The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-07-17
ENGINEER AND BRAKEMAN
KILLED AND CREW STICK
TO POSTS IN WILD
RIDE.
Fireman Badly Injured-Cars Are
Piled Up in a Heap-Eogine
Loses Control OF II Freight
Cars on a Heavy
Grade-Other
News.

News.
Ashland, Or, July Ia "A freight
train on the Southern Pacific, con-
sisting of II cars, drawn by one big
locomotive, got from under control
coming down the Siskiyous soon
after noon today, at tunnel No. 16,
and made wild run down the
mountain, piling up in a heap at
Clawson yards.
Engineer Bob Steiger and Fire
man Galbraith were terribly injur-
ed. Engineer S eiger and his fire.
man were scalded and mashed un-
der the engine as it tumbled over.
c. D. Lockerman, brakeman, was
so badly crushed that he died this
afternoon. Passenger train south.
bound, No. Is, had narrow es-
cape from colliding with the run
away. The injured were brought to
Ashland.
One brakeman was under the re-
mains of four cars, where they were
all impressed into the space of one
but piled 20 feet high.
Quickly as possible the injured
men were removed from the wreck
age and brought to Ashland, Con-
ductor Hilty, Of the runaway train,
coming down the track ahead of
them in order to flag and stop the
south bound passenger train, which
he met about two miles from Ash
land.
Brakeman C. D. Lockerman died
here this afternoon as a result Of
his injuries received In the wreck.
Engineer Robert Steiger was fear
fully scalded and crushed under
his engine. Brakeman Sam Wylie
was badly bruised, but his injuries
are not fatal.
Two hobos riding on a tank car
of oil behind the locomotive had
every stitch of clothing stripped
from them but were otherwise un.
injured. The fireman who had
rushed on top of the train TO set the
hand brskee, and Conductor Hi1ty
and Brakeman Morris, who were on
the rear part OF the train, working
at the brakes, also escaped without
injury.
The wreck is the worst that ever
happened on the Siskiyou noun
taine. Fourteen Of the II cars
were badly demolished and a num-
Der Of them smashed into kindling.
The engine, one of the largest OF
the mountain climbers used by the
Southern Pacific, was badly demol.
ished. The injured men, Steiger
and Wylie, after receiving medical
atte ntion here, were hurried to the
railroad hospital ct Portland tn a
special train.
Trainmen think it possible other
tramps may still be under the pile
of wreckage.
Eng,nter Steiger died on the spe.
cial train at 8 o'clock, on the way
to Portland.
The Southern Pacific has always
been very fortunate In Its expert.
ence in moving trains on the steep
grades of the Siskiyou mountains,
and in spite of the difficulties in thu
way, have had very few accidents
Not little of the credit for this is
due to the coolheadedness and brave.
ry of the men who manage their
freight ard passenger trains with
hundreds of lives daily.
Today's occurrence was no excep.
tion to the rule, and Engineer Bot
Steiger and Fireman Galbraith faced
death in wild ride on a runaway
freight train down the north side ol
the mountain today. With Con.
ductor Hilty and Brakeman G. D
Wiley. they endeavofed, until ths
train no longer held the rails, te
stop its tremendous and furious
rush towards Ashland, and all wen
down in the wreck.
Speculation is wide as to wha
would have happened if, instead O.
being ditched at Clawson, the run
/ away tr in had continued on anG
smashed into the two sections O.
the southbound train No. Is. which
was just starting from here, loaded
with passengers.
i Section Foreman Williamson was
eating dinner with his gang al
Steinman station, half way down
the Siskiyous. and 10 miles from
Ashland, at 12:20 P. M. today