The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-15
AFTER SIX YEARS
Sailor ConfesSes Wrecking q
Santa Fe Train.
duplicates MAN of Mystery"
Who Died Recently.
ARRESTED IN OREGON.
Gernsbush Babies About the
Apishapa Affair.
Known Motive Lacking For DA.
Known Motive Lacking For De-
rail on Trestle.

Pueblo, Col, Aug. 15-E. NJ. Germs
bush, the sailor who while Intoxicated
talked freely of the Apishapa wreck on
the Santa Fe road between here and
La Junta. six years ago, when a rail
was removed and the engine went
through 40-foot bridge, killing En-
gineer John Walker, has confessed. He
was arrested at Portland, Ore, fol-
lowing his drunken narrative. and to-
day made a full statement to Special
Agent O'Leary Of Pueblo, according to
telegram received from O'Leary.
Gernsbush. in his confession, impli-
Gates John Devine, 1.-The man Of mys-
terry who died in the Colorado peni-
Tertiary few months ago, where he
was serving a life sentence for COM
plicity in the wreck. Tim O'Leary,
now special agent for the Santa Fe,
has been connected with the case from
beginning to end in different ca
pacities. AS undersheriff of Pueblo
c. Lnty at the time of the wreck he
took a leading part in obtaining the
evidence which sent Devine to the
penitentiary.
Wreck Memory Fresh.
The wreck of the eastbound flyer at
Apishapa creek is still fresh in the
minds of many. The motive for it is
matter of theory, it not having been
determined at the trial of Devine. The
flyer left Pueblo shortly after mid
night Feb. IL, 1904. On account of the
the smaller stations. After passing
Fowler and while running 80 miles an
hour, the shrill whistle of the loco
motive startled the four coaches CT
passengers. Suddenly there was a
humping and terrific crash When
NJ -,-l
what caused the sudden stopping of
the train. they found the engine and
two front cars in the bed of the
Apishapa, 40 feet below the trestle.
The engineer was dead and a number
of passengers terribly injured. In
a rail bout 40 feet from the trestle
had been removed and the rail turned
over.
John Devine, then supposed to be a
tramp was found asleep in a field
about 100 yards from the scene. He
was arrested by O'Leary and taken to
La Junta. After several weeks Devine
was sent to the penitentiary, where ne
was known as the man of mystery.
He never conversed with those about
him and Stunned the unsolicited ap-
proaches of fellow prisoners He had
served six years of his term when he
was stricked with a fatal malady.
Devine Believed Innocent.
Officer O'Leary was positive Devine
had a companion and an effort was
made to force Devine to reveal his
identity and to wiring a confession
from him, but without success. At the
time of Devine's death 1t was gener-
ally believed he was innocent of the
crime. In his trial reports were cur
rent that the railroad company in
seeking to fix the liability for the
wreck, placed the blame upon a poor
tramp who CHANGED to be in the vicin-
ity at the time.
According to the Portland story,
Gernsbush has been a sailor for years
and is known as being closed mouthed.
AFTER coming in from a cruise he be-
came intoxicated and in a crowd at a
water front saloon, babbled about the
Apishapa wreck. A detective was IN
the crowd and he Swallowed Germs
bush until he could secure details of
the wreck from Pueblo, when Germs
bush was arrested. 1t is said Special
Agent O'Leary and Sheriff Potter OF
Otero county are on their way to La
Junta with Gernsbush.