Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-17

reason still unexplained the operator there
neglected to do so.
In the meantime the eastbound train
had received it's orders and expected to
meet the westbound train at Beaver.
Both trains were running at the usual
speed the deep snow and high wind ma
king It necessary to exercise exceptional
care Suddenly both headlights flashed out
from the darkness and It was realized for
the first time that something was wrong.
According to the story of Fireman j. II.
Smith of the westbound train Engineer
Walter Coslett- opened the emergency brake
and the train was checked for an instant,
hut the slippery rails and the momentum
of the heavy train carried It on.
From the stories told by several Of the
trainmen who survived and who were in
the forward part OF the train the impact
was scarcely noticeable, but the crushing,
grinding noise that followed warned them
that something had been struck. The
helper engine on No. 3 evidently acted as
a sort Of cushion, minimizing the force and
weight Of the heavy mountain engines that
haul the trains where the grade does not
require assistance. This helper was crushed
together like so much paper and the mon
ster machines ran through it, locking
themselves together as II in a death strug-
gle.
Fireman Smith was the only one OF the
engine crews to escape. The baggage car
OF No broke in two and the three coaches
squeezed together. The baggage and mail
cars and coach of No. 16 buckled, but none
of the cars We're telescoped, as was first
reported.
Debris Takes Fire.
Hardly had the trainmen and passengers
reached realization that all was not right
when TO their horror a sheet OF fire rar
through the cars on both sides OF the en-
gines, and In a twinkling the cracking
sound OF breaking timbers started them to
action. In the forward coach of the west
bound train every seat was occupied by
the passengers, most Of whom were home
seekers ON their way TO the northwest. A
number of foreigners were among them
and in their terror they gave up life with
out making any attempt to reach safety
outside 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 cooler ones in the car
seeing their danger, rushed for the win
dows and doors, and with the aid of the
passengers in the rear of the train and
those members of the train crew who were
Hldndbtu ituSh NiiS pbSh az
Many of them were injured more or less
seriously by the rough handling they re-
ceived or from dying glass and timbers.
Although many were willing 10 under
take the risk efforts to rescue those who
remaiaed In the burning cars would have
heen suicidal. as the heat was unbearable
When the occupants of the two standard
and two tourist sleepers Of the westbount
train saw that nothing could be done tC
check the flames they aided the trainmer
I'm pushing back the sleepers and those carl
were not damaged in the least. The sleep
ers on the eastbound train were also
pushed back and soon after they wer'
placed out of reach of the leaping flames
The wrecked cars were soon reduced to
mass OF smouldering ruins.
Communication was opened with thu
Pueblo once OF the railroad from Portland
. naiis or so away. and relief train will
SAysicians was dispatched TO the wreck a
once. As quickly as possible the injureC
were placed in the sleepers and the engine
OF the relief train started back TO Pueblo
with them and also the passengers OF thu