Las Animas County, Colorado
Barela Train Wreck




Barela, CO Train Wreck, Aug 1890 Ogden Standard Examiner Utah 8-20-1890 Terrible Train Wreck in Colorado
Trinidad, Col., Aug. 18 -- A telegram received at noon from Barela, twelve miles south of the city, saying that a wreck had occurred and asking for surgeons. A special train was made up at once, and all the surgeons that could be obtained went for the scene of the accident. The wrecked train left this city early this morning to repair a bridge that had been washed out just below Barela, on the Union Pacific. It is not known just how the accident occurred, but it is supposed the engineer failed to stop the train in time and all were ditched. Seven were killed and fourteen wounded. Further particulars cannot be obtained until the return of the special.
Later reports from the scene of the wreck say that only one man was killed and eighteen badly injured.

Barela Train Wreck Decatur Morning Review, Decatur, IL 8-20-1890 Frightful Wreck on the Union Pacific.
Trinidad, Colo, Aug 19 -- A terrible wreck occurred on the Union Pacific railroad just below Barela Monday morning, in which seven men are reported to have lost their lives and fourteen seriously injured. A special train made up of all the surgeons that could be secured left this city for the scene of the accident, but no particulars have been received. The wrecked train left this city Monday morning to repair a bridge that had been washed out near Barela, and it is supposed that the engineer failed to stop the train in time and that all were ditched. Trinidad, CO Train Wreck, Aug 1908-

The Weekly Courier, Ft. Collins, CO 8-12-1908 - Engineer Suffers Awful Death In Trinidad Wreck - Pinned Under His Cab With Head Above Flood, Escaping Steam Cooking His Face and Neck - Cloudburst Causes Bridge To Wash Out - Special to the Courier.
Trinidad, Colo., Aug.7.-- Thomas French, fireman, died a lingering death from scalding and Thomas Ryan, engineer, is in a critical condition, as a result of a railroad wreck that occurred at 2 o'clock this morning thirty miles south of here. A Colorado & Southern freight train broke through a trestle and plunged into a stream that came down from the mountains as a result of a cloudburst. The water had washed out the supports of the trestle, which spanned what was usually a dry arroyo.
French was pinned under his cab with his head just above water, escaping steam hissing all about him. The flesh on his face and neck was literally cooked, while he writhed in helpless agony. He was not released until three hours later when the wrecking crew arrived. Jacks were necessary in raising the wreckage, in the effort to remove his crushed body, and he died soon after being taken from the water. Ryan may recover.


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