The daily sentinel., 1908-09-02

The news of the accident reached
Grand Junction about 10 O'Clock, but
the reports We're very meager and un-
certain. 1t was not until nearly
noon that the nature of the accident
and the names of the men hurt were
ascertained.
The passenger train left Grand
Junction this morning at GAO
O'Clock 1t was running several
hours behind time. A new engine
took charge of the train here and a
new crew was put on, as this is u
division point. Engineer Lund, Fire
man Riddell and Conductor Whitley
were in charge.
The train consisted of eight cars,
including the baggage and express
! cars. Each passenger car was al
most crowded with people.
The train made excellent time out
of here in an effort to make up some
of the lost time. Near Segers the
train passed a freight train.
few minutes later, while Fire
man Riddell was sitting in the rear
of the engine and Engineer Lund
was at his window as usual. the un-
expected and awful explosion of the
boiler of the huge locomotive took
place. The noise of the explosion
was heard for several miles.
The big boiler literally lifted itself
out of the framework and flew into
the air. tearing the engine up as it
left its position. Both the engineer
and the fireman We're thrown high
into the air.
The train was moving rapidly at
the time, and the sudden stop and ex-
plosion shook the cars up considera-
bly,, but. remarkable to state, every
car remained on the track and not
passenger was hurt.
The passengers soon realized that
something terrible had happened. and
were soon pouring out of the cars.
Engineer Lund was found lying
at a distance of more than 100 feet
from the engine. He appeared to
be conscious. The first man to reach
him was II. ID. Nieman of North
Vile. Mich. travelling representa-
tive of a specially company of the
Michigan city. lie saw that the en-
gineer was desperately injured. He
at once went to work to take care
of the injured man, and. going to his
suit case, took out several shirts and
from these shirts improvised banda
ges with which the cuts and scalds
found on the engineers head and
shoulders were bandaged.
Engineer Lund lost consciousness
shortly after assistance had reached
him.
Fireman Riddell was also picked
up long distance rom the track.
having been hurled through the air
by the force of the explosion. He
was unconscious when picked up
but soon regained consciousness. He
was suffering greatly, however. and
il was found that he was danger
ously burned and cut.
That both men were not killed out
right is almost miracle.
The boiler, torn from it's moor
ings by the explosion. was dropped
down at a distance of more than 200
feet from the track. 1t was smashed
almost to pieces. The big engine was
a wreck.
AS quickly as possible physician.
was secured at Thompson Springs.
Utah. and the injured men given at
tention.
An engine was secured No. SD,
attached to a caboose. and the i'm
provised train started for Grand
Junction with the injured men on
board accompanied by several train
men, Mr.. Nieman and the physician
from Thompson's Springs. The en-
gine and caboose reached Grand
Junction about l pm, The caboose
was stopped at the foot of Main
street and the injured men thence
removed in express wagons to the
hospital.
Fireman Riddell was able tosrecog-
nize several of his friends at the
Main street crossing, but that he was
suffering intensely was evident.
Engineer Lund was still uncon-