Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-30
Union Pacific Gives
Report Upon Wreck

| ROCK SPRINGS, WYo., Oct. 2g.-Iu-
man infallibility caused the wrecking Of
a Union Pacific passenger train that ran
into a freight train near here and re-
suited in death to three men and in
jurles to thirty other persons, according
to an official report given out by the
railroad company today The statement
shows how a wreck can be brought
about by interfering with automatic
safety blocking systems, which are said
to be otherwise mechanically infallible,
! According TO the official report. the
accident. which occurred yesterday, was
due to the action of Robert e. Lee, head
! brakeman OF a westbound freight train
which had been sidetracked TO allow the
westbound fast mail train TO pass. Be
I fore the mail train came in sight from
the east the oastbound Atlantic Express
came along.
| As this passenger train neared the
switch leading to the sidetrack, which
lies between the eastbound and the west
bound tracks Brakeman Lee, the state
ment says for some unaccountable rea-
son stepped up to the switchstand and
threw the switch. causing the Atlantic
express to run in on the passing track
and collide with the engine of Lees own
train"
The signals, before the swithch was
thrown, showed both through tracks TO
be clear and the switch TO the side track
closed. Tho express was too close TO
the switch TO stop after the switch was
Eturned ana the collision followed ~'
Engineer II. c. Bangs and Fireman w.
s. CherkinA Of the express train. were
| killed AZ was a track worker. w'io was
/ on the way TO New YORK.
Engineer Foster and Fireman Augwin
OF the freight train were severely scalded.
Both locomotives were partly wrecked.
a mail car turned over to the north
Of the tracks and an express car rolled
to the south, wedging a day coach be-
tween them as it ground it's way into
the wreckage OF the locomotives.
The most serious injuries were sus-
tanned by persons in the day coach. They
were scalded by steam from the broken
locomotive boilers. Several passengers In
the other seven cars OF the express sus-
! tained bruises and cults from the i'm
pact and broken glass. The most severely
hurt were taken in a relief train to
Laramie and Cheyenne, while those
slightly injured were cared for and sent
on TO Omaha
The Injured.
Among the seriously injured are:
o. Rowe. Chicago, train inspector.
scalded about face and arms.
G. A. Walker. Ardmore, s. D.. inter-
nal injuries and scalded about sht .lders
George A. Harris, Omaha, waiter; in
Gus Kardenoosa, Manchester. N. H.;
| scalded.
Bill Golas, Lowell. Mass: scalded.
and bruised.
Sam Granger Omaha; sealded and ribs
| broken
A. Brinkos. Manchester N H.; scalded.
@. II. Jackson. Council Bluffs; scalded.
John Copper, Omaha: bruised.
II. G. Henry. Omaha; scalp wound.
c. j. Sherwood, Omaha; arm wrenched.
ions about head
Ollie Rowe, Inspector OF transportation.
Chicago; sealded about face and hands.
j. H. Foster Foster engineer of freight
John Augwin, fireman, Laramie. scaIded.
Sylvester johnson and daughter,
Mrs. coraorsn. Bellerot, Kan; rib
broken.
=. /, Kinsley, Rock. Springs. wyo.
tured
G.; W. Maynard, Conlow. w. Va.
scalded and bruised.
u. r. Webb, Provo. Utah
Andrew Martinser, Evanston Wyo
Samuel Ninegen. Washington, Ind
| York
Alfredo Dlepetro, Reno and New York
;. J. Sherwood, news agent, Omaha.
r. u. Furniss conductor dining car.
a. h. Brooks. bridge foreman, Laramie.
l.. s. Albright. postal clerk, Cheyenne
r. c. WoodcOck, baggageman Chey-
enne
Otto Barber. Indian from Cheyenne res
| ervation; g. A. Walker, Armor, 5. D.:
| injured internally, scalded