The Delta independent., 1920-06-04

recorded in this section 2 I'd early
Monday morning, when X Inbound
stock train was wreck~E 1t twen-
ty miles northwest OF Delta. the recent
floods from the Gunnison having I'M
dermined the track at that point.
Engineer Lonnie d. Ray, well-known
in every town on the Third division
and his fireman, Glenn Clute. recent
iy transferred from the Second divi-
sion, were killed instantly, and up TO
this time their bodies have not been
recovered. One man. who is believed
to be Mr.. Ray is beneath the engine.
under the water. and in order to pre-
vent the body from drifting away
with the stream in case the engine
should list sufficiently to one side.
the one exposed arm has been tied
securely. A wrecking train is busy
a, the scene and piles are being driv-
en- with all possible speed, but to get
to the scene with proper machinery
win require the rebuilding Of several
rods OF track. and this has caused
seemingly endless delay.
II is not known at this time wheth-
ar young C1ute's body is under the
engine, but IS generally believed that
II was hurled into the stream and lost
at once.
Two other men, Head Brakeman
Newman, and returned soldier from
Kansas City. named ". T. Clark. VINO
was working his way to ouray 10
work IN The mines, narrowly escaped
with their lives. after both had been
held for some time under the engine
The train was In charge OF Conduc-
,or + s. Mauzey, and his two brake
men were T. C. Newman and X y.
rJrtton They had slow orders ana
we're feeling along at rate that the
r,uroad men say would not have ex-
ceeded four miles an hour. the track
had been declared TO be IN very
dangerous condition. The accident oc-
curred about half a mile south OF the
.or,b end of the tunnel. The engine
%, M TOT. a 75.ton locomotive. ana
4. o,most completely submerged IN
the river. It lies on Its right side.
Tom Newman, head brakeman. to'a
,,e following story OF the tragedy ana
tho circumstances surrounding inc
same:
81 xa. riding ON the engine stsn'l'
ting lust back Of 'Lonnie' we "e'e
all watching the track.
.I was feeling like the track was
mighty rotten and everyone "s
wa,cbinr Tho fireman had Just
.,,-oun ,n some coal. I saw the track
90. hanging with water under II ana
vol,ed. STOPPER. Lonnie, were mo
a, and T started to jump toward me
r,vcr before could spring. the apron
between the engine and tender ha'
.,,,b, nv foot and felt myseii suo-
,,eryed in water over my head pe'
rar To choke from the water ana re-
a,,,od I was goner II ] didn't ee.
AWAY quick l knew my 1901
caught. kicked madly with aesper"-
,,on and my shoe ripped loose, tearing
the leather free. | came TO the sur
face strangling and swallowing water.
..,rhe hiss of steam in my face aua
tho intense heat OF escaping steam
greeted me. I couldn't stand the
s,oan and ducked again. being loot
,oose was right near the body that
they have tied now by the hanu'
don't know which one II Is. ! gave
dive through the water out toward
midstream. to avoid the steam.
tnew I stood little chance in the steam
or in the stream, but chose the latter.
I was swiried out into the current and
rapidly down stream. i had feared
that the wreckage would fall over on
me and that was one reason for my
diving as did.
r swan as never did in my lie
in spite OF the hurt shoulder ana
crushed foot. crawled out on the
bnnk about 200 feet down stream. The
conductor and brakeman from the ca
boose we're coming down the track
along the train knowing what had
happened. The steam escaping from
the engine was covering the river al
most clear across and lasted for about
30 minutes.
"Then we started to get aid. We
walked to Domingeuz and found the
wires out Of order. We could not
find any phone, but knew of the te'e-
phone on the desert along the auto
road. One Of the boys walked to the
phone. as my\ foot was hurting too
much. But walked up later and
phoned my folks.
"I never heard Lonnie Ray say n
word. lie nodded Ms though he heard