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Show - TiiE BIO GE15DE 1CODE5T. DETAILS OP TIIE COLLISION AT rOOXTAIX, COLORADO. Colorado Springs, Colo., May 7,-Passenger 7,-Passenger train No. 7, known as the Trinidad express, was wrecked at Fountain, fifteen miles south of this city, about 3 o'clock this morning. The train was southbound and in charge of Conductor Noyes, Engineer Engi-neer D. O. Mack at the throttle and George Bipea fireman. The train was running on tune, had the right of way and a dear track, but was advised that it Would meet and pass a freight train on the side track at Fountain. "The freight train, In chargo of Conductor West, pulled Into Fountain about fifteen minutes before the express was due, and the engineer signalled the front brake-man brake-man to open the switch, but the latter lat-ter foiled to respond, and the engineer engi-neer got down and opened and locked tho switch and pulled in onto the side track, supposing the rear brakeman would close the switch but the whole crew In the caboose must have been fast asleep, for they knew nothing about where they were until tho crash came and the passenger left the track. The Rio Grande has no depot nor agent at Fountain, consequentIy4no switch lights were on the switches, and the engineers have to go It blind In running the gauntlet of the numerous switches at this point. The engineer had no intimation of danger, as he supposed he had a clear track and, as no stop was made at Fountain, he was making about forty miles an hour. He only saw the danger when the headlight of his engine flashed uiwn the open switch, only a few feet ahead of him. With a coolness and daring only possessed by his class of men, who face danger constantly, con-stantly, and thinking not ot his own safety, but tho precious load of human freight In hlscare,heapplled the air brakes and reversed his engine, en-gine, when the mighty monster, 'Solida," No. 60, left the track and plunged headlong down a twenty-foot embankment, landing 100 feet Irom the track. Mr. Mack old not leave his post of duty voluntarily, volun-tarily, but as tho engine started down the embankment he was thrown across the cab and out of the fireman's window, over a wire fence thirty feet from the track. He arose and In a dazed condition made his way to the engine, where he found his faithful assistant, George SIpes, had met with a horrible death. having been caught between the engine and tender and crushed to death, the tender having been turned upsldo down and pinning poor SIpes' body to the ground. Death was Instantaneous. The skull jvas crushed in and one leg and one arm weia broken. In his hands clutched in death's grasp was the handle of his coal shovel. The engine was completely turned upside down, the smokestack living broken aud badly damaged generally. The baggage car followed fol-lowed the engine aud tender down the cmbaukment, and Messenger West was covered with boxes and trunks and the like to a very uncomfortable un-comfortable degree, but he was comparatively com-paratively uninjured. The car was left bottomside up. Next came the smoker, which was laid over on Its side, while the first passenger coach was in nearly the same position. The front trucks of the second coach only left tho rail.-, while the two Pullmans, In which were all but three or four of the forty passengers on the train, remained safely on the track. The officers of the road were at once notified and a wrecking train came up from Pueblo and went to work clearing the track and removing the body of the fireman from beneath the tender, but did not accomplish the latter task until S o'clock, owing to the distance the engine was thrown, the track and the spongy character of the solL The body was taken to Pueblo. The A'eics correspondent visited tho scene of the wreck today, and from the manner in which the cars were burled down the embankment, It seems miraculous that Messengrr West and tho few passengers In tho derailed coaches cscatied with such slight bruises. The cngluo was knocked to pieces and thoroughly demolished, the baggage car was badly used up, tiic smoker not being greatly Injured. The track was somewhat torn up, but not badly, owing to the englneand cars leaving It entirely and plunging down the embankment. The accident was clearly the result re-sult of gross carelessness on the part of the rear brakeman and the conductor. con-ductor. It is said by the citizens of Fountain that when the rear brake-man brake-man saw the horrible death his carelessness had caused, he at once made his escape across the railroad. rail-road. The man killed, George SIpes, lived in Denver, was married, and leaves a wife aud two children. He was a worthy and Industrious oung fellow, well liked by the employes on tho road. All tho passenger trains, including includ-ing the Rock Island and Missouii Pacific, were Relayed, all reaching this city In close succession at 10: 45 this morning. The passengers on the wrecked train were transferred and continued on their w ay south at an early hour this morning. Coroner Mar low of this city and Assistant As-sistant District Attorney Cochran, have taken up the matter and are Investigating In-vestigating the lawfulness of the railway employes In removing the body of Siiies to Pueblo previous to an inquest being held in accordance with the law. They both claim that Ihe action of the railway authorities Is in direct violation of the statutes, and is being constautly repeated. The law requires an inquest to be held in the county in which the accident ac-cident occurred, and fie cause and responsibility for it ascertained. Denver Xetci. |