At 8:12 o'clock this morning, one and a half miles west of Wolcott station, which is 116 miles west of Laramie, a doubly fatal railway collision occurred. Walter Marsh, the well known engineer and resident of this city was so badly scalded that he died at the scene of the wreck at 10:40, and Victor Konold, Mr. Marsh's fireman was instantly killed, being crushed in the wreck of the engine.
Mr. Marsh, with engine 1810, was pulling No. 4, the Atlantic express, east. The train had left Rawlins twenty minutes late, and the ponderous engine engine under direction of so skillful a runner as Mr. Marsh, was hauling the train up Edson hill at the rate of forty miles an hour. Engine No. 1257, in charge of Engineer John Mack, who had helped a freight train up the hill to a point a mile this side of Edson, was going down the hill on his way back to Fort Steele, where the helper engines have headquarters. Through some miscalculation on the part of Mack, which is not yet explained, he continued on west through Wolcott station, instead of waiting there for No. 4, which would have avoided the accident. He had gone but a mile and a half, and is supposed to have been going down the grade at a lively rate of speed, when the two great flying bodies of steel crashed together, shaking the very earth and causing one of the most serious and fatal accidents that has occurred in years.
The passenger engine in charge of Mr. Marsh seems crushed and torn in every part. It was between the following train and the descending pusher. Its tank was forced back, telescoping the first mail car and injuring the mail clerk, whose name has not been obtained at this hour, but he is not understood to be seriously injured.
At 3 o'clock this afternoon nothing has been heard of Engineer Mack. It was at first supposed that he was under the wreckage of his engine, but it is said that he was seen about the scene of the collision afterwards, and that he then disappeared. This being the case it is confidently believed that he will soon put in a reappearance. He is said to be a nervous man, and was promoted only a year ago, and since then has been doing some firing, and it is believed that he became frightened at the result of his mistake.
Although some of the details of the death of Engineer Marsh and his fireman are lacking, it is known that they both met the inevitable conqueror at their posts of duty. The tank of Mr. Marsh's engine was so badly telescoped that it crushed into the engine cab, broke the valves and water glass and the terrific force of steam, carrying a flood of hot water from the boiler, scalded the engineer fatally. Konold it is believed at this hour was pinioned by the broken pieces and, crushed to death. Charlie Olson the fireman on the pusher escaped from the accident by jumping from the engine and is in Fort Steele all safe and entirely uninjured. It is said to not be the first time that he has been "lucky."
As soon as possible after the wreck a messenger was sent to Walcott and the news of the fatal collision was telegraphed to Laramie and Cheyenne. Superintendent Hay at once ordered the steam derrick from Rawlins to proceed to the scene of the wreck, and in about an hour the wrecking crew and derrick arrived, accompanied by the Dr. Maghee, the railroad physician at Rawlins. Every possible attention was given Mr. Marsh. Mrs. Marsh had received word at her home on Eighth street in this city of the accident. It was not at first supposed that he was fatally scalded, and Mrs. Marsh immediately set to work preparing a bed for him to occupy as soon as he could be brought in. The linen of the bed was carefully arranged, bandages were collected and every preparation made for his comfort and care. It was but a short time afterward that the news was flashed over the wire that Walter Marsh was dead. The grief of the family was naturally intense.
The wrecking crew was engaged, five hours with the steam derrick in clearing away the debris. The engines are fearfully wrecked nearly every piece of iron bearing testimony to the severe impact. No. 4, the wrecked train, is expected in Laramie about 5 o'clock this evening, and will bring in the remains of Messrs. Marsh and Konold.
Victor Konold, rated as fireman and extra engineer, was born in Ontario, Gray county, Canada, October 1, 1867. He removed to Laramie about seven years ago, entering upon his railroad career very soon after his arrival. His mother, who came with him and kept house for him here for a time, is now living in Ontario, but two brothers are still residents of Laramie, Al. and Dan Konold. The latter was in Salt Lake but was telegraphed at once to come back and is probably now on his way.
