Gunnison news-champion., 1909-12-24


aud fireman Cooley seriously per
haps fatally injured last FRIDAY
morning on Marshall pass when their
eastbosBd extra freight ges beyond
their control ON accouIst of defective
air. A brakeman named Leslie
kerndt was also badly hsrt when the
engine jumped the track and hurled
itself down the mountain side with
a dozen freight cars piled ON top ai
it. Both freight and passenger
traffic was DELAYED al that DAY while
the wreck was being cleared away.
The train. ia charge of Conductor
Jordan, left the pass in good order,
but a. soon as the down grade was
struck, II became immediately appar-
ent that the AIR brakes were rot GO
ing TO bold on account ef the intense
cold The train gained terrific mo-
mentum as 1t swept around the
curves, and Just below the last SNOW
she'd under the shoulder Of Mount
0uray it left the track Engineer
Parlin was buried under the debris
aud not recovered for many hours
His body was crushed 10 a Jelly 1t
was at first thooght that Cooley was
too badly injured 10 live, but at last
accounts he is gaining
Prank Parlln. was known 10 both
Rio Grande and Southern roads. He
left the latter but a year ago. The
youngest son Of Mr. and Mrs J I.
Parlin, now Of Sglida, he grew 10
manhood at the old Parlin home
stead on the 1omichi aud was gen
eral favorite. lie was married about
six years ago TO a young lady OF
Como
Saturday night about eight o clock,
John Clifford roadmaster for the
Rio Grande ON this division and VIM.
Grogan, general state foreman of the
Colorado Telephone company were
instantly killed in rear end collision
three miles this side 4 Crested Butte.
James Roach, sectioa boss, was pm
ned under the wrec kage and at first
thought fatally injured However
he was taken Sunday night 10 Salida
and 1T is believed will recover Sew
eral other passengers were slightly
injured, as the rear train was equip
ed with a wedge snow pillow and
literally split the two coaches in
halves and splintered the halves 1t
is miracle mere of the ten people
in the coaches were not killed out
right
Coroner i. O'ieary held an in
quest Monday B. II. Wegener, de
putty district attorney, conducted the
examination and John Mccormick,
A. A. Miller, Geo. Robertson. Geo
Eastman, j. H. Gavette and +. J.
Zugelder were iurymen A verdict
was brought in placing the blame ON
the rear hagman, Riley II Gilbert,
of Train PAS, the wrecked train.
Trainmen of both sections were
examined Their testimony agrees
that No. PAS left Crested Butte at
4.30, was delayed in the yards, and
had to be helped over the hill mile
this side of Crested Butte Three
miles down the air gave out, owing
to the fact that the hose had frozen
and worked the joints loose. Brake
v1,en Vail and Gilbert were set to fix
the air, while Conductor Perkins
went back to flag the oncoming train
The brakemen met in the center of
the train of thirty-6ve cars, and each
doubled back, Vail to the engine
and Gilbert to the caboose. Again
air was tried, but did not prove sat
isfactory. Engineer loungberg then
whistled the rear brakeman TO put
out signals. Conductor Perkins cal
led out to him to exchange places,
and testifes that he himself started
toward the engine 10 trv to locate
the trouble. Snow was three feet
deep and he went over the top of
thirty coal cars and three stock cars,
taking as he alleges above ten min
ute. He had reached the engine
when the shock came. He also
asserts that he had heard the rear
section working up the steep grade,
two miles back and warned Gilbert
to flag it, by carrying out the usual
plan of going back a thnd of a mile
pacing one torpedo, going back to
a half mile placing two torpedoes,
and then returning to the first stat
ion to remain until picked up by the
succeeding train. Perkins also
asserts that Gilbert must have had
lime to do this. The brakeman,