Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-01
ENGINEERS BODY
IS RECOVERED
George Sanders Died With His
Hand Guiding the
Throttle.
FATAL WRECK ON LAGOON
Gravel Car Breaks Loose from Work
Train aud Dashcs Into Incoming
Resort Train--Two Injured.

with his face partially crushed, and
his features and body burned and
scaldcd beyond recognition, the remains
of Engineer George Sanders, who was
Killed In a wreck on the Lagoon road at
1i.lY last night. were taken from IN
der the engine and brought to the
city ut about o'clock this morning.
A crew of men had been working to
extrlcate the body Of the unfortunate
man, 1T being necessary to use der
rick to lift the engine from the body
pinned down under its weight. TAe
derrick was loaned by the oregon Short
Line, ami the BODY was taken to the
undertaking establishment of O'Don-
nell. where 1t is being prepared for
burial.
Only ono fatality resulted from the
accident, but Fireman Benjamin Potts,
who was thrown from the engine sew
cral feet away, was severely shaken up
and Frank Woodbury. passenger
riding In the baggage car Immediately
behind the engine, was thrown against
n seat and mad his ankle badly
sprained. None of the other passen-
gers occupying the seven coaches com
prising the train We're injured.
CAUSED BY WILD CAR.
The accident was caused by an empty
gravel car daShing into the 1890 train
from Lagoon, just north Of Beck's Hot
Springs. and about four miles north of
| the city. a work train to which the
| gravel car had been attached, passed
| over the track about half an hour be-
| fore the passenger train came along.
| In some unaCcountablo way the gravel
| car broke away from the rear end OF
| the work train. and went tearing down
| the grade northward toward the hot
| springs. At the point where the col
| lisou took place there is sharp curve
| in the track, and this prevented the en-
| gineer from seeing the approaching ear.
| until II was within a few yards of the
| train. Ii was running at terrific
| speed and the resort train was also
| making good time Engineer Sanders,
ON seeing the car coming towards him,
at once reversed the throttle lever, and
applied the air brakes, but the force
of the impact was such that the dump
car vas splintered and sent flying
yards down the track, the engine and
tender and baggage car We're derailed.
the fireman thrown out of the cab
and the faithful engineer crushed and
scalded TO death.
FAITHFUL TO THE LAST.
Sanders stuck to his post until the
last. When his body was finally locat-
ed under the engine. after a search
had been made along the track, II was
found that his hand still graspod the
throttle His last thought had been
| to save the train, and he yielded up
| his life In the attempt.
| After running a short distance on the
| ties. the engine won't over on its side
and rolled down the 15-foot embank
| ment, and when 1t stopped rolling the
faithful engineer was under its awful
weight.
CHASE AFTER CAR.
The crew OF the work train soon
found that the car had broken loose
from the rear end and knew that 1t
might meet the incoming resort train If
not stopped Consequently an engine
was sent down the track to capture
the runaway car, The chase was futile,
however, and the men on the engine
| saw the collision between the train and
dump car. They returned 20 the city
at full speed and carried the news to
| the railroad officials. asking Tor spe-
cial train to go out to the wreck.
| train was soon made up with DR.. G.
| F. Wilcox ON board arriving at the
scene of the wreck at 1l:45 last night.
| The passengers were transferred and
brought into town, together with Mr.
Potts, the injured fireman and Mr.
| Woodbury..
WORK OF RESCUE.
An examination of the wreck dis
closed the fact that the two platforms
| of the first two cars were smashed
and the windows OF the first car brok-
en-. That the passengers escaped with
out serious injury Is considered almost
miraculous by railroad men. Supt, AL
fred Pierson Of the Lagoon road was at
the station when the wreck occurred,
and it was under his direction that the
wrecking train was made up and hur-
Rcd to the scene. 1t was more than
an hour after the wrecking train reach
ed the spot before the body OF Engineer
Sanders was eXtriCated from beneath
the engine.
The work of repairing the track at
the place was completed this morning
and trains are running as usual. 1t is
expected the engine VIII be replaced on
the track and brought In this after
| noon.
The dead engineer was 80 years OF
age and leaves WIFE ana i've chill
dren. residing at l5l north Fifth West
street He had been in the employ of
the road as engineer ever since II start
ed, Il years ago, and was always one
OF its most trusted engineers, Prior
TO his connection with the Salt Lake 4
ogden road, hc was an engineer fol
many years ON the Union Pacific. The
wife of the dead engineer is prostrate'
with grief.
benjamin Potts. the injured fireman
resides at l5j north Third West street
and Frank Woodbury., who received
spramed ankle, lives at 1886 south Sew
snth West. Woodbury. is helper en-
ployed by the Rio Grando Railroa'
| company.
-- 90 ----------r
MANAGER HOWE IN SALT LAX,