Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-17
HORROR OF SMASH-UP
Victims Terribly Mangled in
Colorado Wreck.
MANY PNT|FuL INCIDENTS
Two Children Orphaned of Father
and Mother.
BABE ONLY SURVIVES FAMILY
Salesman in Chair Car Has Miracu-
lous Escape-Wounded at
Glenwood Springs.
BABE ONLY SURVIVES FAMILY

GIENWOOD SPRINGS, Col. January
l6.-Twenty persons were killed and
thirty injured, many of them seriously in
a head-on collision between westbound
passenger train No. and an eastbound
freight train on the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad, between Dotsero and
Spruce Creek. twenty-five miles from
Glenwood Springs, at 9:36 o'clock last
night.
Clarence A Gooding OF Washington is
among the dead
While nothing official has been given
out as to the cause of the wreck it is
said to have been due to misunderstand-
ing of orders on the part of the engineer,
Gustaf Olson, of the passenger train. Oh
son, however, claims he understood his
instructions perfectly, but that he mis-
read his watch, thus encroaching on the
time of the freight train, which was being
drawn by two locomotives, the first of
which was in charge of his brother, Sig
Olson.
When news of the catastrophe reached
GienWood Springs every available
physician and nurse in the city was
pressed into service. A relief train was
soon on the scene. The work of rescue
was Immediately begun.
As. AS ,he bodies were taken from the
runs they were laid side by side on a
bier of snow, amid the agonizing shrieks
or husband, wife and parent. as they
searched among the dead for their loved
ones, many or whom were mangled be-
yond all recognition.
Many Pitiful Incidents.
A pathetic feature Of the accident was
the killing OF father. leaving two small
children, the eldest four years, the young
est two years. The elder boy told a nurse
at the sanitarium that his father called
him Bennie. and this is all he will say.
From a fellow-passenger it was learned
that the family was en- route to Grand
Junction to visit relatives
1t is supposed that Mr. and Mrs Ket
tie, whose names appear among the dead,
were the parents of these two little ones
who are badly injured.
Another sad case was the destruction of
an entire family, with the exception of an
infant of three months. This helpless
child was taken in care by a family at
Shoshone, who intend to adopt the sole
survivor of a once happy family
One or the remarkable incidents of the
wreck was the almost miraculous escape
from the Inflated chair car of MIR
Stall. Pueblo, Col, salesman. Mr. Stall
escaped without a scratch, but is tonight
on the verge OF collapse as a result of the
nervous shock
Another heartbreaking scene was en-
acted In the wreck zone when kind hands
lifted four-year-old girl from the death
clasp of her mothers arms. Nearby lay
every side were lifeless bodies, victims of
the disaster.
The body of a woman was found near
the Wreckage close to the banks of the
Grand river. both arms missing and other
wise horribly mangled
Care Of the Wounded.
A trainload of thirty wounded men
and women arrived in Glenwood Springs
at o'clock this morning. The wounded
were taken to the County Hospital and to
the sanitarium. When cots and wards
there had been filled. room was made
in hotels for the MANNED.
1t was found at an early hour that
there was shortage of surgeons. Only
first aid could be administered until late
this afternoon, when surgeons from all
the surrounding cites began to pour into
Glenwood Springs.
woman di d from her injuries in the
relief train whi on her way to Glen
wood Springs. 1t is expected that at least
dozen others who were brought here
will die from the Fir wounds.
Train No. was made up of an engine
and tender, baggage car, a smok ng
car, followed by a chair car a tourist
sleeper and full complement of standard
Sleepers and dining car.
The locomotives are up on end and
Joined together as one piece of mechan-
ism. Their wheels were rolled down into
the Grand river and pieces of machinery
are scattered all over the scene of the
wreck.
The smoking car was only partly de-
rallied. while the chair car, Immediately
following. was completely telescoped by
the tourist sleeper
None of the standard sleepers left the
track. None was killed or injured in
these cars. Most of the dead and in
jured were removed from the ruins of the
chair car which was split completely in
twain.
1t is expected that the wreckage will
be cleared away and the tracks again
opened for traffic later tonight.