Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-09-28
WRECK ON
SOUTHERN
YESTERDAY
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The worst wreck on the Rio Grande
Southern. so far as number of people.
although no one was killed, took PLACE
yesterday afternoon just west of Glen
coe the mail station between Mancos
and Dolores. The train was rounding
a curve, running slowly. not over ten
miles an hour, when the combination
mail and baggage car jumped the
track. causing 1t to topple over on its
side. The passenger coaches followed
suit. all cars tipping over. TIE loco
motive alone remaining on the track
AT the time of the accident Conductor
Grant Saunders was on the platform
of the rear coach and was quick to
realize the situation and Immediately
pulled the bell cord, with the result
that air brakes were applied before
the last cars toppled over, and the
train did not run over $50 feet after
the baggage car jumped the track.
w, F.. Johnson, the postal clerk. was
sitting in a chair resting w. hen the
track. He Immediately got up when
the car toppled. over. having run
about the length CT three rails bump
ing on the ties. He was thrown down.
his head striking the ceiling, then
being thrown back over the iron rail
tngs for the support of mail sacks.
The small stove. with a little fire in
II, fell against him and began making
things hot when he got some water
H. 4,
some from the fall over the iron rail
iDgs his thoughts at once turned to
the baggageman, j o. Duncan, in
the rear end Of the car. and passing
through the dividing door found Dun
can suffering from three injured fin
gers by falling trunks. The two then
broke the window in the mail car and
climbed out. BY this time passengers
we're being taken ort Of the coaches.
Conductor Sanders, berg on the out
side when the car toppled over. jump
er, and, escaping without injury, lost
NO time in butting down the door of
the rear coach, which enabled many to
escape that way. Others emerged
through the windows, both Mr.. John.
son and Mr.. Duncan breaking several
to allow them to do so. The injured
were taken out ard these who could
not walk were laid on the ground and
made as comfortable as possible by
those who escaped or were slightly
hurt.
the accident took place about / 30
and II is claimed much time was lost
by some one walking back to Glencoe
about three miles, where freight en-
Eine and crew was obtained, and that
after the arrival Of the latter instead
Of placing the injured on board and
speeding away to Mancos, time was
taken up In taking out baggage-until
urgent protests were entered. 1t 1"
claimed the locomotive could have
made the run to Mancos in few min
utes and secured medical aid and 9th
er assistance, whereas it was three
hours before Mancos was reached and
me injured given medical aid This
will probably come up later and the
facts brought out.
The news of the wreck was not gen
orally known in Durango until late
In the evening, but by the time the
train arrived, a few minutes to nine,
several hundred people had congre-
gated at the depot some through cur
iosity, but most to offer assistance.
The two ambulances were on hand
and carriages were also ordered, and
the work OF removing the injured pro-
ceeded as rapidly as possible, those
with no homes and suffering most be-
ing taken to the hospital. There were
quite number Of women among the
injured and their cry of pain when
moved brought out much sympathy
There was one lady. Mrs Charles
Mattson Of Ariola, Montezuma coun
ty. who was especially the recipient
of much sympathy. She was coming
to Durango, accompanied by three
children, TO visit her brother and par
ents. The youngest child, nursing
baby of possibly three or four month,
was crying pitifully, while two boys.
between and years. we're carried
out of the car. The poor mother was
suffering from strains and bruises
about the waist and shoulder The
infant was only shaken up and bruised
slightly. but its walls were those OF
hunger, and the poor mother, with
her aches. after being seated in the
waiting room, took compassion and
nursed IT, unmindful Of her own con
dltion. One of the boys escaped while
the other one received slight cut
on the back of the head.
Mrs. Mike Woodell OF Dolores was
probably the most seriously injured
Of the women. She is quite well ad
vanced In age and her injuries were
mostly internal. She was among tn,
Arst to be tnken out and taken t.
Mercy hospital.
F. H. Montgomery. travelin,
Snowman with monkey, coming Il
the fair. received the most seriou
injury. broken leg just above tn
ankle. He was taken to the hospita
and will probably be laid up som
time.
John Chetlock Of Canon City receiv