The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-17
"oId Missouri died at his post"

Ol0 missouri uled at MS post.
That was the encOmium paid TO Thomas
!. Lofts. the Rio Grande engineer. as his
limp and inert body was uncovered from
a heap Of coal by comrades at the scane
of the train wreck in the Jordan Mar
rows.
These few simple words. uttered by
members Of the Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Engineers who were digging in the
tons OF coal for him. spoke volumes. No
higher commendation could be uttered by
the railroad men. They INDICATED him
from all charges of cOwardice.
old Missouri was the sobriquet by
which Engineer Lofts was known all
over the Rio Grande system. IL chung
10 him ever since he came 10 Utah from
Joplin, Mo. his old home. nearly ten
years ago. IL was a title Of admiration
and loving respect for no more popular
trustw orthy or competent man ran over
the rails.
The finding Of LOFTS body at 12:O5
yesterday noon, close to his battered en-
CINE. proved that the confidence of all his
fellow employees in his bravery was not
misplaced. They maintained steadfastly
ever since he was missed that he did not
run away 10 escape the responsibility of
the catastrophe. They Indignantly re-
futed all assertions along that line. They
maintained that fear was unknown I'm his
makeup. Their faith in him was vindi-
Gated.
f. l.. Cowan and Albert Higgins. two
Rio Grande engineers. discovered his life
less body face down under a covering
trapped and crushed by the coal out of
his own engine tender as he jumped to
escape the smash-up-
Say He Is INDICATED.
His body was found on the left. or fire
mans side. OF his engine. which was GO
ing east. He was lying in a diagonal poa
siton with reference 10 the rails his feet
only a few yards from the track He
was either stunned as he jumped and fell
or was stricken down and crushed under
the avalanche Of coal.
His left shoulder and collar bone were
broken. his face and body bruised and
scratched. Anxious searchers had been
over the spot where he was buried many
times during the fifty-eight hours of dig
ging and prying among the ruins His en-
gineer's cap was first found and that give
the intimation that his body was in the
vicinity.
Proof that Lofts obeyed his orders and
was not responsible for the crash is fur
nisheG by his watch. so his railroad CO.
workers assert II was stopped at 2:35
O'Clock "Wednesday morning His orders
were to remain at the siding until 80
and then start out. This he is now be-
lieved TO have done. Early reports that
the collision occurred at 20 are declared
To have been refuted by the testimony of
the dead mans watch.
Mr.. Lofts body placed in a bag
gage car and carried in to the Salt Lake
depot on the rear of freight train. Ii
arrived here at go yesterday afternoon
and was taken TO F. w Halls undertake
ing rooms on West Temple street. where
II will remain until the burial services are
said
Wife Died LAST May.
Mr. Lofts was 81 years old and lived
al No. li6 East Second South street He
has been engaged in railroad work for
the past thirteen years, nearly ten of
which were spent here with the Rio
Grande rad. He leaves his mother. Mrs.
Sarah Lofts, four brothers and three sis
tiers. The sisters Jeanette, Adah and
Addie and two brothers. John d. and Ted.
and his mother, all live in the old Lofts
nome IN Joplin, Mo, The two other broth
ers and Lee l.. of Castle Gate and James
X. who lived here with Lofts.
Three children, Raymond. l. years:
Frank. 10 years. and Earl years. also
survive him All his brothers are rail-
road men. John ID. is a conductor on the
Missouri. Kansas & Texas; Ted is a loco
motive fireman on the Frisco line: James
r. is a conductor on the Rio Grande and
Lee l.. also works for the Rio Grande in
Castle Gate.
His wife. Mary died last May and a g.
months old baby. Lois. died last April
Mr.. Lofts was a member Of the Masonic
lodge Of Joplin, Mo. and the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers. He was a
member OF the organization grievance
committee and his many fights in behalf
Of the cause and the members had en-
deared him To all labor men.
Two OF Engineer Lofts brothers from
Joplin. Mo. are on their way here and
hrIlNc TINS noon, one over the tSlO GTande
and one over the Union Pacific road.
Members of his family and friends here
are grief-striCken though they have ex-
pected that his body would be found near
the wreck. their faith in him has been
as answering as that of his railroad
friends.
party Of twenty-siN engineers and
firemen left here yesterday on a special
train furnished by the Rio Grande TO
search for him. Just before they left
Salt Lake they issued this statement:
I'VE do firmly believe that the body is
still under the wreckage and if he is not
found there. but is in the hills he is
mentally disabled or dead