Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1908-05-07


taken to Murray's hospital, He
stated that he lives in Council Bluffs.
The blocking of the track made
1t impossible for the eastbound
| North Coast Limited to come into
Butte via the Northern Pacific route,
and it was run into the city over the
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific tracks.
Many Butte residents hurried to
the scene of the wreck and physicians
were soon on hand to care for the
injured, it having been reported in
the city that a number had been
badly hurt.
We were about 10 minutes be-
hind time, said Engineer F. w. Len
zle, OF the head engine, No 270, "and
were running at the rate of forty
miles an hour. The line is perfect
ly straight and we had clear track.
The first thing | knew there was
terrific explosion and my engine
was lifted clear of the track, but
quickly settled on the ties along
which it ran for about 300 feet. |
applied the brakes. but not before
the coupling had broken between
my engine and the one following.
The explosion was one of the most
terrific that ever heard, and for
some moments | was unable to hear
anything. After applying the air
| shouted to my fireman, John Doer-
ing to jump, and we both jumped
to the ground as the engine came to
a standstill.
/ i am at loss to account for the
dynamite. except that it might have
been the act of hobo who sought
to get even for having been thrown
off the train at some previous time.
/ 'Soon as / realized the situation
| hastened to the scene of the wreck
and was Mortified to find the second
engine turned over on its side. A
moment later Iran into George Ehle,
Engineer Bussey's fireman, and he
was walking wildly about with his
arms and hands terribly scalded and
the skin actually falling from the
flesh. Ambulances quickly respond
ed and the poor fellow was hasten
ed to the hospital"
Fireman John Doering, who with
Engineer Lenzie miraculously es-
capped being killed, gave graphic
description Of the affair.
I'VE were running at a lively rate
over clear track. in order to. reach
the depot at 11:4O. We picked up
No. 6 at Garrison. and nothing un-
usual happened until suddenly the
rocks and sand came up from be-
heath our engine in clouds. | could |
not realize what had happened.
Bussey and | were blinded for time, |
and the deafening roar as the engine
was lifted from the the track was
something | shall never forget.
Every pare of glass in my side of
the cab was broken, and the great
weight of the engine came down on
the ties with terrific pounding.
During the moment that we were
in the air the driving wheels
revolved with great speed. and I
thought for second that we had
dropped through a bridge. Next
instant we were pounding along on
the ties, and this continued for a
moment until Bussey applied the
air.
L heard Bussey shout Jump,
and we both left the cab about the
same moment. The engine went
ahead short distance and came to
standstill. still putting. We went
back TO the train. from which our
engine had been parted, as the
second engine left the track simult-
aneously with the explosion, and
it was probably the latter that broke
the coupling. There was a great
cloud of dust for a few moments
and all was confusion. I met Fire ,
man Ehle, who was writhing with !.
pain and who seerned .crazed. He ,
was unable to speak, and the skin
was falling in shreds from his hands
and arms where the escaping steam :
from his engine had struck him. It !,
must have been some moments be- !,
fore he was able to extricate him.
self from the cab, as neither he nor
sngineer Bussey had any chance to |
escape in a hurry. He was more q