The Glenwood post., 1921-08-27
BRIDGE GAVE way
T. TWO LIVES LOST
Engineer Douglas Armstrong
and One Passenger Are
Instantly Killed
MANY ARE INDUREI

Grand Junction, Aug. A.-Two per-
sons were killed and more than fifty
injured early today when Denver &
Rio Grande Western passenger train
No. l, westbound, plunged through a
bridge into creek at Gale, Colo, near
here. The dead are:
DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG, engineer,
of Grand Ju1etioa.
WILLIAM REDFERN, 81 years old,
of La Havre, Calf. ...
Redfern was . passenger.
The wreck was due to washou'
which had damaged the bridge. Tho
engine and tender has almost crossed
the bridge when that structure col
lapsed and the engine, tender, mail
car, baggage coach and q smoker
plunged into the stream below. Two
wrecking cars were rushed to the scene
of the accident as soon as the report
reached this city on the west and Pail.
SADIE, Colo, on the east. The dead and
injured were rushed to Grand Junction.
The life of Fireman Thomas Link
ms of Grand Junction probably was
saved by two college boys, Stanley
Clark and Norman Muuson, both 20
years old, who were on their way from
their homes in Burlington, W., to
Berkeley, Calf, where they are to en-
ter the University Of California this
fall. The young men were riding on
the tender, due to the kindness Of the
engineer and fireman. Both boys were
taking a nap when the crash came,
but they awoke in time to jump clear
Of the engine. They at once turned
to aiding the injured people, and pulled
Fireman Linkins out from under the
burning wreckage. Then they put out
a fire in the mail car. After that they
gathered up the registered mail which
had been scattered in every direction,
and restored it to the mail clerk.
Douglas Armstrong, one Of the vet
eran Denver & Rio Grande engineers,
was the son Of Judge and Mrs. George
W. Armstrong and at the time Of his
unfortunate death was 43 years Of age
and one of the most popular trainmen
on this division. He has lived in Grand
Junction for the past g years, and
was q member Of the Mesa lodge IS,
of the A. F. & A. NJ, Of the Royal
Arch, the Temple and the Shrine. He
had taken all the degrees up to the
33rd. He was also . member of the
Elks, the Eastern Star and other fra
ternal orders, as well As being affiliat-
ed with the railroad brotherhood.
We talk about the irony of fate in
general way, but we seldom or never
give it personal application. Listen
to this: Tuesday night three Rio
Grande engineers of this division were
in Minturn discussing when each
should get out on . westbound run.
Apparently there was some question as
to which one should be called for the
next trick. Doug. Armstrong claimed
the honor of "first man out,U but
this claim was contested in a eosS
natured way by two other passenger
engineers, Flynn and Dickinson.
Finally the three men agreed to put
the matter up to Dispatcher Mcclure
at Glenwood who, however, declined to
assume any responsibility in the mat
ter, declaring that he had troubles
enough this stormy weather without
taking on any more burdens. He
urged the men to settle the matter
among themselves, and this they did,
the "honor" of being first out fall.
ing to Armstrong, who was envied by
the other two engineers. We simply
mention the matter, and you may at.
tsch to it any significance you choose.
The writer had known Doug. Arm
strong for almost q quarter of CEN
fury, and knew him always ~ q man
Of high character, considerate Of 9th.
ers and faithful to his duties as an
employe. He will be sadly missed by
those who have had the honor Of being
associated with him - . citizen and
an empleye.