Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-28
BAD SUNDAY MORNING
WRECK ON D. 4 r. G.

The most serious wreck on the line
of the Denver and Rio Crande be-
tween Durango and Silverton occurred
five minutes after nine Sunday morn.
ing as the east bound passenger train
WAS speeding along III the vicinity
OF the stone slaughter house. about
one and 'one-baif miles above Animas
City. In passing over the iron horse
had broken rail and the entire
train passed in safety until the frac-
ture was reached by the last car-the
chair car. which jumped the track.
Conductor Bob Lowe was in charge
and was standing up in the aisle.
He grabbed for the air cord and then
the car went over and 1t seems mi.
racuious that he was not injured in
any particular. II seems, however,
that Engineer Robert Pearson, who
WAS making the run In place OF En-
gineer McCabe who had sick child,
happened tD notice the car when II
jumped the track and he Immediately
applied the air and reversed the en-
gine, but he was lotn to bring the
train TO too sudden stop. fearing
that 1t would ditch all the cars ana
locomotive. The chair car jumped
along the ties for 100 feet or so
when the trucks we're torn loose and
just as the train came to stand
still the car made dive down the
embankment at an angle of SO to 10
degrees. The coupling remained IN
tact which dragged the day coach
and combination baggage and NAL
car into the ditch. the locomotive
tender being tipped partially over. the
locomotive being the only part of the
train to remain on the track.
Although no one was killed there
were several badly injured and one
In particular will carry signs of the
wreck 10 the grave-Miss Kittie for'
ter. Miss Porter Is sister of Mrs
Charles Fleck and long years of ho
tel life has given her wide acquain
tance She was coming down from
Silverton TO spend Christmas with the
folks and enjoy the holiday festivities
She WAS an occupant of the cnair cal
and when II overturned her right arm
was pushed through broken windo"
and literally ground on, the han. hang
ing by one or two slender cords. Ant
what courage she exhibited. She
was carried out of the car by S. B
Henry and Grant clifford of Sil;ertor
and the gentlemen accompanied her IL
Townsend's express wagon to Ochsne
hospital She asked that her blood,
arm be kept ont of her sight and en-
dured the great pain unfiinchingll
until the hospital was reached wher'
she received the best attention. Mis-
Porter suffered from loss Of blood AM
greatly weakened. still she under
went the operation that followe'
in good shape and is reporte,
today. Her many friends trust tina
she will soon recover-that is phys
cally, for she will never recover tn
lost member which will cause distres
10 herself as well as her friends.
Mrs. Steve Rodgers was on her wa
from Slverton to spend Christina
with her husbands parents and rela
tives. She was accompanied by he
two year old daughter Mrs. Rodgers
collar bone was fractured and she wa
otherwise bruised while the baby sui
fered the loss OF several trout teeth
When taken out of the car her moutl
was bloody and II was feared the II,
tie one was badly injured She. seem
ed to go through The ordeal bravel
as she did not even cry. Both ar
getting along nicely today.
Arthur schofeld. brother OF Dale
received n broken rib which protrud
ed through the iesn and also othe
injuries, some of which were feare,
would prove fatadl, but he liz recover
ing and will undoubtedly pull througl
all right
Mr.. Harris, the railway postal clerk
received injuries that Will keep hin
in the hospital some days. When tn
car went over he was thrown on hi
head and until in the afternoon
was thought ha was only slightly in
jured but 1t developed later that hi
kidneys were hurt and yesterday n
was unable to leave the bed and in
good deal of pam. He is resting easie
this morning and It Is hoped he vii
pull through without serious results
He is at Mercy hospital aud his Nv,
sisters have been notified but the,
viii not come Unless he gets worse
He telephoned To Durango ior Post
master Raymond to 20 ami iook afte
his mail which was brough5 TO Du
range. the registered matter bein,
held and worked over. There beir,
no mail car attached TO the train
special was made up Ht 1880 and onl!
through letter mail east of Tuebl,
and Denver was sent out.
Altogether. The accident was for
tunate one as u is wonder severa
we're not killed or more seriously in
tured. Hundreds OF men ami wor e.
visited the scene of the wreck ant
marvelled tina. any escaped withou
injury.