Two Freight Trains Meet Head-On at Van Asselt

A collision occurred at Van Asselt station last evening between freight train No. 20 of the Columbia & Puget Sound road and freight No. 64 of the Northern Pacific, resulting in the wrecking of a caboose, the derailment of an engine and three cars, and superficial injuries to Mrs. Anna Smith of Green Lake, a passenger on the narrow gauge freight. Engineer Pebbles, of engine No. 20, drawing the Northern Pacific freight, jumped and sustained a severe sprain of his left wrist. Foreman Dave Martin, of the same engine, also jumped, but escaped serious injury. There remains a doubt as to who is to blame for the accident, and the matter will be given a thorough investigation this morning by officials of both roads.

Last evening at 6 o'clock the narrow gauge train of sixteen cars, fourteen loads, two empties and a caboose, in charge of Conductor Adams, was occupying the track at Van Asselt doing the regular switching at the Denny Clay Company's works, when the Northern Pacific freight in charge of Conductor Egan left Black River Junction fifteen minutes behind it and was running to make the stock yards side track to meet Northern Pacific train No. 11 due to leave Seattle at 6:15. The train bore down at Van Asselt going at a rapid rate and when Engineer Pebbles saw the freight ahead he whistled 'down brakes,' reversed his engine and jumped. His fireman, Dave Martin, jumped at the same moment from the opposite side of the cab. The caboose of No. 20 was two car lengths beyond the switch, which was thrown open preparatory to backing the train into the siding. The big freight engine ran off the short rail and tore over the ties, dragging a refrigerator and a box car after it. This diminished the speed, but the caboose was struck with sufficient force to stave in and demolish the whole end, while the headlight, smokestack and pilot of the engine were torn off. The right steam chest was also slightly damaged.

Mrs. Smith, who was in the caboose, heard the whistle for down brakes, and threw up a window to look out. At the same moment the collision occurred, throwing the caboose off the rails, the force of the blow bumping her face against the window, bruising her cheek and her elbow. She was much frightened, but Dr. Rufus Smith, the railroad surgeon, found that her wounds were not serious. She was on her way to her home at Green Lake from a visit to friends at Maple Valley.

Several of the cars were somewhat damaged about the drawheads by the force of the collision. Train No. 64 was drawing seven loaded cars and a caboose. As soon as the news of the wreck reached Seattle Superintendent Smith, of the Columbia & Puget Sound road, ordered the wrecking train to the scene and the track was cleared at 10:40, until which time the Northern Pacific passenger train from Portland was detained.