JAMES WILSON
FRANK NEWTON
BERT SPERRY
JAMES WATSON
December 3, 1897


Winslow--On Monday night while I was at Rock Butte some one remarked 
the dense smoke to the northeast. However little attention was paid 
to the circumstance, everyone forgettng about it upon reaching Ash 
Fork. I had occasoin to visit the depot at 9 o'clock and no one 
there even hinted at an accident.

It was not long before I heard of the accident and I forthwith wired 
the Republican for instructions and then boarded Conductor Hallett's 
freight which was drawn by engine No. 2 of the SFP&P.  We were 
laid up at Crowle, five miles east over two hours to allow no 2 
passenger bound east and the flyer bound west to pass. At 10:34 
reached McClellan siding, eight miles west of Williams.  Arrived 
at the wreck, a mile distant to find the fire blazing lively.  The 
track had been torn up for one hundred yards. The two Baldwin 
engines No. 105 and 109 and tenders, remains of the twenty six 
cars lay on the track. Engineer James Wilson had no escape on 
the head engine, being impaled beneath his charge and left to 
his fate, though not instantly killed. His fireman, T.J. 
Ford was caught but made three desperate efforts and extricated 
himself barely in time to escape the flames which attacked his 
companion whom he (Ford) could hear groan. Ford made his way 
to the caboose, which together with four cars had stood upon 
the track. Here he fell exhaused and was picked up and cared 
for.  Ford received several severe scalp wounds, fracture of 
the right clavicle, fracture of left knee joint and fracture 
of the lower end of the thigh bone.

Conductor Thomas J. O'Kelly when last seen was at a hand brake 
on top of a car and at the time he was flying in the air, his 
feet uppermost. Kelly's injuries were several severe scalp 
wounds.  Since the accident he has been in a comotose state 
and lies in Winslow in a critical condition.

Frank Newton, engineer in No. 105 and his fireman, Bert Sperry 
were killed instantly. They were so located in the general mix 
that it was difficult to find a trace of them.  

Engineer James Watson was taken out an unrecognizable mass of 
charred flesh and conveyed to his home in Winslow, preparatory 
to shipment to Brande, Wisconsin on Thursday.

A brother of young Sherry went to the wreck but could not find 
the slightest sign of the remains of his brother.  He will 
 make further investigations.

Watson leaves a wife and chld and Newton a wife. Sperry was 
single.

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