The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1915-08-27
TRAIN PLUNCES THRU
BURNING TRESTLE

bUKNING IKt0HLt|
Troy, August 24.--The lewiston
bound Northern Pacific fast freight
train of five cars, which left Spo-
kane at 9 o'clock last night, plunged
through a burning trestle about
one-half mile southeast Of here at
s 80 this morning, resulting in the
death of Elmer Vetter, engineer,
the serious injury of Joseph Carlson,
fireman, and the loss of thousands
of dollars in burning freight and
rolling stock, as we'll as trackage
and other equipment of the road.
The toll paid is a heavy one, the
wreck constituting one of the most
diastrous in the history Of the branch
line between Spokane and Lewiston.
The train was made up of five
freight cars and caboose, and was
running on schedule time when the
wreck occurred. Four of the cars
were Of ordinary box type, two
were loaded with wheat, two with
mixed merchandise, and refriger-
ator car loaded with lard and meats.
The box cars and their contents
were entirely consumed by the
flames which followed the fatal
plunge, and owing to the fact that
the refrigerator car was heavily
iced it's total destruction was pre-
vented, the flames ceasing when
coming in contact with the frozen
substance. The car was damaged
considerably, but not beyond repair,
and the contents suffering partly by
fire, and partly by smoke.
The scene of the wreck is where
the railroad enters a canyon, dis
tance of about one-eight mile north
west of where the trestle lies. At
a point about three hundred yards
this side of the trestle the road
makes sharp turn, which prevents
q view any great distance ahead. 1t
is to be observed that with trestle
work burning beneath the surface
that it would be almost Impossible
for the engineer of train running
out from this station toward Lewis
ton to see danger ahead until almost
upon it.
The first attention of the residents
of Troy was called to the wreck by
the prolonged blowing of the en-
gine's whistle, this coming about
as if by miracle. When the engine
dropped to the bottom of the creek
bed, which is at this time dry, in
some manner the cord attached to
the whistle became caught, sending
out it's shrill warning to the people
here, and in comparatively few
minutes scores were rushing to the
scene to offer first aid. On arriving
they saw Conductor Robert Zermeers
and E. O. Salberg and G.. Croft,
brakemen, putting forth herculean
efforts on behalf of their stricken
fellow workmen, and after about
half an hour the body of the dead
engineer was taken from the wreck
age, his BODY being found between
the engine and the tender, which
had plunged its way to the very
rear end of the engine, taking the
place of the cab which, had beer
burned to crisp. The left leg OF
Engineer Vetter was hanging by 6
bare thread of flesh, and the right
limb was badly crushed. The mans
body and face and head also suffer.
ed from serious injury, and thost
first on the scene are of the opinion
that his agony ended within few
minutes after the wreck.
At the point where the wreck oc
Cured the trestle work extends pos
!sibly for distance of about 2O(
feet, and five different supports wer'
in place. Train No. 662. leaving
Lewiston at 7 o'clock Monday even
ing, was the last to pass over tn
trestle before the ill-fated one, ant
to ashes dropped from the nfe-po.
of this train is attributed the caus
of the fire. The fire started at tn
base of the support at the extrem
south end of the trestle, and i
is thought to have been burning
almost seven hours before trail
No. 661, that which was wrecke'
passed over, the fast freight from
Lewiston passing through Troy a
a few minutes past ten o'clock. Fir
brands falling and coming il coz
tact with the wooden supports, Or
as tinder, would take quick hole
The train wrecked entered upon tn
trestle and had gone possibly 10
feet when the weakened part OF tn
trestle was reached. The downwar
plunge was taken, and the engln
landed on the ground and righte