The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-16

GLEN tt GOD 81 Xxi t1t-s 1Da.4 Jan. 10.
Twenty known dead and at least
thirty injured is the latest estimate Of
the casualties ga the collision last night
at DotseTo, between a westbouHd Den
yer and Rio Grande passenger train
and an esstbound freight
Scenes Of Horror
Doctors and nurses or the relief
train. which has arrived l.ere. declared
the scenes of horror presented at the
wreck are almost indescrlbsble. Moth
ing is left Of the wrecked coaches, they
declare, but masses of twisted wood
and steel, and beneath the debris the
bodies Of the victims can plainly be
seen.
AS fast as the dead are taken out
their bodies are placed in a long row
At the side of the track iu readiness
FOR tho relief trains 20 bear them 90
this city. Railroad officials here who
are i'm charge of the reQef work. refuse
20 make any estimate OF the dead or
10 give out any lists OF the sCiIed or
'Ejured The hospitals and norgues
are rapidly being filled and the con-
fusion is great Word was received
here that at S O. 0'clock two relief trains
bearing between twenty-five and thirty
injured are on The way. one of the
Injured is said to have died en- route.
Fixing the Blame.
Railroad officials say the responsible
Iy for the wreck rests with the en-
sine crew OF the passenger train VINO
were trying to "steal" a siding In other
quarters the freight crew is blamed, as
the Taen were supposed 10 have received
orders here to wait for the passenger
at Dctser0.
The scene Of the wreck is very diff
cult of access. ON one siGe ls "a precipica
and on thC other "a deep canyon. The
telescOped chair car and the frat coach
of the passenger were both reduced TO
a mass of debris, II is believed that not
a single person I'm the chair car escaped
death or injury.
Immediately after the craeH. The
wrecEage took hre. but the Fuviviu-
passengers were uareira.te0 by tlE.CD
er heads 70 hghr the flames. SNOW
whlCl lined the track was brought into
quickly cNtiugulshed.
Accurate Details.
Accurate details of the wreck and lts
causes were received here shortly before
nOoI. They are that jBe wreck was
caused by Gus Olsen, engineer OF the
passenger train, who misread his watch
at $3.50 D. m. last night by ten minutes.
Thinking he had plenty OF ame. be
pulled ais train past Dytsero. where ne
shouId have waited for Che freight and
started for another sidiug on down
grade Under full head Of steam. Con-
ductOr Edward MCCuTdy noticed that
the train was pulling past DotserO. aud
pulled tGe bell cord tt was then TOO
late, however. for in another instant
the passenger train rounded a spur iu
the curve on the grade and crashed at
tuN speed into the waiting freight train,
Ihe head lights of which COZ q be seen.
The crews OF the three Cd zines. the
passenger and TWO freight engines
jumped as soon as they realized what
Wgs happening. and AN were killed eN-
freight. who escaped with "a broken les.
Il5 force of the collision drove the
heaN y Pullman cars Iu the rear o. the
passenger into the day coaches ahead
of them.
First News of Wreck
The FIRST news Of the wreck uas ra-
CeIEed from tho crew of the WcsIb0uud
Denver and Rio Gr8uce passenger train
no l., which followed tLe ifl-fatcd pas
senger train 20 Detsero boy two hours
The crew telegraphed 10 this city. inn
medIately picked mp doctors and nurses
and sped to the scene. The work of
rescue As being directed bF telegraph by
railroad officials in .rlsuw0od Springs
Among the known dead is Gus OsIeu,
engineer OF the passenger train
The freight was taking siding and
had almost cleared the main track
when struck ng the passenger. The
chair car. OF the passenger tram, was
cut I'm two and one tourist car teIa-
FcOped. Tt is probable that lue number
of dead will be- increased Eighteen
bodies have already been removed
NO one was injured fu the sleeping
cars. s. train left here early this morn
Ing FOR the wreck carrying an avail