The Tragedy at Trent: A Deadly Railroad Collision

A westbound freight train dashed into the Atlantic express at Trent, nine miles east of Spokane Falls, on the line of the Northern Pacific, at 12:30 o'clock this morning. The passenger train was on the main line at Trent, waiting for the freight train to pull in and sidetrack, but when the freight engineer attempted to put on the air-brake to stop the train at the switch, the air-brake failed, resulting in a collision between the passenger and freight engines. Just before they struck, Lou Hagan, head brakeman, who was on the engine, jumped and, bounding back, was struck by the trucks, cutting a deep gash on his head which killed him instantly. His body was badly jammed. Engineer A. Hannigan jumped right after him, but escaped with a slight cut on the head and a few bruises. Edward Brenan, a laborer working on railroad construction, was riding on the front platform of the baggage car next to the engine and suffered head and internal injuries. An inquest was held this afternoon and the coroner's jury censured the Northern Pacific Railway Co. for the poor system of air-brakes on that train and recommended that a switchman be placed at Trent without delay.