The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-07-18
RAIL TRAGEDY
LARGEST IN
MANY YEARS
Stanley COwan, Veteran MP.
Engineer Instantly Killed;
One Transient LOOses Life;
Passengers Injured

Two men were dead and almost q
score were injured last night in a
head-on railroad crash on the Wal
Ia Walla Northern Pacific branch
line, about 25 miles southeast Of
Pasco on the Eureka Flats.
Railroad officials were said TO be
probing the cause Of the accident
| today. The crash occurred on the
single track line, and It was under
stood that both trains were running
close to schedule.
The crash occurred about $3.50 In
| the evening in an isolated and bar
rem stretch Of country and all avail
able doctors and nurses were rush
ed to the scene via motor car. Much
difficulty was encountered In lo-
eating the crash and 25 miles Of the
almost impossible road was covered
by those going TO the rescue. Part
Of the Journey was made by driV-
ing directly across the barren
prairie lands and over dust smoth"
cred roads that were so filled with
ruts that cars barely got through.
I The accident occurred just as
both trains were making q curve In
a small canyon. The passenger
train, Pasco bound, collided with
a heavy freight, Walla Walla bound,
and it is estimatd that both trains
were travelling at about 35 miles an
hour. .....
Stanley Cowan, "a, Pasco, who
was engineer on the passenger, met
instant death, when the impact Of
the crash sent the coal cars con-
tents avalanching down upon him.
1t was necessary for the rescue crew
to work for hours TO free his body.
Tony Metzel, fireman on the pas
senger, according TO reports, had q
brief warning Of the crash and
jumped from the engine just as the
crash came. He is reported to be
suffering from broken vertebrae. j.
e. Holder, conductor on the same
train, suffered back injuries.
G. A. Johns, Pasco, engineer OF
the freight and his fireman, r.
Whitney, Pasco, jumped from their
locomotive Just as the impact oc~
| CURED and secured what was said
to be minor injuries. Billie Lewis,
Pasco, who was conductor OF the
freight also suffered q bad head
cut.
Fred Matson Of Portland, Oregon
met lingering death when he was
pinned between the tender and bag
gege car of the passenger. He was
riding the blinds" as q transient
and was horribly crushed. Mem
bers Of the train crew talked with
Matson for almost an hour, and adj
ministered him what aid and COM
fort they could until he bled to
death. Due to the crashed condi-
ton Of the cars they were unable
to free him.
It was estimated that at least rs
tranSients were riding the two
trains. Some were thrown from
their riding places by the terrific
impact, while still others managed
20 Jump just IN time. One transient,
who was riding the freight said the
trains came together with such
force that coal from the engine
tenders was showered into the air
for rs feet. The boiler OF one OF
the engines was ruptured and es-
Gaping steam virtually plowed q
great hole into the road embark
ment.
The two large locomotives gave
much the impression that they had
tried TO swallow one another. They
had reared up on their front trucks
and plowed into one another with
such force that their boilers and
noses were completely buried into
each other, while heavy steel and
oak structure works were reduced
to absolute twisted junk and splin-
tiers. "a
Cars Of both trains were thrown
from the track and It was neces-
sary Tor wrecker crews to work from
both ends Of the crash. Equipment
ct the head ends Of both strings OF
cars were telescoped, while those in
the freight string were most badly
damaged.
The seven passengers OF the pas
senger train all contributed their
escape from death TO the fact that
their coaches were OF steel con-
structton because the force of the
collision they said would have sure
~ spltntered wooden cars TO q mass
Of ruins. . = .
Those OF the passengers receiving
injuries are Mr.. and Mrs. Art Bas-
ton, Walla Walla, who received
snock and many bruises. n. e.
Tickle, Burbank, broken ribs; Rev.
Cnarles Warbler, Everett, shock:
Mrs. Eleanor Fowler, Seattle.
bruises; Esther Ruff, Seattle, pos.
siblc broken arm. Nora Woods. Ev-
erett, bruises. -
Stanley Cowan, engineer Of the
passenger who lost his life. ne was
q veteran employee Of the Northern
Pacific and has been IN their serv-
ice Tor over 40 years. He Is surviy-
co by his widow, q daughter, Mrs
Logan Perry of Pasco and another
oaughter. Mrs. J. w. Perry, Cen
tralia.