HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS
DIED AT HIS POST

That is what can be truthfully said of George Fairchild, the Northern Pacific Engineer who was killed
in the wreck near Paradise Bluff, Mont., 70 miles west of Missoula at 10:45 a.m. last Tuesday.

When telegrams arrived Tuesday afternoon to Mrs. Wm. Chambers, conveying the crushing news of her
brother's death in a wreck, all knew it must be that a passenger train had met disaster as it was a
passenger run.

It was our privilege to converse with two passengers who were aboard the fated train and from them we
learn of the following facts, which differ some from the accounts given in the dailies.

Train No. 1 and known as the flyer, was running exactly on schedule time, and when nearing the curve
where the accident occurred, Engineer Fairchild slowed up as is his usual custom at this treacherous point where the track runs close to the base of the high bluff, or mountain, with the Flathead River running parallel only a few feet away to the left, and where an accident occurred last August, and it is thought the speed was about 25 miles an hour, when he sighted the obstruction of huge boulders and earth on the track ahead, in ample time to jump and save himself, had he been secreant to duty. But instead, he set the air brakes and upon the train breaking in two set them again, also reversing his engine, thus doing all in his power to save the 200 lives entrusted to him.

Then it is supposed he either jumped or was thrown from his engine on the side next to the bluff, which proved to be the fatal side, as the engine plowed into the wall of earth and rock followed by four cars.

Had he jumped three feet further from the track or to the left, his life would have been spared; as it was his body was literally crushed beneath the mall car.

When the fireman saw the danger, he made for the steps intending to jump, but a lurch of the engine threw him out on the rocks of the river bank where he lay mangled when found.

Not a passenger was hurt, but when it was known that their brave engineer lay dead beneath the wreck, deep gratitude mingled with sorrow, tears and prayers swayed the souls of the 200 saved from a possible sudden and horrible death. "I never saw so much sorrow among train men before," said our informant. "he seemed to be a general favorite. "Women wept and men deplored his awful fate".

A fund of $100 dollars was raised among the passengers to be used in the purchase of a monument to the memory of one to whom they felt they owed their lives, as a lasting expression of their gratitude.

In a very short time, his mangled remains were extricated and placed in one of the cars, and later was sent back to his Missoula home that he left only a few hours before, accompanied by the injured fireman, who was married only a few weeks ago and had just gone to housekeeping that very day.

A crew of men was at work on the road a few hundred yards ahead and it is passing strange that they knew nothing of the obstruction when there was evidence of snow having fallen upon it after it lay upon the track.

The rails on either side of the slide were spread and in such a manner as to cause the engine and the four demolished cars to turn over towards the bluff instead of the river. The track was torn up for 50 yards, rails twisted and ties torn in pieces. A rescue train was started out from Hope, Idaho, but before it arrived it had sustained a wreck also, in which the fireman was seriously injured.

The dead engineer was the only son of his aged parents with whom he lived and for whom he cared for at their home in Missoula. Three sisters to whom he had endeared himself by his unusual brotherly kindness and thoughtfulness, and between whom there was the strongest bond of affection, are now mourning deeply their sudden loss.

Two live in Portland, Ore., and the other, Mrs. Chambers, in our own city.

He was 41 years of age and unmarried, and was held in high esteem by the railroad officials, is considered their best engineer. He at one time was traveling inspector of engines, and if any special working in his line was to be done, it was instructed to him.

A friend of the deceased who resided at Great Falls, Mont., stated to a Tribune representative when in Spokane, that if ever a man was prepared to meet death, that man was George Fairchild. At home, abroad, on his train, or wherever he might be, he was always the same. His first and best thoughts were for his family and his engine which he loved.

Mrs. Chambers left Wednesday morning for Missoula and was joined at Spokane by her sister, Mrs. Struble of Portland, and together they went to the family home where the sudden blow had prostrated a devoted mother.

Mrs. Chambers and W. V. Windus ____ ___ to Missoula yesterday ___ ____ attend the funeral which ___ ___ there today.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

The Pullman Tribune: Pullman, Whitman County, Wash. 7 Nov. 1896
transcribed by Kerry 48011981
===
Further news of the distressing death of Engineer Fairchild will be of interest to our readers we think.

The inquest held over the remains brought out the fact that the watchman usually employed to patrol the track at the point where the accident occurred, had been removed to cut down expenses. The evidence further showed that it was through no fault of the engineer whatever. The jury placed the blame where it
belonged, on the railroad company.

Funeral services were held at Missoula, and on Sunday last the remains of the nobleman were taken aboard
the Northern Pacific and accompanied by his sisters, Mrs. Wm. Chambers and Mrs. Walter B. Struble; also Engineer Robert Rogers, the deceased intimate friend, were taken to Portland, Ore., for interment. The final services were held there last Wednesday. At Missoula, the remains were escorted to the train by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, who in conjunction with the A. O. U. W. had charge of the affair throughout.

THE DEAD EULOGIZED
The train bearing the body of the lamented was met at Spokane by the members of the brotherhood in a body, to pay a heartfelt tribute to a loved member. On the casket was placed a wreath, with the letter "E" in white roses occupying the center, a symbol of their order. All along the route, they were met at the principal stations by members of this order, so high was he held in their esteem. From the "Anaconda Standard" we take the words of an old railroad man who has known him for years:

"There was never a man in the railroad business that I have known who was so generally liked by his fellows and who was respected by an entire community as was George Fairchild. He was a thorough engineer. There was nothing about his business that he did not understand and he was as steady as a clock. His death is one of the saddest things that I ever knew of. He was always regarded as one of the most careful men on the division and the accident of yesterday morning was not his fault, I am sure. That part of the line is a dangerous one at best, and the soft weather of the preceding days had made the banks there more dangerous than usual. George was an expert at his business. I remember when the air brake instruction outfit came through here that he was taken with it over the West End as an instructor. He was thorough in everything and it would not be easy to find a better man anywhere."

In a letter from Mrs. Chambers, she says: "While this blow has fallen deeply on our hearts, in the midst of our sorrow there is much to consol. We know that whatever there was in connection with the accident, our brother stood at his post and that it was through no negligence on his part that it occurred."

Resolutions were passed by the passengers on the wrecked train and the original sent to his parents at Missoula.

The Brotherhood also expressed their sorrow in a similar form, a copy of which we expected to have for publication in this issue of the Tribune, but railroad communication haveing been cut off temporarily, we will defer them till next week.

The Pullman Tribune, Pullman, Whitman County, WA
transcribed by Kerry 48011981
===
Son of Joshua S Fairchild
and
Frances Maria Steele