Railroad Tragedy
SIX KILLED IN WRECK OF RUNAWAY TRAIN
SIX KILLED IN WRECK OF RUNAWAY TRAIN
Oregon Journal October 2, 1908
Brakes Fail on Logging Road Near Scappoose and Thirteen Laborers are Buried Under Heavy Cars – Injured Brought to Portland Hospitals
Brakes Fail on Logging Road Near Scappoose and Thirteen Laborers are Buried Under Heavy Cars – Injured Brought to Portland Hospitals
Sliding down a 12 percent grade for a quarter of a mile, a deep cut making it impossible for them to jump and thus save themselves, six men were killed and seven badly injured in the wild ride of a locomotive and gravel car down the tracks of the Portland & Southwestern railroad yesterday.
Sliding down a 12 percent grade for a quarter of a mile, a deep cut making it impossible for them to jump and thus save themselves, six men were killed and seven badly injured in the wild ride of a locomotive and gravel car down the tracks of the Portland & Southwestern railroad yesterday.
All of the men who were killed and injured were foreigners and were employees of the Chapman Timber company, owners of the P.&S.W. They were riding on the gravel car and when the car left the track at a curve were thrown into the brush and pinned beneath the gravel car and its load.
All of the men who were killed and injured were foreigners and were employees of the Chapman Timber company, owners of the P.&S.W. They were riding on the gravel car and when the car left the track at a curve were thrown into the brush and pinned beneath the gravel car and its load.
Owing to the fact that many of the men had been working for the logging company but a few days and were able to speak but little English, the work of identifying those who were killed has proved unexpectedly difficult. The injured men were brought to the Good Samaritan hospital last evening. One of the eight injured, John Lawson, died a few minutes after he had been carried into the hospital. The seven are doing well in spite of broken limbs and other serious injuries and it is believed they will recover.
Owing to the fact that many of the men had been working for the logging company but a few days and were able to speak but little English, the work of identifying those who were killed has proved unexpectedly difficult. The injured men were brought to the Good Samaritan hospital last evening. One of the eight injured, John Lawson, died a few minutes after he had been carried into the hospital. The seven are doing well in spite of broken limbs and other serious injuries and it is believed they will recover.
These May Recover
These May Recover
Those in the Good Samaritan hospital now, all of whom Dr. James C. Zan says will probably live are: F. Lewis, aged 29, David Davidson, aged 28, Tony Legrade, aged 27, Antone Rheinwald, aged 35, James McCann, aged 32, Andrew Lund, aged 67, and Tony Berman, aged 27.
Those in the Good Samaritan hospital now, all of whom Dr. James C. Zan says will probably live are: F. Lewis, aged 29, David Davidson, aged 28, Tony Legrade, aged 27, Antone Rheinwald, aged 35, James McCann, aged 32, Andrew Lund, aged 67, and Tony Berman, aged 27.
Although the man who died in the hospital is believed to be John Lawson, considerable doubt remains as to his identity and Undertaker Holman who is holding the body under instructions from the logging company, says he has no information as to his age or his name.
Although the man who died in the hospital is believed to be John Lawson, considerable doubt remains as to his identity and Undertaker Holman who is holding the body under instructions from the logging company, says he has no information as to his age or his name.
According to the first reports those killed were Thomas Smith, Andrew Mattson, John Lawson, Mike Risoff, John Erickson and F. Lewis. Lewis, however, although seriously injured, is in the hospital and will recover. Further than that there are six dead neither the hospital authorities nor the Chapman Timber company is able to give additional information.
According to the first reports those killed were Thomas Smith, Andrew Mattson, John Lawson, Mike Risoff, John Erickson and F. Lewis. Lewis, however, although seriously injured, is in the hospital and will recover. Further than that there are six dead neither the hospital authorities nor the Chapman Timber company is able to give additional information.
Simcoe Chapman, president of the Chapman Timber company, left for Scappoose, Columbia county, this morning. Scappoose is the nearest point to the Chapman camp, and the bodies of the killed were taken there last night. Mr. Chapman is investigating the wreck today and will return to Portland at 4:15 this afternoon.
