The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-27
CRASH OF TRAIN
ENDS MR HAPPY
BIRThDAy DREAM
Engineer Butzerin Killed in
Wreck on N. p. on Seth
Anniversary.
WIFE HAD PLANNED
PLEASANT SURPRISE
Two Others Meet Death in
Accident at st. Regis
Early Saturday.
The next day was his birthday.

The next day was his birthday.
In a little home on Barclay road, late
into the night, she toiled to complete
his birthday present before 1t was time
for him to return from his run.
She had also planned a little dinner
party for Saturday and she smiled to
herself as she thought of the surprise
1t would be on his seth anniversary.
Then she waited-but he did mot
come.
Early Saturday morning Mrs. Albert
Butzerin received a telephone message
telling OF the death OF her husband who
was killed when an east bound North
ern Pacific freight train crashed into
rock slide on the St Regis Paradise
cutoff three miles west Of st. Regis
shortly after midnight Friday.
Others Killed.
Leonard II. Bridges, brakeman, and
Charles +. McAdam, a fireman, were
also killed when the front end of the
train was piled up in mass Of wreck
age along side of the track.
McAdafn and Bridges were in the cab
with Butzerin when the train struck
the slide and they either leaped or
were thrown out. When other men,
ters of the crew arrived from the rear
of the train McAdams was still alive
and was rushed to Missoula, but he
died before medical aid could be
reached. Bridges was buried beneath
the contents of the coal gondola.
p,,f }t,su
the wreckage and it was some time
later that the crew was able to extri-
cate his body from the debris.
Married 81 Years.
Mr.. Butzerin spent his boyhood and
Young manhood in Wisconsin, having
been married in Menominee just 81
Years ago. He was for years in serv-
ice upon the Omaha road with his run
between st, Paul and Duluth, until
he came to the Northern Pacific rail-
way Is years ago.
In lodge circles, Mr.. Butzerin has
Teen a leader. He was 13 years in Of
lice as Insurance secretary for the
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and had just been elected to serve
again for a term of three years. He
was Mason of high degree and a
faithful member of the Baptist church.
OF the four children. Mrs. C. A. Bis
bee resides with her husband in Chi
cago: Miss Eula Butzerin is a member
of the faculty OF the Kansas Agricul-
fural college at Manhattan. Kansas;
Roy Butzerin is in regiment of engi-
Ecers at Camp Green. charlotte, N. e.,
and Arthur is In the officers training
camp at the Presidio. Miss Butzerin
has sent word that she will come at
once from Kansas.
MeAdam Married.
Charles r. McAdam, the fireman,
was % years old. He was married and
Is survived by a wife, an eleven-,
months-old baby. and three step-chil-
dren. who reside in this city. Nc
Adam. though young man, was also
q veteran railroader, having been in
the service Of the Northern Pacific
back In 1907. Later, he enlisted in the
marine corps. and after serving four
years with that body. returned to west
ern Montana, residing In the Bitter
Root valley for some time. Some years
o0U uG HidfIlcu the WIDOW OF MS
brother. Fred McAdam. who also was
killed In a railroad accident. and re-
turned to make his home in Missoula,
residing at 1927 Sherwood street. He
re-entcred the employ OF the Northern
Pacific here on January 5. 1916. as a
fireman.
Leonard Bridges. the brakeman. was
% years old and had been working on
the Rocky Mountain division since
early in 1sl7. His parents are dead.
the only known relative being an uncle,
Saul Zellner. residing in Drummond.
Bridges had been engaged in railroad
ing for Only . couple OF years.
Scene Sf Several Wrecks
The cutoff between 81. Regis and
Paradise. which is used for all through
freight on the Northern Pacific. in or
der 70 avoid the Esaro hill and steep
grades In the vicinity. has been the
scene Of several accidents, resulting
fatally to members Of the train crews.
since 1t was constructed about nine
years ago. An accident similar to this
mornings. in which only the engi-
neer VAS killed when the engine struck
a rock slide. occurred several years
sso.