Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-02-28
WATER
TANK FLOODS
WRECKAGE
Wreck in Many Ways
a Most Spectacular One,
Tramp MangIed Out Of Ali
SembIance of Human Form,

Further details of the head-on
freight collision on the SAINTS Fe at
Thatcher, Colo, a, ESQ Tuesday
morning. were brought to Albu-
querque by trainmen who arrived
from the north last night. \ spec
taCular feature of the disaster was the
bursting of the big water tank which
sent a flood of water down on the
Wreek1Ge,
The coHlding trains were a double
header eastbound freight, drawn by
engines 1868 ana 1106, and an extra
W%estbound freight, pulled by engine
ll22. The eastbound train consisted
of twenty-five coal cars, all of which
We're loaded, and the westmound train
was made up of thirty-five empties.
Eight OF the coal cars ana five of
the emptics piled up in an almost in
cNtricable mass when the three en-
Eincs met hcad-on. directly in front
of the water tank. which was dcmol-
4s1ed. the thousands of gallons of wa
ter flooding the depot. track and
yards. one hundred feet Of track was
also torn up, and II required many
hours before the right of way could
be cleared and made operative again.
The tramp who was killed had been
riding between two cars ON the bump
crs, and was crushed into an uurccog-
niZ1hlc, bloody mass Of manglcd flesh
and shattered bone. The engineer of
the second engine of the double-hcad-
err, i. HaCklcy. bf La Junta, had his
foot badly mashed. but all others of
the locomotive crews escaped by
jumping. The injured engineer was
moved to the company hospital at La
Juptd.
The wreck occurred on an almost
straight track. but ols ON which there
is a considerable grade. All three To-
comotjves were of the new prairie
type. and had only been in this section
for Il few days. The Westbound en-
CINE was making its first run, ana
was in charge, ii is said, of an en-
Eiuccr unfamiliar with the grades in
this district. The fault was too great
a speed for the power Of tho air
brakes. which were applied too late to
stop the progress Of the trains, No
official investigation has yet been
held, and this being SO. the blame
canno yet be placed. if, indeed, there
is any blame.
At the time Of the accident both
trains were running, it Is said. at
about fifteen miles an hour.
william n Gibson, with the Santa
Fe at Topeka. was among the arriV-
ais at the Alvarado last night.
+. r, Leis, of Chicago, of the Santa
Fc depot advertising department, was
at the Alvarado again yesterday.
y. II. Andrus. of this city, has been
made official Santa Fe watch in
spector for the Rio Grande division.
Engineer George Anderson. of
WinsloW, spent the day here yestcr-
day on his way to san Marcial, sailed
there by the serious illness OF an m
Gle.
General Manager Arthur G.. Wells.
Of The coast lines, and party got away
for Los Angeles yesterday morning
after stopping here over night on re-
turning from El Pas"
Conductor Davidson. of the New
Mexico division, is again on duty after
laying Off two trips on account Of the
illness of his wife at her home in Las
Vegas. The latter is improving rap
Idly.
Dr.. II. J.. Rowcll, of Bclcn, physi-
clan for Grant Brothers, constructors
on the Bclcu CUTOFF, spent yesterday
in Albuquerque ana last night was
initiated into the mysteries of Elk
dom.
w. II. Bryding who has been day
roundhouse foreman i'm the Albu-
qucrque shops for some time past, has
been transferred to San Bernardino,
where he succeeds Frank McCabc in
similar position. The latter has
been compelled to give up his position
by reason of Illness.