Victor Konold was married in the summer of 1897 to Marie Niethe, who, together with their son, one year old, survives him. The family resides on Hodgeman avenue, West Side. He was insured for $1,000 in the Railway Officers and Employees Accident association of Indianapolis, and as late as June 30th, ult., took out another policy for $2,000 in the Union Mutual Insurance company, of Portland, Maine, represented in this city by A.H. Stewart, state agent.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 117 July 29, 1899, page 3
Mr. Marsh, with engine 1810, was pulling No. 4, the Atlantic express, east. The train had left Rawlins twenty minutes late, and the ponderous engine engine under direction of so skillful a runner as Mr. Marsh, was hauling the train up Edson hill at the rate of forty miles an hour. Engine No. 1257, in charge of Engineer John Mack, who had helped a freight train up the hill to a point a mile this side of Edson, was going down the hill on his way back to Fort Steele, where the helper engines have headquarters. Through some miscalculation on the part of Mack, which is not yet explained, he continued on west through Wolcott station, instead of waiting there for No. 4, which would have avoided the accident. He had gone but a mile and a half, and is supposed to have been going down the grade at a lively rate of speed, when the two great flying bodies of steel crashed together, shaking the very earth and causing one of the most serious and fatal accidents that has occurred in years.
The passenger engine in charge of Mr. Marsh seems crushed and torn in every part. It was between the following train and the descending pusher. Its tank was forced back, telescoping the first mail car and injuring the mail clerk, whose name has not been obtained at this hour, but he is not understood to be seriously injured.
At 3 o'clock this afternoon nothing has been heard of Engineer Mack. It was at first supposed that he was under the wreckage of his engine, but it is said that he was seen about the scene of the collision afterwards, and that he then disappeared. This being the case it is confidently believed that he will soon put in a reappearance. He is said to be a nervous man, and was promoted only a year ago, and since then has been doing some firing, and it is believed that he became frightened at the result of his mistake.
Although some of the details of the death of Engineer Marsh and his fireman are lacking, it is known that they both met the inevitable conqueror at their posts of duty. The tank of Mr. Marsh's engine was so badly telescoped that it crushed into the engine cab, broke the valves and water glass and the terrific force of steam, carrying a flood of hot water from the boiler, scalded the engineer fatally. Konold it is believed at this hour was pinioned by the broken pieces and, crushed to death. Charlie Olson the fireman on the pusher escaped from the accident by jumping from the engine and is in Fort Steele all safe and entirely uninjured. It is said to not be the first time that he has been "lucky."
As soon as possible after the wreck a messenger was sent to Walcott and the news of the fatal collision was telegraphed to Laramie and Cheyenne. Superintendent Hay at once ordered the steam derrick from Rawlins to proceed to the scene of the wreck, and in about an hour the wrecking crew and derrick arrived, accompanied by the Dr. Maghee, the railroad physician at Rawlins. Every possible attention was given Mr. Marsh. Mrs. Marsh had received word at her home on Eighth street in this city of the accident. It was not at first supposed that he was fatally scalded, and Mrs. Marsh immediately set to work preparing a bed for him to occupy as soon as he could be brought in. The linen of the bed was carefully arranged, bandages were collected and every preparation made for his comfort and care. It was but a short time afterward that the news was flashed over the wire that Walter Marsh was dead. The grief of the family was naturally intense.
The wrecking crew was engaged, five hours with the steam derrick in clearing away the debris. The engines are fearfully wrecked nearly every piece of iron bearing testimony to the severe impact. No. 4, the wrecked train, is expected in Laramie about 5 o'clock this evening, and will bring in the remains of Messrs. Marsh and Konold.
Victor Konold, rated as fireman and extra engineer, was born in Ontario, Gray county, Canada, October 1, 1867. He removed to Laramie about seven years ago, entering upon his railroad career very soon after his arrival. His mother, who came with him and kept house for him here for a time, is now living in Ontario, but two brothers are still residents of Laramie, Al. and Dan Konold. The latter was in Salt Lake but was telegraphed at once to come back and is probably now on his way.
Victor Konold was married in the summer of 1897 to Marie Niethe, who, together with their son, one year old, survives him. The family resides on Hodgeman avenue, West Side. He was insured for $1,000 in the Railway Officers and Employees Accident association of Indianapolis, and as late as June 30th, ult., took out another policy for $2,000 in the Union Mutual Insurance company, of Portland, Maine, represented in this city by A.H. Stewart, state agent.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 117 July 29, 1899, page 3
At 8:12 o'clock this morning, one and a half miles west of Wolcott station, which is 116 miles west of Laramie, a doubly fatal railway collision occurred. Walter Marsh, the well known engineer and resident of this city was so badly scalded that he died at the scene of the wreck at 10:40, and Victor Konold, Mr. Marsh's fireman was instantly killed, being crushed in the wreck of the engine.
