Semi-weekly herald., 1907-11-07
LAND INSPECTA
WALKER KILLED
from Mondays Daily)

uIli' HFiu' At ih' il'op'A Goh
mine near Hesperus. There was one
witness TO the shooting VIM. Mason
the mine superintendent. Immediate
ly after the killing Messrs. Wander
weide and Mason rode to Hesperus
anJ telephoned Sheriff Clark. District
Attorney Pulliam and the coroner OF
The tragedy and then started Tor Du.
iango TO give themselves up AS soon
as they could get ready the above
officers started for the scene. When
about three miles from town they met
Mr.. Mason and Mr.. Vandcrweide
Sheriff Clarke placed them under ar.
rest and took them back to Porter
where he deputized Dan Kight to take
charge and bring them to this place.
Arriving here they We're accorded ey-
cry privilege except MIR. kight accom-
panied them. They had dinner and
then put in the time at the Offices OF
ihe Porter Fuel company. until 5
o'clock when they We're taken in
charge by Undersherin Robert Dale
who remained with them at the office
until in the evening, then took them
TO the Palace hotel where they were
kept during the night. This forenoon
the two men were allowed to be about
Sheriff Clarke being in charge
After placing Messns Mason and
Vanderweide in charge of Dan Kight
Sheriff Clarke and those with him
continued to the scene where they
found Messrs. j. h. Chapson and
Thomas Harper guarding Mr.. Walkers
body and keeping away II crowd that
had congregated from Hesperus. I'm
dertaker George Goodman. under di-
lection of the coroner and officers.
had the body conveyed to the ambu-
lance in waiting and all returned to
Durango. Messrs. Clarke. Pulliam lie
Furgy and Chapson arriving about
O'Clock and the remains an hour or
so later.
the story of the tragedy, uhtil the
full facts are brought out at the cor
oner's inquest. must be somewhat dis
connected and subject to change as
neither Mr.. Mason nor Mr. Wander
weide would make an official state
ment. nor would any of the govern.
inent officials have anything to say for
publication either last evening or this
morning. Mr.. Walker and the other
men are under l.. c. Wheeler who is
in charge of all Colorado matters. Mr..
Wheeler was notified of the killing BY
wire. Sunday and will probably ar
rive this evening to make thorough
investigation.
Mr.. Vanderweide refused to make
any kind of a statement. Mr.. Mason
made the following statement: "Nr
Vanderweide and myself had been ont
one horseback for Il couple of hours
riding over the ground of the com
pany and surrounding hills. | die
not know that any government mel
We're on the property. Returning t,
liesperus and coming down steep
hill where the air shaft is located
about a mile from the mouth of the
main opening, | was walking leading
the horse. Nearing the air shaft a
man called to MS to halt. | replied
Who are You and what do you want?
and continued down the hill. The
man, whom | did not recognize at the
time. again called to halt and not
doing so fired one shot which went
wild and was about to fire again when
Mr.. Vanderweije. who was few
yards behind havin a shotgun loaded
with buckshot aimed at the man and
fired and he fell over dead. After a
Few minutes inve tigation we proceed.
ed to Hesperus, telephoned he Off.
GERS and started to town That is all
have to say
In this connection is stated that
Messrs. Mason and VanderweIde DIS
covered a rope ladder in the shaft and
not knowing who were down detached
the rope and let it drop down the
shaft, thinking thereby TO force the
men to come out at the maiu open.
ing. But Tom Harper. one OF the par.
Ties in the mine. being coal miner
himself and used to climbing about
was able to climb up through the
shaft and fasten the rope so the others
could come up
From what can be learned Mr.
Walker left Durango Friday for Hes
perus accompanied by J. L. Chapson
the geological expert who has been
engaged in special work for the de
partment of justice in this sector
the past year or two, and T. ]. Cal
1aghan. special employe of the gov
ernment who has been here for abou
four weeks From facts unofficial,
brought ont II is known these men
accompanied by Thomas Harper o
Hesperus. in the employ of the gov
ernment. were on the grounds of tn.
Hesperus mine Sunday, Mr. Wake
being on the surface when Messrs
Mason and Vanderweide came along
while the other three were in tn
mine going down the air shaff I,,,,