The Delta independent., 1916-03-03
Swept to Death
BY Snow Slide


morning of a snow slide which came
tearing down the mountain side over
in the Black canon district twenty
five miles east of Montrose at about
12 o'clock Wednesday, striking
passenger train No. 315 with terrific
force and carrying the express and
mail cars with it to the river several
yards below.
The express messenger. C. H. Math-
ews, and Earl Levy, captain of the
Centennial high school foot ball team
of Pueblo, who was riding in the car
at the time, are thought to have lost
their lives, as they have not been seen
since and their bodies have not been
recovered. A mail clerk is also reported
to be seriously, If not fatally injured.
One of the passenger coaches is also
said to have been hurled from the
track and many passengers injured.
but up to the present hour full par
ticulars can not be gained
The basket ball team of which Levy
was captain, was on the ill-fated train
and it is altogether likely that num-
ber of these young people were injur-
ed to more or less extent
All telegraph and telephone lines
were badly wrecked by the slide, thus
checking prompt communication with
the outside world
A message from Denver late We'd
naSdau auanino ic 10 ha aff baE
officials of the Denver & Rio Grande
in that city were without definite in
formation regarding the wreck and
that. news would have to be brought
by messenger.
The Grand Junction Montrose train
which makes connection with No. 315
in Montrose and is due in Delta at
3:45 each day, arrived in this city at
IL O'Clock Wednesday night, after wait
ing several hours in Montrose for the
illfated train.
Reports from Pueblo indicate that
a number of passengers we're more or
less injured. Wires were still down
yesterday afternoon and nothing def
mite could be- obtained from the COM
pany here. The wrecked train was
expected through some time last
night.
Just before going to press Independ-
ent received the following information
concerning the wreck, from Montrose.
through the kindness of the Montrose
Press:
The train had reached a point be-
tween mile posts 31S and 319 near
Curicanti, when slide of large pro-
portions was discovered ahead and
which could not be passed. The train
was then backed few hundred feet
and was standing there. when another
slide came down, cutting the train in
two, leaving the engine on the track
and taking out the mail and baggage
cars and one coach. leaving only the
parlor car and one coach at rear end.
The body of Mathews, express mes
senger, was still in the express car
in the river. Young Levy, it was
platform when the slide struck him,
and he was not later seen.
R E. Baetier. of this county. is the
only passenger aboard the train from
Delta. The basket ball team was on
its way to Montrose to play Wednes-
day night. The balance of the mem
bers walked back to Sapinero and
took the train for Pueblo yesterday
afternoon
Conductor Kennison was in charge
of the wrecked train. B. D. Shaw.
train man, found an old telephone
instrument on the train and with this
effected connection with telegraph
wire and thus managed to get word
of the wreck back to Sapinero. From
there word was sent to Gunnison and
wrecking train started to the scene,
but this in turn was blocked by a
snow slide before reaching the scene
of the wreck.