The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-02-09
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN UN-
ABLE TO PREVENT WRECK.
o. R. & N. Express No. 5 Crashes
Into Spokane Flyer at Bridal
Veil--Four are Dead.


o. r. & N. on the main track at,
Bridal Veil falls at 1880 Tuesday
morning, killing four and wounding
three persons. One of the wounded
will probably die. The Pullman
sleeper on the rear of the flyer was
demolished and the engine of the ex-
press wrecked. All of those in the
Pullman car wrecked were either
killed or injured with the exception
of one young man who jumped and
escaped the crash.
Four were killed outright in the
Walla Walla Pullman, the Car wreck
ed by the express engine. The dead
are Geo. w. Buchanan, whose name
is familiar to Umatilla county people,
he having exported the books in the
sheriff's Office, and who was the lead
ing witness against G. P. Davis. The
others are Edward L. Sinnott, 35,
175 Sherman street, Portland, travel
ing salesman American Typefounders
company.
Andrew E. Edwards, 36, messenger
for the Baggage and Omnibus Trans
fer company, Portland.
J. N. Frost, so, enroute from Walla
Walla to his son at Scio.
The injured are Mrs. Nellie Riley,
Walla Walla.
James X. Russell, San Francisco.
Mrs. Sarah A. Klineman. of Kern
Park, Portland.
w. H. Swain, engineer of No. 5.
Slightly injured, are Louis Morgan,
fireman of No. B.
Mrs. L. M. Coburn, Hot Lake.
Mrs. V. We'll, Tacoma.
w. A. Duncan, Portland, porter
Buffet car No. 3.
The Portland Journal gives the fol-
lowing details of the wreck:
Both trains were westbound and
the express was following the flyer. 1t
was supposed to be running cautiously
and a flagman was sent out from
Bridal Veil Falls to warn the ap-
preaching train that the flyer was
standing ON the main track at that
place.
Veil a steam pipe in the injector on
the Pacific express burst. The cab
was quickly flooded with highly heat
ed steam that almost scalded Engineer
w. H. Swain and his fireman to death
while they were trying to stop the en-
gine. Forced to place of safety on
the tender, the engineer was compel
led to stand there and see his train
gradually increase its speed with no
guiding hand on the throttle. The
train was running away. He realized
the danger and despite the heat Of the
steam in the cab he crawled back over
the tender and made an attempt to
reach the throttle valve. He was SO
badly scalded by the live steam and
his sight was so clouded that he could
not reach the lever. He was forced
to crawl back over the tender and
tried to reach the air pipe.
The story of the wreck tells of one
of the greatest and most thrilling
displays OF heroism ever performed on
railroad train in this country.
Three miles above Bridal Veil, the
steam pipe connecting the boiler with
the injector burst. No. was run
ming at high speed.
The crew knew they had to stop at
Bridal Veil and Engineer Swain Of
o88 Gantenbein avenue was just
reaching to ease up the throttle when
the steam pipe blew out. In an in
stant the cab was filled with steam
but even this did not deter the brave
engineer, Thrusting both arms into
the scalding steam he reached for the
throttle and the air but in the blind
ing shower could not locate them.
In his efforts his arms were scalde6
from the hands to the elbows. hotE
were so badly injured that the flesh
peeled off them, but suffering intense
pain, he thought only Of his duty and
endeavored to reach the throttle aut
air.
Engineer Swain knew that No.
was ahead of him at Bridal Veil anC
he knew that to avoid a crash h,
must shut off his engine, but his he
roic efforts were in vain. Failing K
reach the throttle and air through th,
cloud of steam his fireman, Lewis
Morgan, young man of 555 Albini
avenue, Portland, then volunteered t
reach the throttle. Climbing up OF
the tank he managed to reach the root
of the engine cab. Clambering ovel
this he got down on the run board Of
the engine. Tearing off his overalls
young Morgan wrapped them around
his head and then broke pane oi
glass in the cab of tho engine. Th'
scalding steam poured out on hin
with rush, but the man reached in
side of broken window aud grasp
ing the throttle shut off the steam
This did not stop the rush, for it wa
down grade and the engine was run
ming at full speed.
In reaching the throttle young Nor
gan was scalded about the face for th
wet steam came through the cloth o
his overalls While he was fightin
his way to reach the throttle Swat
with his bleeding and scalded hand
was making further effort to stop th
train. Climbing over the tank b