Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-19
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Death Of John Braden at Albuquerque
Under Peculiarly Distressing Cir.
cumstances-Died the Death
of q Hero.

| John Braden, respected old timer Of
Albuquerque, was overtaken by death ir
most distressing form on Saturday
afternoon at the city hospital in the Duke
city, aged about "a years.
Touching the sad event DR.. W. N
Macbeth, assistant foreman of the Scott
Moore hose company, said to Citizen
reporter:
"We had arranged for parade" re-
marked the doctor, "the Scott Moore hose
company just in front of the old town
brass band, then the Flambeau club and
then the ammunition wagon, with John
Braden as driver, and James and Law.
renee Smith on the wagon. just as the pa.
rade turned the corner of Copper avenue
coming south on Fifth street, the Flam beau
club started the fire works and sparks flew
back into the ammunition wagon. Imme
diately an explosion occurred, shaking the
very earths foundation, and scattering
sparks and dangerous missiles in all direc
tions. Several rockets shot out of the
wagon and struck the horses and they, ter
ror-stricken, dashed away on dead run
boys, running over and knocking two band
players to the ground. By this time the
wagon was a mass of flames, but Braden
staid at his post, trying to stop the horses
and save the crowd that lined the streets
At the intersection of Railroad avenue
| the horses turned east on the avenue, but
came to the stand-still by running into
the Scott Moore hose company cart, the
wheels looking together. Braden still had
hold of the reins, his body enveloped in
flames, and overcome with exhaustion he
fell from his seat to the ground. He then
crawled on his hands and knees to the
side, calling out to stake off his clothes
and holding his hands to his mouth to
prevent suffocation. Several of the fire
boys rushed to his assistance and smoth.
cred the flames with their jackets, and
one of the Smiths threw his overcoat
over the horrible spectacle. Marshal
Fornoff and Policeman Young readily
responded and rendered valuable help. A
hack, with half dozen little girls, was
in front of the Scott Moore hose cart, and
some of the boys rushed to their assistance
getting them out just in time, while
others tenderly lifted poor Braden into
the hack and took him to the city hospital
Drs. Raster, Haynes and)Wroth being i'm
mediately summoned. The wagon be.
longed to Herman Bluhel and the horses
to Olmstead & Dixon. The Atlantic & Pa.
cific hose company unreeled and put out
the fire in the burning wagon"
Marshal Fornoff says he never read of
such personal heroism as was displayed by
John Braden. "He could have" remarked
the marshal, dumped from the wagon
when the explosion occurred and saved
himself, but he staid at his post and
prevented the thoroughly frightened
horses from running away and tramp
ling upon and doubtless killing a mum.
Der of people. What little work did re-
suited in six fingers on both hand being
badly burned. Policeman Young's hands
were also burned"
Capt. John T. Forsha, of this city,
know John Braden we'll as an employe of
Wells-Fargo Express company in 1866
and also as policeman in Pueblo in 1872.
He says that "Bradsn was good, honest,
worthy man."