Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-01-04
TWO TRA|NMEN KILLED
ENGINEER JIM POTTER AND HIS
FIREMAN. BOTH OF CHICK-
ASHA, PERISH AT
POST.
CAUSED BY BLUNDER
That Crash Occurred on line OF
Track Without Curve and Prac-
tically Level Grade Proves
Pulling.
Special to Daily News.

Special 70 laisy news
FL Reno, Okla, Jan. 3.-One Of
the most serious wrecks In the history
of this division of the Rock Island
occurred at 1906 this morning. Just
one-half mile west OF this city, when
westbound Rock Island train No. Al,
fast Amarillo passenger, collided In
head-on collision with the southbound
Rock Island No. 81 from Kansas City
known as the FREELY" and when
Engineer Jim Potter OF the Fire
fly and his fireman we're killed and
half-score of passengers and a num-
ber of trainmen more or less seri-
ously injured. some OF whom will
doubtless die
The dead:
ENGINEER JIM POTTER, of train
81. Chickasha.
FIREMAN --. 81, Chickasha.
Seriously injured.
brakeman Greene. Al, hack hurt
and bruises.
Colored porter. Al, scalp and body
wounds.
Express Messenger ". D. Wagner.
Al. badly bruised over body.
Express ArAnsero r arms 49,
body Cut aud bruised.
Porter vinson. 81, badly cut on
lace and head.
Engineer Burgold, Al. badly
bruised.
R. II. McCaskey. Kansas City. Mo-.
Internal injuries.
Slight injuries:
Fireman on Al, jumped from cab,
bruises.
7. II. Laurence, passenger. Aux
jasse. Mo, injured about head
V. ID. Wassell. travelling man out
of Wichita head cut.
j. G. Kirkpatrick, passenger, Nc
Comb ILL.,. head cut.
Ed Paisley. Chillicothe, Mo. scalp
wound.
The Pullman. chair car and smoker
OF Al left III Reno three hours be-
hind time with new engine and crew,
avoiding the wreck by detour north
Of the city, and reached Amarillo at
ll:e0 p. m.
Somebody's Blunder.
The responsibility OF the wreck,
which was of unusual and peculiar
circumstances. is thought TO rest eth
er with the operator az III Reno, who
allowed number I to go out before
the southbound. which was reported
a few minutes late, came in, or with
Engineer Potter who might have fail
ed TO ask for the block" az the June
tion a mile out from the depot, where
il is required OF all trains. whether
coming from the North or West. to
inquire by phone for clear road En-
gineer Potter did not live to tell the
story and the officials so far have
refused to give their authority to any
charge of responsibility
Namber II was due to leave FL
Reno at O'Clock, and the South
bound which WAS due in al about the
same time was some fifteen minutes
late I, seems both claimed right Of
way over the mile stretch OF single
track leading from the depot to the
junction and death and disaster
claimed her victims by the horrible
mistake The mile stretch from the
depot 10 the junction is used by all
Rock Island trains. whether on the
north aud south line or that running
east and west, and there Is not a
single curve for the entire distance
and the grade is practically level. and
the fact that the engine crews of nei-
ther Of the passengers could foresee
the disaster before Il struck Is puz-
ale 10 all. negro porter. on No.
81. was riding on the front of the
westbound trains engine. ready to
turn the switch when the junction
should be reached and. although his
train was not going faster than seven
or eight miles per hour. the conduc-
tor OF IL declares. even he seemed
unable 20 see the iron monster fac
Ing his train In time 10 Jump for his
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