White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-16
FATAL RI WRECK
IN {. ELY YARDS
GEORGE HAVILAND, NEVADA
NORTHERN CONDUCTOR, KILL
ED AS RESULT OF ORE CARS
JUMPING THE TRACK.

Almost in sight of his home
and within a few minutes before the
close of his days work, George
Hayiland, a we'll known and popular
conductor on the Nevada Northern
ore line, was killed in a wreck that
took place in the East Ely yards,
about o'clock Wednesday after
noon. In the crash and havoc that
followed the derailing of three
heavy ore cars, HaYiland was caught
in the wreckage as he made a futile
leap for safety. His skull was frae-
tured and he received other injuries
from which he died in few minutes
without regaining consciousness.
The train in charge of Conductor
Hayiland and Engineer Ed. Stewart.
had pulled into the yards from Nc
GILL; but few minutes previous to
the accident. and the crew in con-
Guiding the days work, were setting
a portion of the train including
twelve empty ore ears, upon No.
track so called, which leads from the
ore line a short distance west of the
coal shutes. This was being done by
the drop switch" method, whereby
the locomotive is detached from the
train while in motion, and running
ahead. gives opportunity for
switch to be thrown turning the cars
upon another track from the one
taken by the engine.
Conductor Haviland had taken a
position on the front car. and at the
proper moment had pulled the pin
breaking the coupling, and allowing
the locomotive to pick up speed and
move away from the train. All had
gone we'll up to this time. when with
out warning, the car upon which
Hayiland was riding. jumped the
rails at the switch, and propelled by
the weight of the ears behind, after
pounding along the ties a short dis
tance. lurched heavily to the right of
the track.
With the first crash of impending
disaster, Hayiland made a jump for
safety. naturally leaping in an OPP
posite direction from the course TAX
en- by the derailed car. But the
cars behind, also off the rails. and
with the power of misdirected energy
jack-knifed across the track, the
second car forced to the left, and
catching the unfortunate conductor
before he could get out of dangers
way. He was literally overwhelmed
and crushed by the weight of the
wrecked car. and the tragedy hap
pened before anyone could form any
realization of what was taking place
so quickly did events follow after the
leading car had climbed the rails at
the switch.
A portion of the wreck piled up
on car inspectors cabin which
stood at the left of the track, and
which was crushed out of all sem
blance of a building. A Greek who
was in the cabin at the time. mirae-
ulously escaped with but minor in
juries. Following the crash, the
wrecked cabin took fire from a stove
in the building.
Other trainmen who had witness
ed the disaster were momentarily
stunned by what had taken place,
but they with Others attracted to the
scene, quickly went to the assistance
of Conductor Haviland and within a
few minutes, had tenderly removed
his mangled form from beneath the
ruins. and word telephoned for a
doctor and the Steptoe Valley hos
pital notified
Upon the arrival of the ambulance,
which was rushed to the scene In
charge of Scott Boxley, Haviland who
had apparently ceased to breathe, was
removed to the hospital. where emer-
gency arrangements had been COM
pleted, Dr. Il. l.. r. Wallace mean
time having arrived from Ely In
response to telephone call. 1t was
at once seen that Haviland was be-
yond mortal assistance, and subse-
Quently the hodv was removed to the
Nevin & Graham undertaking rooms
at Ely.
The fire which had started in the
ruins of the cabin, and which for q
short time blazed furiously, was soon
extinguished by means of a hose line
attached to hydrant In the railroad