Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-01-07
Raymond Anheier and E. L.
Ware Victims Of Rail-
road Accident
While Engineer Roberts is
Severely Injured

From Fridays Daily Herald.
One OF the most distressing acci-
dents In the history OF railroading in
La Plata county took place this
morning about $3.50 o'clock. resulting
In the instant killing of two men and
the serious injury of another.
The dead are:
RAYMOND ANHEIER. son Of Mr..
and Mrs. A. NJ. Anheier OF this city
IA L. WARE. Durango.
The injured:
ELLIS ROBERTS. the old-time en-
gineer, residing on Fifth avenue.
The accident occurred on the
branch line to the Calumet coal mine.
probably better known as Perin's
peak. The train, in charge of Con-
ductor Russell Berry with Ellis Rob
erts at the throttle and Fred Abe
fireman, left the Durango yards about
8 o'clock en- route to the coal mine
with empty cars. Everything went
smoothly until reaching a long curve
about three miles from where the
branch line leaves the main road.
when suddenly a rail snapped, tipping
the locomotive over on its left side,
turning at about right angles and
sliding down the hill about forty feet.
The train was moving slowly and
Fireman Albee felt the jar and was
In position to jump. thus escaping
without injury. Engineer Roberts
was thrown through the window
when the locomotive toppled over
and down the hill just ahead of the
monster landing against big tree
where he was picked up and taken
to the caboose until the arrival of the
relief train. Anheier and Ware were
riding on the tender. being en- route
to the water tank to fix some defect.
Anheier was caught under the tender
and his skull crushed and otherwise
mutilated, but Just how bad will not
be known until the body Is taken out
OF the wreck. Ware was caught un-
der the tender and his skull also
crushed. but not so badly. Both
bodies were pinned under the engine
and tender and the ground will have
to be dug from underneath or the
engine and tender raised to get them
out.
The news was sent to Durango and
received about Q and as soon as the
passenger departed for the east a
special was made up and with Assist
ant Superintendent McAtee. Drs
Lackey and Hurd and several others.
left for the scene OF the accident AS
1t would take some time to release
the dead men, 1t was thought best to
return to Durango with Mr.. Roberts
and make another trip this afternoon
with additional men and wrecking
appliances. Mr.. Roberts was taken
TO his home on Fifth avenue. where
he Is resting as easily as could be
expected. his injuries consisting OF
bruises. one side. knee cap and few
cuts about the face and head. The
attending physician, DIR. Hurd. re
ported this afternoon that he felt
there were no internal injuries and
no bones broken. the injury to the
knee cap not being as bad as at first
supposed, and there were no ribs
broken.
Raymond Anheier was 10 years old
He has been with the railroad com
pany most OF the time the past two
years. He was bright, industrious
young man and will be remembered
by many through helping his father
In bill posting and cleaning wall pa
per. His death has about prostratet
both father and mother, while the
remaining boys, three. are sorely
grieved. The blow was specially
hard on Mr.. Anheier. He was In the
waiting room at the depot this morn
Ing awaiting the arrival of the pass
enser from Silverton. A Herald re
porter. who had just been informed o.
the accident. going into the room
walked up to Mr.. Anheier to console
him, and 1t proved II was the firsi
timation he had that n wreck had
occurred. Mr.. Anheier then asked
Assistant superintendent McAtee
and when informed OF the truth. al
most broke down over the terrible
news. Some friends accompanied
him homo. where another sad ordeal
took plscs-that Of informing the
Ths young man was . member Of
~ Modern Wo0dmen and also the
Red Men. exemplary In his habits