splintered. Shorty Minor, conductor on North 56, and South 57
conductor, C. P. Morgan, along with engineer
Langford and the southbound freight fireman were all killed in the crash. Apparently the engineer and
fireman on the northbound train jumped just in time to escape. The cause of the wreck was reportedly
due to a mix up on orders from the dispatcher. Northbound orders called for a meet at Grannis
and the southbound freight's orders were to meet at Gillham. H. H. Akin was in the northbound caboose
when the collision occurred and was badly shaken up. He had abrasions on his face, but was very fortunate
to be alive. He was traveling to Kansas City with a carload of thirty?eight head of cattle. Twenty?eight
head were killed instantly and the remaining ten were badly bruised and skinned up. The Kansas City
Southern made good the damages. Traffic resumed as usual within twenty?four hours of the wreck.
In early September of 1907 some improvements were made at the depot. The railroad built new tracks
on the west side of the platform to make loading and unloading easier.
Later that year, in October, at 4:00 in the morning, the depot burned and the building and contents were a total
loss. The night operator, McDougal, managed to save same mail sacks, labeled pouches to Lockesburg
and Dierks. Quite a few folks watched, but had no means of fighting the fire. After the burning, the Port
Arthur Eating House was used as a waiting room for travelers and visitors. During late 1908 and early 1909,
the
Bee carried headlines such as: "The proposed location of the new $10,000 depot" and "A Brick Depot for
De Queen." An editorial item carried by the paper told the town's desire, "wanted to swap?second hand
lunch room for `sure enough' depot" and "Depot Story a Fraud?" The last suggestion led to rumors that the
depot might not come.
The new brick depot did come and the Kansas City Southern moved into it July 3, 1909. The depot agent,
N. M. Jones, borrowed some sturdy benches from the First Christian Church to be used by the people in
the waiting room, as the new depot seats had not come. There was a parade of workers out of the old depot
building into the new. Some of those involved were: N. M. Jones, baggage agent; J. S. Newell, chief clerk;
C. F. Clark, day