Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1909-12-13

of yesterday, which have happened
on the Las vegas-Albuquerque divi-
sion onI, recently, according to re-
ports given out by local railroad men.
However, the death Of Fireman Sky
les is the first fatality to result from
such an accident. When the tender
parted from engine 1913, the safety
chains also broke, and to this fact is
probably due the death Of Skyles, for
had these chains held, he might have
been able to secure hold on them
and saved himself from falling be-
meath the train.
Only a week or so ago, an accident
identical with the one of yesterday
with the exception that the fireman
escaped death, occurred on Glorieta
mountain, when engine No. 909, En-
gineer Milroy at the throttle, broke
in two while helping the Chicago Linn
tied up the mountain. Fireman Ball,
was Just in the act of opening the
firebox door at the time, and managed
to hang onto the chain attached to
the door. which kept him from fall
ing beneath the tender. Engineer
Milroy opened up his engine to keep
the tender from catching the fireman.
Ball finally managed to climb back
into the cab again.
Fireman Miscal H. Skyles. while
a native of Texas, had been reared
and educated in Boise, Idaho, where
his father, wealthy cattleman, re-
sides. He was 23 years of age and
had been employed by the Santa Fe
company only about two months. He
had been connected previous to that
time with the Denver G. Rio Grande
railroad running out of Grand june
ton, Colo, and with the Northern
Pacific out of Ogden, Utah, serving
in the capacity of fireman in both in.
stances.
Married Three Weeks Ago.
One of the most pathetic incidents
of the tragedy is that Skyles was on
ly recently married in Albuquerque TO
Miss Sadie Pavey, of Grand Junction,
Colo, the wedding ceremony having
been performed on November z5th.
Fireman Skyles was not a member of
any order, but had made application
to become a member OF the Brother
hood of Locomotive Fireman. in
which order he would have been In
itiated on December 18th. He carried
an accident policy with the Pacific
Mutual Life Insurance company in the
sum of s. 500, which~in death amounts
to $1,000. The deceased had male |
many friends during his short resi-
ience in Las Vegas. He was q young
man who was well thought of wherev
er he was known and possessed those
sterling qualities which go to make
a good man. He was a valuable man
in the service of the Santa Fe com
pany and would have no doubt been
promoted in time to be an engineer
Besides the broken-hearted widow,
Mr. Skyles leaves a father, brother
and two sisters to mourn his sad and
untimely death.
The remains, which were brought
to this city this morning On No. 5,
from Lamy, will be shipped to Grand
Junction, Colo, the home Of the
brides parents, for burial, probably
tomorrow by ]. c. johnson AMI Son,
undertakers.
Coroner's Verdict.
The following is the verdict return
ed by the coroner's jury, which held
an inquest at Lamy yesterday after
noon:
I'VE, the undersigned jurors, finL
that Mr.. M. H. Skyles met his death
by the breaking of the draw bar and
engine and tender parting. Tender
and train running over him, thereby
being crushed to death, about the
hour of 9:35 a. M, of December IL,
1909. Both legs being crushed and
right arm.
Signed,
JOHN j. DURKIN, Pres.
wv. ]. GIBBS, Sec.
"E. ]. NELSON, Juror,
&c. GARCIA, Juror.
Jos. Wielennan, Juror,
."BASELIO PEREA, Juror.
"EUSELIO GONZALES,
Justice of the Peace Prect No. IL.
PRESIDENT TO SPEAK