Mr. Marsh, with engine 1810, was pulling No. 4, the Atlantic express, east. The train had left Rawlins twenty minutes late, and the ponderous engine engine under direction of so skillful a runner as Mr. Marsh, was hauling the train up Edson hill at the rate of forty miles an hour. Engine No. 1257, in charge of Engineer John Mack, who had helped a freight train up the hill to a point a mile this side of Edson, was going down the hill on his way back to Fort Steele, where the helper engines have headquarters. Through some miscalculation on the part of Mack, which is not yet explained, he continued on west through Wolcott station, instead of waiting there for No. 4, which would have avoided the accident. He had gone but a mile and a half, and is supposed to have been going down the grade at a lively rate of speed, when the two great flying bodies of steel crashed together, shaking the very earth and causing one of the most serious and fatal accidents that has occurred in years.
The passenger engine in charge of Mr. Marsh seems crushed and torn in every part. It was between the following train and the descending pusher. Its tank was forced back, telescoping the first mail car and injuring the mail clerk, whose name has not been obtained at this hour, but he is not understood to be seriously injured.
At 3 o'clock this afternoon nothing has been heard of Engineer Mack. It was at first supposed that he was under the wreckage of his engine, but it is said that he was seen about the scene of the collision afterwards, and that he then disappeared. This being the case it is confidently believed that he will soon put in a reappearance. He is said to be a nervous man, and was promoted only a year ago, and since then has been doing some firing, and it is believed that he became frightened at the result of his mistake.
Although some of the details of the death of Engineer Marsh and his fireman are lacking, it is known that they both met the inevitable conqueror at their posts of duty. The tank of Mr. Marsh's engine was so badly telescoped that it crushed into the engine cab, broke the valves and water glass and the terrific force of steam, carrying a flood of hot water from the boiler, scalded the engineer fatally. Konold it is believed at this hour was pinioned by the broken pieces and, crushed to death. Charlie Olson the fireman on the pusher escaped from the accident by jumping from the engine and is in Fort Steele all safe and entirely uninjured. It is said to not be the first time that he has been "lucky."
As soon as possible after the wreck a messenger was sent to Walcott and the news of the fatal collision was telegraphed to Laramie and Cheyenne. Superintendent Hay at once ordered the steam derrick from Rawlins to proceed to the scene of the wreck, and in about an hour the wrecking crew and derrick arrived, accompanied by the Dr. Maghee, the railroad physician at Rawlins. Every possible attention was given Mr. Marsh. Mrs. Marsh had received word at her home on Eighth street in this city of the accident. It was not at first supposed that he was fatally scalded, and Mrs. Marsh immediately set to work preparing a bed for him to occupy as soon as he could be brought in. The linen of the bed was carefully arranged, bandages were collected and every preparation made for his comfort and care. It was but a short time afterward that the news was flashed over the wire that Walter Marsh was dead. The grief of the family was naturally intense.
The wrecking crew was engaged, five hours with the steam derrick in clearing away the debris. The engines are fearfully wrecked nearly every piece of iron bearing testimony to the severe impact. No. 4, the wrecked train, is expected in Laramie about 5 o'clock this evening, and will bring in the remains of Messrs. Marsh and Konold.
Victor Konold, rated as fireman and extra engineer, was born in Ontario, Gray county, Canada, October 1, 1867. He removed to Laramie about seven years ago, entering upon his railroad career very soon after his arrival. His mother, who came with him and kept house for him here for a time, is now living in Ontario, but two brothers are still residents of Laramie, Al. and Dan Konold. The latter was in Salt Lake but was telegraphed at once to come back and is probably now on his way.
