Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-05-11

aminer Is called upon to perform
this week, for besides chronicling
the death of one of Montpelier's old
time citizens, we are also compelled
TO record the unexpected and untime-
ly death of Harry L. Rleck. one of
the city's bright and worthy young
men. HIS death came without
moments warning while in the dis
charge of his duties as brakeman
for the Short Line Railroad Com
pany. And what makes his demise
doubly sad is, that 1t occurred at
the same place and in similar
manner to that which caused the
death of Oswald Short a few years
ago, and later came very nearly
causing the death of Lon Suagner.
The particulars of Harry's death
are about as follows: He was COM
ing in on freight last Monday
evening. When the train pulled
out of Cokeville he and William
Horsely, the head brakeman, sat on
box car aud conversed until the
train was within a few miles of
Pegram, when Harry remarked that
he was getting chilly and started
over the train toward the caboose.
AT the same time Horsely started
for the engine. This was the last
time Harry was seen alive.
Between the caboose and the car
on which the men were riding,
there were several fat cars loaded
with rails and then more box cars.
In order 10 get over the train. Harry
had to climb down the side ladder
on the box car, swing over onto the
fiat cars and likewise he had to
swing around onto the ladder of the
next box car. Brakeman Horsely
says ne noticed Harry going down
the ladder to get onto the fat cars,
SO it was while he was about to
climb the next car that he was sud-
denly hurled into eternity, by being
struck by the bridge over Bear
river, about mile east of Pegram.
The other trainmen were not
I aware of the accident until the train
arrived at Montpelier at $50, al.
though Conductor Mike Byrnes felt
somewhat concerned because oil
Harry's failure to return to the
caboose, as was his custom. A,
soon as the train pulled into tn,
I yards here Conductor Byrnes made
. inquiry about Harry, and Horsel,
:. tod of parting with him, as abov,
related. A thorough search wa
J. then made of the train but no trac,
. of Harry was found. Il then dawnet
upon the men that some acciden
had befallen Harry, and all were o
u the opinion that he had been struc
by the Pegram bridge.
As quickly as possible, Conducto
: Byrnes, with a number of railroa
= boys, started back over the roa
J. with an engine and caboose, and NJ
= on arriving at the bridge in questio
= they found what they had expected
- but what they had hoped would nc
u be 50. The first evidence that toll
&c them Harry had met his death, wa
- the finding of his broken Lantern
lodged on the bridge. Further il
u spection showed where his body ha
o struck an iron plate. on the pier,
y falling into the river.
=. The men set about, as best the
ef could by lantern lights, 10 scare
tor the body, first suspending n.
20 work of wire from the bridge SON
~ distance below to prevent the bod
e, being carried further down stream
NJ Early Tuesday morning an addition
10 al force of men went out from tow
70 and search was diligently prosecute
Al 2:l5 that afternoon their effor
~ were rewarded, as the raft on whie
no Arthur Huff and John Perkins we
al' working, and to which drag n
;ai wac attached, struck the body abol