Show THET RIO GRANDE ACCIDENT colorado springs colo may 7 passenger train no 0 o 7 known as the trinidad express was wrecked at fountain fifteen miles south of this city about 3 this morning the trin was southbound and in charge of conductor Conduct ot noyes engineer D 0 mack at the throttle and george sipes fireman the train was running on time had the right of way and a clear track but was advised that it would meet and pus pass a freight train on the side track at fountain the freight train in charge of conductor west pulled into fountain about fifteen minutes before the express was due and the engineer signalled signal led the front brakeman to open the switch but the latter at failed to respond and the engi neer got down and opened and locked the switch and pulled in onto the side rack supposing the rear brakeman bra keinan 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 the crash came and the passe ugar left the track the rio grande has no depot delot nor agent at fountain no 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 lie he was making about forty miles an hour he only saw the danger when the headlight of his engine flashed upon the open switch only a few a and an daring only possessed by his bis class clam of men who face danger constantly st and thinking not ot of his own safety but the precious load of h human u man freight I 1 in u h bis is care he applied the air brakes and reversed his engine when the mighty monster inel sal Sa calida salida lida no 60 50 left the track and plunged headlong down a twenty fout foot embankment landing feet from the track mr mack did not leave his post of duty voluntarily but as the engine started down dowd the embankment he was thrown across the cab and out of the fareman s window over a wire fence thirty feet from the track he arose arole aros e 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 loath death the tender having been turned down and pinning poor sipes hanay to the ground death was instantaneous the skull was crushed I 1 in n and oni leg and one arm were broken in lits his hands clutched in deaths death a grasp was the handle of his coal shovel the engine was completely turned upside down the smokestack being broken aud and badly damaged generally the baggage car followed the engine aud and tender down the embankment and messenger west was covered with boxes and trunks and the like to a very uncomfortable degree but he was corn comparatively ively uninjured the car was left bottom side 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 the rails mile while the two pullmans in which were all but three or four of the forty passengers gerv on the train remained safely on the track the officers of the road were at once notified and a wrecking train cume 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 8 owing to the distance the engine was thrown the track and the spongy character of the soil the body was taken to pueblo the news correspondent correspond eDt visited the scene of the wreck and from the manner in which the cars can were burled buried down the embankment it seems miraculous that messenger west and the few passengers in the derailed coaches escaped with such slight bruises the engine was knocked to pieces anti and thoroughly demolished the baggage car was badly used up the smoker not being greatly injured the track was somewhat torn up but nut not badly owing to the engine and curs care leaving it entirely and plunging down the embankment fik ka the accident was clearly cleatia the result of gross carelessness on the part of the rear brakeman and the con ductor it is said by the citizens of futai fountain that when the rear brakeman saw the horrible death his carelessness had bad caused he at once made his escape across the railroad the man killed george sipes lived in denver was married and leaves a wife and two children he was a worthy and ind industrious young follow fellow well liked by the employee emp loyes on the road all the passenger trains including the rock bock island and missouri pacific were delayed all reaching this city in close succession at 1045 this morning the passengers on the wrecked train were transferred erred and continued on their way south at an early hour this morning coroner marlow of this city and assistant district attorney Coe cochran bran have taken up u the matter and are investigating vesti gating the lawfulness awfulness of the railway employee emp loyes in removing the body of sipes to pualo previous to in an inquest being held in accordance with the law I 1 hey both claim that the action of the railway authorities is in direct violation of the st statutes atut and is being constantly repeated the law requires an inquest to be held in the county in which the accident occurred and ti tie te e cause and responsibility for it ascertained denver news |