as he later saw the real wreck
everything that took place after the
collision.
It's wise mining stock hatknowsits
own par.
Most OF the things we'd like to have Is