Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-09-19
WRECK IN MONTANA
FOUR ,,TRAINMEN and FIVE
TRAMPS were KILLED.
Fast Passenger and Freight Trains Met
Head On Through Error of Telegraph
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 a collision between a
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 a 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
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. lie 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-
NAMED on the embankment. -Four cars
Of the freight train were split into
slivers and the contact was so great
that the eabOose of the train was
hurled clear OFF Of the track and into
the river.
A wreeker, carrying all equipment
available to care for the wounded, was
rushed from Trout Creek. Four doctors
from Plains and two from Missoula
We're taken TO the scene In another spe-
eial as quickly as possible and every
thing possible was done to relieve suf-
fering and recover those under the
wreekage.
George W. Valentine was 90 years Of
age and leaves a wife and two sons 10
this city. he had been IN the eOmpany's
service for p years and on the Rocky
M0untain division since 1895
u. "A. Monson leaves a wife Ia this
city. lie was 40 years old and lad been
with the Northern Pacific for many
years, coming 10 this division seven
years ago.
b. " Herring was well-knoWn
young man Of Missoula, SOD Of John
houingl secretary Of the local Northern
Pacific club. AZ was married and
leaves besides BIS wife one child 10
mourn HIM.
~ y, Robinson was single man
and bad relatives living al boleman.
Az bad lived ip Missoula iAToe yeaTs
Brakeman Harvey Dixon Has in Che
cab VI enc freight engine WHOM tle
erasb eame and Bae tll0Hp Through
tho gindoW AZ ~ badly seaIaed and
auneged informal ipjprlee a. n thought
M piil FeeoYer
Louis fold Nae stealing a lido NJ p
rear TefrRelaior ear BiiN iNe throe
Tramp Who Horf Killed ~ has q
Nife and NJ ehilaFop living ai 1872 Vast
ep AYenpe AlppeapolN Az N badly
lplnled about ihe afHf Hnd chest lpf
lif rAae ~ Nppeful
Az " probable tNai opolaiQl AlieNoli
M felple. nho y blamed fol ihe aeel
dopt plil le lela pepalnR Hp infeai
gsilop inie ihe snalf