Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-10
Man Named Teapotch Fatally
Injured by Train

An accident occurred tails morning
In the nature of what has long BEEN
feared. at the crossing Of First ave
nue. and Fourteenth street where Ria
Grande trains run diagonally across
the square. When the Silverton pas
senger train came down this morn
ing at 9;l5. Joseph Teapotch was
crossing the street at that point, and
being near the track the engins
whistled warning but from all that
can be learned Teapotch appeared to
disregard the warning and stepped
right into the track instead OF turn-
ing away. The guard or cow-catcher
caught him by the ankle Of the left
leg, and he appeared to lay hold or
grab the guard In an effort to save
himself. He is said to have been
carried a distance OF fully 300 feet
after being picked up. and after I'm
gineer Hurley. who has temporarily
taken Jack McCabes run, had whis-
tied warning. He rolled on his
lodging near switchboard above the
lime kiln, which ls Just south Of the
electric light plant. where q crowd
gathered at once. Among them were
women and children, the women e.
cited from the fear they live In in that
quarter lest the children be caught
by passing trains.
Miss Visa Lake was among the frst
on the ground, and she tried to lift
the heavy weight OF the injured man
to sitting posture.
He was picked up and taken 70
Mrs. Barker's, In the old BATH house,
where ne was given such temporary
relief as the doctors could offer. and
was then taken to Mercy hospital,
under the care Of DR.. Turrell, assist-
ed by DR.. Lackey.
More minute Investigation begun
about noon when 1t was learned that
the skull was fractured. the broken
bones depressing the brain, and the
scalp almost torn from the skull.
His nose is broken; the 11th and 18th
ribs on the right side fractured; tAs
left leg with compound comminutsd
fracture, the bones protrudinS
through the flesh.
One side Is paralyzed and the st-
tending doctors express little hspe
for his recovery.
At 2 O'Clock this afternoon tAs aoe
tors began to remove the bru1EeA
bones OF the skull and to remove .
heavy clot Of blood from the brain.
trephining the skull.
Mrs. Barker who saw the accident.
says Teapotch appeared to fail TO
hear the warning given by Hnstnses
Hurley, or else disregarded Il
Someone is reported to have said
that Teapotch said when picked up
that he wanted TO die, anyway. Dr..
Turrell says he nss not been more
than semi-consciols since nurt and
does not appear 10 want to talk
about the AFFAIR though be may be
In a mesure consciors TO do 20.
Teapotch was hurt severely about
the head and body In an accident In
the Ute coal mine near Hesuerus .
few years ago, and is said to have
been hit over the head with = heavy
instrument In some slterc&tion after
that time. He is an Austrian BY
birth, ordinarily reticent and moross.
a degree morbid. at times fancying
more trouble than he had. Ha y .
brother Of Andrew Teapotch and has
two sisters here. one OF them ths
wife OF G. Ziperrian, one Of the OWL
ers Of the Second street stables He
bad been working recently in one OF
the coal mines at Hesperus- He had
large screw-driver In his hand When
the accident occurred.
Engineer Hurley was seen this at
ernoon BY q reporter when hs said
the accident was the greatest sur.
prise ho ever experienced since b
has been engaged In operating tFalns
He said he whistled to give tAe nau
warning after ne had already xhistisd
to enter the yard At the crossing
When he saw the man be was o. u
fireman's side, after be saw him stsI
i. into the track ne supposed hs Aa<
stepped out again and gotten ava,
/ from danger. 20 he did not tyy Il
slow the train till he looked bscl
: and saw = crowd gathering. Hal b,
known the man was caught - ooul,
= have stopped the train sooner. Nj
!, Hurley said he thought tAs ilAA mss
: be either desf or indiRsrsat y III
: danger.
q Teapotch has no family, but ~
. brothsrs John and Hsnry hAvo ~
+ lilies living here.