The Dickinson press., 1908-08-15

Great CONSERVATION and grief were felt
in this city Monday evening when news
was received of the direful wreck of the
North Coast Limited at bridge No. 354,
near the old Allard water tank, IL miles
this side of Glendive. 1t was at first re-
ported that Engineer Litch and Fireman
Matthews were both dead but later
advices stated that Mr.. Litch was still
living.
Mr.. Litch has been resting easily and
has gained steadily from day to day,
taking little nourishment Wednesday.
The doctors say that, unless something
new sets in, his recovery is certain. To
those who saw the extent of his injuries
his recovery seems little less than
miracle and his host of friends feel al
most that he has been given back to
them from the dead.
The train, the crack train of the road,
one of the finest in the world, the pride
of every employee from the general
superintendent down, pulled out of Glen
dive on time, veteran engineer c. D.
Litch at the throttle and Engineer
Matthews acting as fireman. Conductor
AL Nichols. had charge of the train.
Rounding curve two miles east of
Allard, the train plunged through
burning bridge into Glendive creek.
No warning was possible. The curve
to the left made it impossible for Engi-
neer Litch to see the impending danger
and he and Fireman Matthews had no
intimation of peril until the giant Iocomo-
tive was plunging through the burning ties
and timbers into the creek below.
Engineer Litch instantly set the emer-
gency brakes, his presence of mind in the
terrible danger keeping the coaches
from making the plunge and saving the
lives of hundreds of passengers. He and
his fireman went down with the engine,
Mr.. Matthews to instant death and Mr..
Litch to terrible torture.
The mail car, baggage car and smoker
followed the engine into the creek and
were piled in mass upon it. The day
coach started to follow and partly left
the rails but the emergency brakes held
it and, tilted over the creek bed, it was
stayed in time to save its occupants
from death. The tourist, diner and
Pullman cars did not leave the tracks
but the shock was sufficient to cause
many accidents, some of them severe
but most of them of minor nature.
All was at once confusion and fire,
communicating from the burning timbers,
threatened to add additional horror to
the pitiful scene. The fire was speedily
put out and the surviving members of
the crew and the passengers worked
manfully to rescue the injured and make
them as comfortable as possible until a
relief train arrived from Glendive.
Sheets from the" Pullmans furnished
bandages and olive Oil from the diner
allayed somewhat the pain of the dread
full burns and amateurs found they.
could perform minor surgical operations
when occasion required. -
Conductor Nichols personally con-
Quoted the rescue Of Engineer Litch,
who was pinioned under piece of hot
sheet iron, escaping boiling water adding
to the horror of his position. Mr. Litch'
was conscious and, although terribly
burned, dictated telegram to his wife
assuring her that he was "all right."
His more serious injuries are upon his
abdomen, back and hands and one eye
is in bad shape. Mrs. Litch hastened
to her husbands side on No. S which
left Dickinson about II o'clock. Mrs.
M. Drury accompanied her, remaining
in Glendive several days. An auto was
dispatched for Miss Cola, who was visit
ing in the country near Lennon. She,
with Miss Alice Merry, arrived in Dick
inson on Tuesday as also Maynard and
Mrs. Paulson, Mrs. Litch's sister, from
Mandan. Later in the week MI. Litch
was moved to private room and Miss
Ethel Dodd Of Dickinson went to- Glen
dive Thursday afternoon as special nurse.