Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-09-02
From Fridays daily.

- The meager news published yester-
day concerning the wreck ON the d.
& R. G., near Chama, proved only too
true. There were quite number of
Durango people expecting friends on
the train, and they were very much
disturbed over street rumors, as 1t
was impossible to find out the nature
of the accident how many were in
jured, their names or anything con-
nected with the accident. Every
thing was street rumor until the Her
aid came out announcing that the
Pullman car was the only one wreck
ed and in addition to the Sister killed
three were injured.
When the train arrived at Is min.
utes of the depot platform was
crowded with anxious people-those
expecting friends and relatives and
!. others to ascertain the particulars.
The first person to be taken out
was Sister Nora, who was placed on
a cot and in a vehicle and taken to
the hospital.
The other two injured were Harley
Mccoy and Pullman Conductor j. E.
gage car and was next removed Nc
Coy was in the day coach and under
the influence of opiates and was some
what difficult to move, owing to his
condition. He was the last to be tax
en- to the hospital. Medical men
We're in attendance as soon as the in
jured arrived.
The body of Mother Baptiste was
was taken to the convent and en-
balmed by Undertaken Peterson
The story of the wreck was graphic
ally told The Herald reporter by Mel
lie Lewis. Pullman passenger en-
route to Silverton.
The train was coming down Cum
bres hill and had just emerged from
the deep cut prior to crossing the
high trestle over Wolff Creek, the en-
gine being within one length of the
trestle. The Pullman car was the on.
ly one to leave the track and where
it went over was about level ground
Just a slight embankment, so ii did
not roll over as first reported. In
the main part of the car were five
passengers. Reverend Mother Bap-
tste was sitting on the left side of
the car which tipped to the right.
She was thrown head first across the
aisle. her head and shoulders passing
through the window, and as the car
q dragged along her skull was crush
ed and death was undoubtedly in
stant. 1t was necessary to cut the
car away to get her body out.
Sister Nora was thrown into the
aisle of the car and bumped against
the seats, receiving very severe in
ternal injuries and several broken
ribs.
Harley Mccoy was sitting on the
right side of the car and asleep with
one hand out of the window. The
hand and arm was caught between the
car and ground and literally ground
to pieces, hanging only by a few
shreds. The shock received was also
severe to his system and before he
was attended to suffered great loss
of blood. 1t is said he had been
drinking heavily and it was difficult
to get him under the influence of OPT
aies, and for couple of hours he was
in sort of craZed condition, swing
>. the injured arm about, which was bad
for him. After being taken to the
hospital DR.. Prewitt waited upon him,
later calling in DR.. McLain. 1t was
found he was in too weak condition
to undergo an operation, and he was
placed in the operating room where
respiration process was invogued but
the man never came out of the stu
por he was in upon arriving. and he
died at ! so this morning.
The Pullman conductor received in
jures about the hips and also inter-
nally. He made an attempt to pull
the bell cord and was thrown hard
Slgainst the seats. and was suffering
much pain when brought to the city.
Mr.. Whan is a young man and has n
wife and child in Denver.
Nellie Lewis was occupying seat
An the Pullman ahead of the Sisters.
When she felt and observed the car
tipping over she grabbed the seats
and steadied herself as it fell over,
With the result that she came out
with but slight scratch on one of
her fingers. She was en- route to Sill
verton and had plenty of eager listen
ers as she retold the story OF the
wreck to The Herald reporter, while
waiting for the train to be made mp
for Silverton.
The porter was in the rear OF the
car at the time and made jump. es-
Gaping injury.
In addition to the porter. three men
occupied the smoker portion of the
sleeper. but they Jumped and escaped
injury. one man skinning his shins a
little Two Of them got OH at Chama
end the other went through to Silver
ton.