The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-06
HAPPENED At
DAVIDSON, MINI.
Joseph MCGOWAN and Gus
Sagen, Engineer and Fire
man, the Victims.
CAUSE OF DISASTER
IS NOT YET KNOWN
Bodies of Men We're Scaldcd by Es-
Gaping Steam and Burned by Flames
Which Broke Out immediately
Still Under the Engine.

Still Under the Engine.
Late this afternoon. the skull
and bones of one bod were found.
1t has not been definitely idcn-
tilted, but it Is generally believed
that they are the remains of Mr..
Mc1owan.
At a late hour the remains OF
the other man had not bccn re.
covered.
Before the enrinc was lifted,
workers could sec the skull OF the
remains uncovcre>' Every bit Of
flasI, had been burned of.
After the East Grand Forks fire
department had used up all the
chemicals, they had to use snow
to extinguisll the fire. This Is
what caused the delay in recOv-
cring the bodies.
There arc still no definite re.
ports as to what caused tho
wreck. although now 1t Is gcncr-
ally believed that a defective rail
was responsible.
Later reports are to the effect
that only four cars. aside from
the engine and tender. went off
the track. They ha~" all been
destroyed by fire.
The greater part of the re.
Mainder OF the train was made up
of fiat cars, loaded with thrcsh.
ing rigs.
"FOr Gods sake get me out"
were the last word of Mr.. Mct;ow-
an, the dead engineer. according
to q report from the scene of the
wreck this afternoon. Immediate
ly after the engine went of the
track the two brakemen, +. Far
ncy and william Hogan, ran up
to the place.
Whep they arrived at the en-.
gine, they heard some one moan
ing. "Is that you. Joc?" they
"For Gods sake get me OUT
was the answer they received. He
cried out three or four times.
when the breaking Of the pipes,
letting the scaldin~ steam es.
cape. drove tho b...kemen away.
The fire also broke out immcdi-
atcly.
Farney, the head brakeman.
got of at Melvin to get something
the engine, and remained there
until CrookstOn was reached. AS
there was no more switching to do
between that place and East
Grand Forks both men remained
in the cabOOsc, thus escaping
similar fate.
Joseph MCGOWAN and Gus Sagel
engineer and fireman on the Norther
Pacific Winnipeg freight, and both {
whom resided in East Grand Fork
were killed this morning. when tn
train was wrecked at Davidson. a fe
miles east OF here. The wreck OF
Cured shortly after 1880 o'clock, an
the exact cause is unknown.
Both men We're pinned underneat
the engine, and it is believed ths
death was almost instanta1Deou
Their bodies were badly scalded b
the escaping steam, and burned by til
flames. which broke out almost In
mediately.
Brakeman Escapes.
r. Farney, head brakeman, escape
similar fate by being in the caboos
with Conductor Sam Campbell an
William Hogan, the other brakeman
The Great Northern wrecker frol
Grand Forks was sent to the seen
and. early this afternoon, the work {
lifting the big engine to secure tt
bodies Of the two men was con
menced.
The fire. which broke out immed
ately, made it impossible to lift tt
engine and cars to dig out the bodie
as the men present and the Ea
Grand Forks fire department, whic
was taken to Davidson, had to devo1
all their time in preventing the I'll
from spreading and in an endeavor
cxtinguish 1t.
A Great Northern engine. whic
was sent from Crookston, pulled tt
rear end of the train away from tt
burning wreck.
Feared Explosion.
There was considerable constern,
ton evidenced, when 1t was reports
that the big tank car. which We
wrecked, contained gasoline. but
proved to be nothing but kerosen
Instead Of exploding. as was fearc'
1t burned brightly for some time, ado
ing to the difficulties Of the fire figh
ers. The coal. which was scattere
about, also caught fire.
Several theories as to the cause I
the wreck have been advanced.
was first reported that a defective ra
was the cause. but 1t was impossib
to verify this. Later it was said tn,
the engine climbed the SWITCH" an
considerable crcdence is given this, {
it was wrecked between the main an
side tracks.
No Chance of Escape.
Whatever the cause. the men in til
engine had no intimation until
toppled over. pinning them undel
Meath, where escape was impossibl
pines in the engine were broken, an
the steam. escaping with a hideol
sound, scalded the bodies of the III
fortunate men.
Aside from the engine and tende
six cars went of the track.
MIR. MCGOWAN is one OF the oldc,
engineers on the Northern Pacific rui
ming out of Fast Grand Forks. He r,
sided in that city for over twenty-h,
years, and during the entire timo hl
been In the Northern Pacific con
pany's employ. He was recognized ;
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