Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-09-11
WRECK IN MONTANA
FOUR TRAINMEN AND FIVE
TRAMPs WERE KILLED.
Fast Passenger and Freight Trains Met
Head On Through Error of Telegraph
Operator Mitchell at Perma-Wreck
Occurred on Curve-Some Cars Jump
ed Into River-Fire Follows.

Missoula, Mont, Sept 6.-Four train
men and five tramps were instantly
killed Saturday in collision between g
passenger and freight train on the
Northern Pacific railroad at Paradise
near here.
The dead: Firemen Merrick and
Robinson, Engineers Valentine and
Munson, all of Missoula, and five un-
known men.
The wreck was caused by confusion
of orders. The five tramps were riding
the bumpers of the freight when the
collision occurred.
1t is definitely stated that none of
the passengers on the westbound train
sustained injury. Considerable of the
equipment of the two trains was de-
stroyed by fire which broke out follow
ing the wreck. George w. Valentine,
one OF the engineers, who gave up his
life, was veteran in the service of
the Northern Pacific railroad.
The blame for the wreck so far as
investigations have been made seems
to rest principally on the shoulders of
Operator Mitchell at Perma. He is
SAID to have reported passenger No. 5
not having passed his station when in
reality the train had gone by several
minutes previous. Dispatcher Kelley of
the company headquarters here, upon
receiving this information, issued an
order to hold the passenger at Perma
to meet the freight which was allowed
to pass Olive, station six miles west.
A few minutes later Operator Mitchell
at Perma flashed the dispatcher IS office
that he heard the terrific crash of the
collision of the trains and saw a great
light IN the sky, which was attributed
to the burning cars.
The wreck occurred on a sharp curve
and where it was impossible for either
engineer to see any distance ahead of
his train. The track here skirts the
river, with a perpendicular bluff on
the opposite side. The engines collided
with such force that they were com
pletely telescoped and all that remains
is heap of twisted iron and steel. The
baggage car of the passenger pitched
over the bank into the river and other
cars of the train were derailed, but re-
manned on the embankment. Four cars
of the freight train were split into
slivers and the contact was so great
that the caboose of the train was
hurled clear off of the track and into
the river.
A wrecker, carrying all equipment
available to care for the wounded, was
rushed from Trout Creek. Four doctors
from Plains and two from Missoula
were taken to the scene in another spe-
cial as quickly as possible and every
thing possible was done to relieve suf-
fering and recover those under the
wreckage.
George W. Valentine was so years of
age and leaves a wife and two sons in
this city. He had been in the company's
service for 81 years and on the Rocky
Mountain division since 1895.
L. A. Monson leaves a wife in this
city. He was 40 years old and had been
with the Northern Pacific for MANY
years, coming to this division seven
years ago.
E. F. Herring was a well-known
young man of Missoula, son of John
Herring, secretary of the local Northern
Pacific club. He was married and
leaves besides his wife one child to
mourn him.
E. o. Robinson was single man
and had relatives living at Bozeman.
He had lived in Missoula three years.
Brakeman Harvey Dixon was in the
cab of the freight engine when the
crash came and was thrown through
the window. He is badly scalded and
suffered internal injuries. 1t is thought
he will recover.
Louis Fold was stealing a ride in
rear refrigerator car, with the three
tramps who were killed. He has a
wife and 10 children living at 1873 West
ern avenue, Minneapolis. He is badly
injured about the arms and chest. but
his case is hopeful.
1t is probable that Operator Mitchell
of Perma, who is blamed for the acct
dent, will be held pending an investi
cation into the affair.