Gilpin observer., 1913-12-04
ENGINEER DUFFY KILLED IN Gas, WRECK|


Was alive at time he saw him. Did
not have any talk with railroad men
as to cause Of accident. Was not
injured in the least by accident.
Conductor Charles Sandstrom was
the next called and gave testimony
as follows: Am conductor on G. &
s. passenger train between Central
and Forks Greek, running a mixed
passenger and freight train. Have
been employed by the company since
1900 Had charge of train Sunday
morning at time accident happened.
Was In rear passenger coach. Did
not notice train was above usual
speed. First accident l have met
with. My theory is that tender was
light OF water when we left Central
and with a heavy load Of coal, ten
der began to rock and wheels on
truck left track. Number of the en-
gine was SO. The tank or tender
was cause Of derailment. Same en-
gine used since / have been on the
run. Examined track, gauge of rails
correct. Train ran about 80 feet. be-
fore striking the mountain side. Had
there been 10 or 10 feet more Of clear
track, think accident could have
been avoided, as train could have
been stopped in that distance. Run
ming regular speed from twelve to
fifteen miles per hour. Felt no great
jar when car came to a stop. Had
talk with Engineer Duffy Friday, re-
garding engine SO. Joint conclusion
was that a lighter engine than 50
would do better service, as better
time could be made, and we sent a
Joint note to Mr.. Benneck. of the
company, to that effect, asking for
lighter engine for passenger service.
After accident happened, looked for
Engineer Duffy and Fireman Russell.
Found the latter down the mountain
side about fifty feet from the en-
CINE. Saw Duffy under cab with hot
Sater and steam pouring over him.
Was conscious when spoke to him
md moved his arm. Men were at
work when / went to depot to report
he accident. Believe IL engine had
'een on a straight track, the acct
lent would not have happened. Un-
IL the turntable was put in at -Pdrks
5ie.kk daew.k traiBu gatpe gaze ,easbHalESHr alSr It's being
was for safety. Engine
vas bucked off track by tender COM
ng in contact with mountain side.
Robert Taylor, brakeman testified:
Am brakeman and extra conductor
,ne OF the train crew. with duties
similar to those OF conductor. Had
tested the air brakes before leaving
Central City and found them all
right.
Joseph Kayser gave his testimony
rs follows: Am locomotive engineer
and have been on the C. & S. for 20
years. Have been running for three
years between Central City and Forks
Creek until relieved by Duffy last
Friday morning, when he made his
first trip with engine 60. Was at
wreck Sunday and examined track
where wheels went off. Could not !
say what was cause Of accident Had
run engine over same track with the
same amount Of coal and water In
tender, and made same time. When
Duffy came up said he would like an
engine that would make better time
than could be expected from So.
At the conclusion of his testimony,
Coroner Hamllik presented a report
made by him and found in the cloth
ing OF Engineer Duffy concerning re-
pairs to be made on engine 50, and
Kayser was asked II he had given
such report to Mr.. Duffy. Kayser
said he had and then stated that
when an engine came into the hands
Of an engineer. he was expected to
keep track of repairs needed. SO that
when an engine goes into the shop
each month for repairs. this state
ment goes with It, and that was the
memorandum he made out and gave
Duffy, SO that when he took the
engine in. the shopman would know
the defects without an examination.