The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-06-08
FIRST COLUMBIAN
TRAIN WRECKED /.
ON ITS WAY EAST
Marvellous Strength Of
An-Steel Cars is
Demonstrated
ENGINE IS BURIED
Other Cars Leap Over Loco.
i motive But Passengers
! Are Not Injured


the first Columbian transcontinental
train passed that point early Tuesday
morning of this week. The passen-
gers who were in the wreck arrived
in Aberdeen on a hastily arranged
train yesterday seven hours and a
half behind time.
a. l.. Mann of Mitchell, who, with
his wife, is stopping in Aberdeen on
his way home after spending the last
nine months at Portland, Ore, and
other coast points, reports the wreck
as one of the most bloodcurdling that
has occurred in a long time, al
though much less disastrous than
many. The marvellous strength and
resistance of the all steel coaches of
which the train was entirely made
up, was splendidly demonstrated in
the wreck and, to this fact alone the
people who were aboard the train
can attribute their escape from terri.
bic injuries or violent death.
Caused by Broken Rail.
The wreck occurred at 500 Tues
day morning while the train was go
ing down hill through a curved cut
between the towns of Hillcrest and
Marengo, Wash, and was caused by
a broken rail. Striking the defective
rail the engine jumped and almost
buried itself in the hillside.
The momentum caused by the
speed at which the train was travel
ing caused the tender and two bag
gage cars just behind 1t to leave the
rails when the engine struck and pass
clear owe the engine and strike the
ground many feet beyond. The ten
der struck at least fifty feet beyond
the spot where the engine was
wrecked
A smoking car, which occupied a
place in the train directly behind the
baggage cars, vas hulred from the
track up the side of the bank and was
grounded in almost a perpendicular
position. A tourist sleeper was
thrown to the side of the track, the
front end of the coach being entirely
removed from the trucks beneath and
brought to a stop upon a pile of
equipment which had been left by
some section crew on the right OF
way. The fear end remained on the
trucks.
The only cars which were not de-
rallied were a dining car and a stand
ard sleeper which were brought to a
halt before the broken rails were
reached. These were the only mes
in which no damage or injury occur
red.
Engineer Mangled to Death.
When the monster engine which
was pulling the big train through the
mountains struck the defective track
it Immediately left the rails, plung.
ed into the bank and was almost
completely buried. The engineer was
later found by the relief parties and
the passengers lying near his de.
molished engine mangled beyond rec.
ognition with his head crushed to
jelly. His death was instantaneous.
Not far from the engineer the fire.
mar still alive. was discovered fatal.
ly scalded by steam and boiling wa.
ter which had burst from broken
chests, pipes and boilers. He
died about an hour after the disaster
occurred. These we're the only ones
who were so seriously hurt that they
died on the spot.
Fatal Injuries in Baggage Car.
One of the baggage cars, which
was also used as the dynamo car had
been fitted up at its rear end with
berths for the Isl of the porters and
other employees on the train. 'When
this car was hurled over the engine
and struck the side of the bank
trunks and other pieces Of baggage
were tossed about in terrible confus.
ion. So forcibly were some of the
heavy trunks hurled through the car,
that they crashed through the parti.
ton which separated them from the
employees berths and violently STRUCK
the helpless slumberers, working
such injuries that a number were fat.
ally hurt, and later reports are that
five have died In the hospitals from
the effects of the injuries.
Passengers all Escape.
Passengers had almost q miracu.
lous escape. Although the train wa
crowded, not a single passenger was
seriously hurt. Some Of them suf-
fered slight bruises. while others
had their faces and limbs scratched.
but Of serious or fatal injuries there
were none. From the smoking car
which came to = standstill almost
directly on end against tho sids 81
the steep bank. the passengersSmad
their escape y breaking the slass