The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-08-06
Fatal TRAIN WRECK
Collision on Inland Near
CoeuT d'Alene.
TWELVEPASSENCERSKlLLED
Several Others Fatally Injured.
Inquest Being Held.

SSvSA@A VeaS1U TSU2AAy AuJuIeQ.-
Inquest Being Held.
Twelve persons were killed and l0s
injured 10 headOn collision Of two
trains on the Inland electric road a,
Gibbs, near Occur d'AIene. late last
Saturday afternoon Some Of the
injured were seriously hurt, among
them being +. D.. Campbell, motor.
man OF the westbOund train. who is
thought by eyewitnesses to have been
responsible for the collision. 1t Is
claimed his train left Occur d'Alene
contrary to the usual schedule, 1t
was heavily loaded with passengers
and moved az speed Of about 25
miles an hour. The eastbound train
was also heavily loaded. but was
stopped Just before the westbouud
train crashed into 1t. The motor.
man Of the -eastbound train saved his
life by leaping just at the moment VI
collision. The leading cars Of both
trains were demolished aud scores OF
passengers were hurled through doors
and windows or pinioned under the
debris where many were rescued just
ln time to prevent sufiocation. The
work Of gathering the dead and
succoring the Injured was begun at
once, the latter being hurried to the
hospitals 10 Occur d'Alene aud. Spo-
kane as soon as practicable under the
care Of physicians from both places.
The dead were identified as follows:
William Wonsettier, Harrington,
Wash; Unknown man; William Dahl
quist, o. r. B N. clerk 10 Spokane;
J. H. Cox, Medical Lake. Wash; A.
B. Mcdonald, Drummond, Mont.;
Mrs. A. b. Mcdonald. Drummond,
Mont; John A. Vence, Springfield,
Mo-; Dallie Golden, I years old. Spe.
kane; William Ward. Wenatchee,
Wash A. P. Whitley. Memphis,
Tenn; Orville Panterbaugh, Elkhart,
Ind; Fred McGarry. Spokane.
After three or four hours work the
road was cleared and traffic resumed.
1t was the first accident and the
FIRST injury to passengers in the mis-.
tory Of the road which has been 10
operation for six years. Jay p.
Graves Of Spokane, president Of the
Inland Empire system, states that all
persons having claims against the
! road on account OF the wreck are
asked to present them He asks that
the public suspend judgment pend.
Ing an investigation into the causes
Of the accident.
Miss Frances Golden of Spokane,
one Of the fatally injured and sistel
OF Dallie Golden who was killed, died
Monday. J. q. Krause of Spokane
also expired Monday. Herman Gil
bert OF Occur d. Alene, another vic
tim Of the wreck, succumbed to hi,
Injuries Wednesday.
DR.. Frank Wenz Of Ratkdrum
county coroner, empaneled jur.
Monday to examine evidence as tt
the cause Of the accident. Th,
scene OF the wreck was visited ant
all eyewltnesses whose names coult
be procured were summoned to ap
pear and testify. Motorman Campbell
who had charge OF the Occur d'Alen'
''extra" which ran into the east
bound tram. is believed to be th
only man who could throw light oI
the complications leading to tn
accident, but lac has stated that b
left COeur d'Alene under orders 4
meet the eastbound train on tn
siding at Lacrosse. now called Gibbs
which he had not quite reached whel
the collision occurred. The eastL0un,
train was 20 minutes late but thi
Twas ephsJdete,i aiidsCampbell said b
and the conductor Of the extra ha,
every reason To believe they cOul,
reach the junction ut Gibbs bcfor
meeting the regular train.