THE ESMOND TRAIN WRECK
TIME/DATE: 3:30 A.M. JANUARY 28, 1903
LOCATION: HOUGHTON/RITA RD. 9 MILES EAST OF PRESENT-DAY TUCSON
ON THE MOONLESS NIGHT OF JAN 28TH, THE NO.8 CRESCENT CITY EXPRESS COLLIDED WITH THE NO. 7 PACIFIC COAST EXPRESS. DUE TO THE NIGHT SWITCH OPERATORS FAILURE TO RELAY A MESSAGE TO THE NO. 8 TRAIN TO PULL OVER TO THE ESMOND SIDING AND ALLOW THE NO. 7, HEADED FOR SAN FRANCISCO, TO PASS. THIS COMMUNICATION FAILURE WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. 14 PEOPLE PERISHED IN THE COLLISION, INCLUDING BOTH ENGINEERS. THE FIRE WAS SO DEVASTATING, AND BURNED SO HOT, THAT IT REDUCED SOME PASSENGERS INTO PILES OF ASH. MAKING IT VERY HARD TO IDENTIFY THE VICTIMS. RESCUERS RELIED ON PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND DENTAL RECORDS TO IDENTIFY THE BODIES.
INVESTIGATION: SATURDAY OCTOBER 22ND MMXVI
TIME: 11:30 P.M.-2:30 A.M.
MOON PHASE: WANING CRESCENT 42.89% OF FULL
TEMP: 69F
DURING THIS INVESTIGATION WE CAPTURED II VOICES ON OUR D.V.R.. THE FIRST SAYS WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE "JOY". THE SECOND WORD IS CLEARLY "HEY". BOTH ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW IN THE VIDEO ABOVE. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING THE NAMES OF THE DECEASED TO SEE IF ANY MATCH TO THE NAME CAPTURED, BUT IT HAS PROVEN TO BE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE LACK OF RECORDS IN THE EARLY 1900'S.