Victor Konold was married in the summer of 1897 to Marie Niethe, who, together with their son, one year old, survives him. The family resides on Hodgeman avenue, West Side. He was insured for $1,000 in the Railway Officers and Employees Accident association of Indianapolis, and as late as June 30th, ult., took out another policy for $2,000 in the Union Mutual Insurance company, of Portland, Maine, represented in this city by A.H. Stewart, state agent.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 117 July 29, 1899, page 3
Mr. Marsh, with engine 1810, was pulling No. 4, the Atlantic express, east. The train had left Rawlins twenty minutes late, and the ponderous engine engine under direction of so skillful a runner as Mr. Marsh, was hauling the train up Edson hill at the rate of forty miles an hour. Engine No. 1257, in charge of Engineer John Mack, who had helped a freight train up the hill to a point a mile this side of Edson, was going down the hill on his way back to Fort Steele, where the helper engines have headquarters. Through some miscalculation on the part of Mack, which is not yet explained, he continued on west through Wolcott station, instead of waiting there for No. 4, which would have avoided the accident. He had gone but a mile and a half, and is supposed to have been going down the grade at a lively rate of speed, when the two great flying bodies of steel crashed together, shaking the very earth and causing one of the most serious and fatal accidents that has occurred in years.
The passenger engine in charge of Mr. Marsh seems crushed and torn in every part. It was between the following train and the descending pusher. Its tank was forced back, telescoping the first mail car and injuring the mail clerk, whose name has not been obtained at this hour, but he is not understood to be seriously injured.
At 3 o'clock this afternoon nothing has been heard of Engineer Mack. It was at first supposed that he was under the wreckage of his engine, but it is said that he was seen about the scene of the collision afterwards, and that he then disappeared. This being the case it is confidently believed that he will soon put in a reappearance. He is said to be a nervous man, and was promoted only a year ago, and since then has been doing some firing, and it is believed that he became frightened at the result of his mistake.
Although some of the details of the death of Engineer Marsh and his fireman are lacking, it is known that they both met the inevitable conqueror at their posts of duty. The tank of Mr. Marsh's engine was so badly telescoped that it crushed into the engine cab, broke the valves and water glass and the terrific force of steam, carrying a flood of hot water from the boiler, scalded the engineer fatally. Konold it is believed at this hour was pinioned by the broken pieces and, crushed to death. Charlie Olson the fireman on the pusher escaped from the accident by jumping from the engine and is in Fort Steele all safe and entirely uninjured. It is said to not be the first time that he has been "lucky."
As soon as possible after the wreck a messenger was sent to Walcott and the news of the fatal collision was telegraphed to Laramie and Cheyenne. Superintendent Hay at once ordered the steam derrick from Rawlins to proceed to the scene of the wreck, and in about an hour the wrecking crew and derrick arrived, accompanied by the Dr. Maghee, the railroad physician at Rawlins. Every possible attention was given Mr. Marsh. Mrs. Marsh had received word at her home on Eighth street in this city of the accident. It was not at first supposed that he was fatally scalded, and Mrs. Marsh immediately set to work preparing a bed for him to occupy as soon as he could be brought in. The linen of the bed was carefully arranged, bandages were collected and every preparation made for his comfort and care. It was but a short time afterward that the news was flashed over the wire that Walter Marsh was dead. The grief of the family was naturally intense.
The wrecking crew was engaged, five hours with the steam derrick in clearing away the debris. The engines are fearfully wrecked nearly every piece of iron bearing testimony to the severe impact. No. 4, the wrecked train, is expected in Laramie about 5 o'clock this evening, and will bring in the remains of Messrs. Marsh and Konold.
Victor Konold, rated as fireman and extra engineer, was born in Ontario, Gray county, Canada, October 1, 1867. He removed to Laramie about seven years ago, entering upon his railroad career very soon after his arrival. His mother, who came with him and kept house for him here for a time, is now living in Ontario, but two brothers are still residents of Laramie, Al. and Dan Konold. The latter was in Salt Lake but was telegraphed at once to come back and is probably now on his way.
Victor Konold was married in the summer of 1897 to Marie Niethe, who, together with their son, one year old, survives him. The family resides on Hodgeman avenue, West Side. He was insured for $1,000 in the Railway Officers and Employees Accident association of Indianapolis, and as late as June 30th, ult., took out another policy for $2,000 in the Union Mutual Insurance company, of Portland, Maine, represented in this city by A.H. Stewart, state agent.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 117 July 29, 1899, page 3
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