Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-11

got out of the smaker, and day car
alive. These cars wore off the trucks
and lying almost bottom side up.
The sleepers were supported by an.
immense snow drift. which was the.
salvation of most Of the people on
tne train.
The engine did not leave the track
the tender, mail and baggage cars
were upright on the ties. but off the
track. The coupling broke at the
rear end Of the baggage car which
let the balance of the train run over.
the embankment.
The observation car rswas thrown
clear off the roadbed like the boy
at the end of line playing snap
the whip. !" This car and the smoker
got the worst shaking up Of any part
OF the train.
The south line of rails on the main
track was taken off slick and clean
for several hundred yards and tae.
ties were ground to- tinder. When:
one saw the wrecked train the won.
der was that any one escaped alive.
That the, casualties were so few is
almost a miracle. 8
The Tribune is indebted to w. u.
Phinn of Watertown, S. d., travelling
for Chicago house. He was on the
train and when he crawIed out of
the wreck he looked the situation
over and then went to the Mckenzie
lfdepot to volunteer aid as a telegraph
operator, he having formerly been
employed on railroad in that ca
pacity, and it was through him that
the Tribune was able to get its story
of the wreck published in yesterdays
| paper. He was of great service to:
tho company as there was no oper-
ator at Mckenzie at the time, he
having, it is understood, been up to-
This city on a hurried trip between
trains which required his services.
One of the coolest people at the
wreck was a little old lady with
white hair. She was alone, and was
knocked around considerably, but
never complained, but on the con-
trary insisted on walking to the re-
ilaf tra ~, Froy,, \ a al, = = ,lo+4od
with Agent Payne all the time in a
happy way, saying the Lord was not
ready to call her and she was glad
she was alive.
One passenger was on his way
] home after having been east where
he had recently been operated on for
appendicitis. He facetiously remark
ed that he hoped he had not been
aarred loose again
One OF the greatest losses sustain
led by passengers and which may form
/ the basis for great lawsuit, was
a fine Jack pot which was being
built up by some gentlemen in the
observation car. The stacks were
high in the middle Of the table and
4 many sinners were gathered together
in the pile, and cards we're just being
/ drawn when over the car went and
that was the last seen Of the pot.
Each member of the select party is
confident that he would have won the
prize and in addition to physical dam
ages that may be asked for a large
I sum seems justly due for mental per-
turbation and disappo pointment. The
porter, it is said, is not kicking be>
cause of the wreck
Judge N. G. Young, of Fargo, at
torney for the Northern Pacific, who
was in the high side of the observa-
tion car. struck on his fact when the
car went over and the chairs and ta-
bles rolled about, striking the pas
sengers in their travels. He seemed
to be struck In several places at once.
AS soon as he had climbed out Of the
car every one began to aid those
who were imprisoned. What infiu-
enced him most was the perfect cool
ness and absence Of panic on the part
of anyone. Everybody went at the
business of making themselves as
comfortable as possible. The porters
induced many Of the ladies to return
to the sleeper and makes themselves
as comfortable as possible until the
relief train arrived.
One travelling man managed to op.
en- the door In which the liquid re-
freshments were served in the OBJ.
servation car and secured a supply
for distribution among the passen.
gers. A bonfire was lighted which
furnished light and heat to the pas
sengers during the wait for help. The
wounded were made comfortable and
4 protected from the cold by mateTia,