Simcoe Chapman, president of the Chapman Timber company, left for Scappoose, Columbia county, this morning. Scappoose is the nearest point to the Chapman camp, and the bodies of the killed were taken there last night. Mr. Chapman is investigating the wreck today and will return to Portland at 4:15 this afternoon.
Brakes Fail on Hill
Brakes Fail on Hill
As nearly as can be learned, the brakes on the Shay locomotive which was pushing the loaded gravel car up the hill failed to work on the steep grade. The locomotive was taking a construction gang to their work after dinner and gave out on the grade. When the engineer, Charles Troxell tried to hold the train with the air brakes, he found they would not work enough to hold the heavy gravel car and locomotive.
As nearly as can be learned, the brakes on the Shay locomotive which was pushing the loaded gravel car up the hill failed to work on the steep grade. The locomotive was taking a construction gang to their work after dinner and gave out on the grade. When the engineer, Charles Troxell tried to hold the train with the air brakes, he found they would not work enough to hold the heavy gravel car and locomotive.
Troxell, his fireman William Bishop J. Monahan, woods foreman, John Sparks, track foreman and two others were riding on the locomotive. When they felt her slipping back down the hill they called to the others on the gravel car who failed to heed the warning in time to jump. By the time they realized their danger, the car was in a deep cut that made it impossible to jump and there was nothing to do but hang on and hope that the train would take the curves safely.
Troxell, his fireman William Bishop J. Monahan, woods foreman, John Sparks, track foreman and two others were riding on the locomotive. When they felt her slipping back down the hill they called to the others on the gravel car who failed to heed the warning in time to jump. By the time they realized their danger, the car was in a deep cut that made it impossible to jump and there was nothing to do but hang on and hope that the train would take the curves safely.
The locomotive and gravel car, gaining momentum with every foot, tore down the mountain side to where there is a sharp curve. The locomotive took the curve safely but the coupling-pin of the gravel car broke and it leaped the track and turned over on its side. Every one of the 13 on the car was killed or hurt. They lay there until the crew from the locomotive had reached the scene, when the work of rescue began. Help was summoned from the logging camp, a few hundred yards distant, and 100 men were soon at work raising the flat car and digging the victims from beneath the gravel. As fast as they were taken from underneath the wreck they were carried to the logging camp and later all were taken to Scappoose, eight miles away.
The locomotive and gravel car, gaining momentum with every foot, tore down the mountain side to where there is a sharp curve. The locomotive took the curve safely but the coupling-pin of the gravel car broke and it leaped the track and turned over on its side. Every one of the 13 on the car was killed or hurt. They lay there until the crew from the locomotive had reached the scene, when the work of rescue began. Help was summoned from the logging camp, a few hundred yards distant, and 100 men were soon at work raising the flat car and digging the victims from beneath the gravel. As fast as they were taken from underneath the wreck they were carried to the logging camp and later all were taken to Scappoose, eight miles away.
Tell Different Stories
Tell Different Stories
Stories of the men seem to differ concerning the cause of the wreck. One story was to the effect that the train had come to within 100 feet of the top of the divide when it began raining and the locomotive was unable to make headway on the slippery rail.
Stories of the men seem to differ concerning the cause of the wreck. One story was to the effect that the train had come to within 100 feet of the top of the divide when it began raining and the locomotive was unable to make headway on the slippery rail.
Antone Rheinwald, one of the men in the Good Samaritan hospital, said this morning that the tracks were dry. He said that the brakes had failed to work when Engineer Troxell attempted to apply them.
Antone Rheinwald, one of the men in the Good Samaritan hospital, said this morning that the tracks were dry. He said that the brakes had failed to work when Engineer Troxell attempted to apply them.
Of the wreck victims, three were killed instantly, two died in the car while being taken to Scappoose and the sixth died in the Good Samaritan hospital yesterday evening.
Of the wreck victims, three were killed instantly, two died in the car while being taken to Scappoose and the sixth died in the Good Samaritan hospital yesterday evening.