The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-23

MioS WARY GOOcu, Odhlhuu, NoA.s Jul
fering from shock.
Thomas Webb, Yampa. Col; right
foot sprained.
r. w. Phillips, Caysville. Utah; foot
bruised.
c. c. House, Champa. N. M; both
knee caps broken; right hand and
| mouth cut.
L. G. Ramsbottom, San Francisco;
neck hurt.
W. N. Page, Yampa. Col; back in
jured.
I. Kissel, New York; head slightly in
jured.
A. Gerber. New York: ear torn.
c. N. Wright, New York; head slight
ly injured.
James Page, Whitewater. COL; head
cut.
F. H. Sweeney, Clinton, Mo-; foot
| crushed.
]. L. Lotion, 'Bellaower, Mo-; hip
crushed.
G. C. Clark, Portland, Col; head cut.
]. G. Veale, Denver; neck slightly in
jured.
J.. S. Reef, Leadville, Col; neck In
jured.
B. I. Jones, Denver; back hurt.
A. L. Knous, Ouray, Col; neck hurt.
Running At Usual Speed.
Both trains were running at the usual
| speed, the deep snow and high wind
making it necessary to exercise excep-
tional care. Suddenly both headlights
flashed out from the darkness, and 1t
was realized for the first time that
something was wrong. According to
the story Of Fireman j. H. Smith OF the
west-bound train, Engineer Walter
Goslett opened the emergency brake
and the train was checked for an In
slant, but the slippery rails and the
momentum Of the heavy train carried
it on.
impact Scarcely Noticeable.
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 fol-
lowed warned them that something had
been struck. Helper engine OF NO. o
evidently acted as a sort OF cuShlon,
minimizing the force and weight OF the
heavy mountain engines that haul the
trains where the grade does not re-
quire assistance. This helper was
| crushed together like so much paper,
and the monster machines ran through,
locking themselves together as if in a
death struggle. Fireman Smith was
| the only one of the engine crews to es-
cape.
Cars Just Squeezed Together.
The baggage car of No. 3 broke IN
two, and the coaches squeezed together.
The baggage and mail car and coach o
| No. 16 buckled, but one of the cars
were telescoped as was first reported.
Hardly had the trainmen and passen-
gers reached a realization that all was
not right when, to their horror, a sheet
of flame ran through the cars to both
sides of the engines, and in a twinkllng
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 homeseekers on
| their way to the northwest.
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
| cooler ones in the car, seeing their dan
| ger, rushed for the windows and doors.
and with the aid of the passengers in
| the real of the train and those members
of the train crew who were unhurt,
| managed to reach the open air. Many
| of them were injured more or less Sc
riously by the rough handling they re-
| ceived or from flying glass and timbers.
A Useless Risk.
Although many were willing to under
take the risk, efforts to rescue those
who remained in the burning cars would
have been suicidal, as the heat was I'M
! bearable. When the occupants OF the
| two standard and two tourist sleepers
| of the. ~west-bound train saw that moth
ing could be done to check the flames,
they aided the trainmen in pushing back
the sleepers, and those cars were not
damaged in the least. The sleepers on
the east-bound train were also pushed
back. and soon they were placed out OF
the reach of the leaping flames. The
wrecked cars were soon reduced to a
mass of smouldering rains.
Admits Responsibility.
Pueblo, Col, March It's. P. Live
w, Denver & Rio Grande night opera
tor at Swallows, admits his RESPONSE
bility for the collision. He was re-
lieved from duty and will stand Jul
pended until the matter is thoroughly
Investigated by the officials. Lively
said:
81 was dead for rest. l went to
sleep and did not give No. is it's or
ders. I am responsible for the wreck.
I will not run away. God knows |
wish / knew how l happened to go to
Sleep"
offered a Berth in Chicago.