The Glenwood post., 1918-01-26
TWO MEN PLUNGED
TO SUDDEN DEATH
Engineer F. Graham and Fire.
man R. Leininger Killed by
a Runaway Ice Train
PLUNGED INTO RIVER

i,
The Leadville Herald Democrat gives
the following account of the death Of
two Rio Grande employees as a result
of a runaway ice train near Pando:
The body of Fred Graham, 40, of
Minturn, former Leadville man and
since 1898, was recovered yesterday
roon from the Eagle river near Rock
creek, four miles west of Red Cliff,
and that of Roy Leninger, 28, of Sa-
Ida, brakeman, was still unlocateo N
the river last night, after they were
plunged there at 9:18 the previous
night when the i.e train with which
they started from Pando ran away and
jumped the track. Both men were in
stantly killed as the engine and twenty
cars hurtled into the river.
William A. Kavanaugh of Minturn,
also former Leadville man and fire
man or Graham's engine, was thrown
from tht cab tc safety. Injuries 'e.
ceived by him were only minor.
The train, III charge of Conductor
Tom Carlin oe Salida, started from
Pando with forty cars of ice, VIII Ii
had bee', loaded from the Rio Grande
ice pond at that mountain station. On
the heavy down grade from PanGo. the
train started to run away. 1t passed
through. Red Gift at the rate of so or
80 miles an hour, it was reported here,
barely sticking to the rails - 1t rouad-
cd ths deep curve near this station.
Something was believed to have zone
wrong with the engine, according to
railroad men, for Engineer Graham was
, one Of the most experienced and ablest
engineers on the Grande system. AS it
neared Rock Creek, one mile below
Belden, The train was completely out Of
control.
The engine, No. 11O6, left the track
at this point and plunged into the Eagle
river, pinning Graham and Leininger,
who was at the front end of the train,
under the water. The telegraph wires
were broken at 9:1S, it was reported
here, Indicating that the end of the
RUNAWAY occurred at that time as the
engine and ears struck and demolished
the telegraph lines.
Twenty freight cars at the fror. end
of the train were smashed to kindling
and strewn all along the right of way
at Rock creek.
Conductor Carlin, third division
employe, was towards the rear of tn T,
train and escaped injury.
Owing to the double track of the
Rio Grande where the smash-up oc.
CURED traffic was not seriously inter
fered with during the rest of the day.
Wrecking crews from Minturn anil Sa-
Ida spent the day cleaning up the
wreckage, and a crew of men was
steadily engaged looking for the bodies
of the two members of the crew. Lem
inger's body had not yet been recov-
cred last night according to reports
from Red Cliff. Graham's was found
at noon and recovered from the water.
Graham was widely known in Lead
vile, though he, removed to Minturn
;about twelve years ago. His three
children, two girls and boy, to IS
IL LOT "a.
ly to attend school, and they were here
yesterday at their home at the Cadillac
house when they heard the sad news Of
their fathers death.
Kavanaugh, who miraculously es-
capped critical injury, is nephew of
James E. Kavanaugh Of l1l3 Poplar
street, an engineer on the Grande here.
Brakeman Leininger of salida hal
been in the employ of the railroad
only short time, It was said, and was
not known here widely.
Dozens Of railroad men and others
expressed their regret here last night
especially over the death Of Fred Gra-
ham, who was one Of the best liked
employees of the second division. For
number Of years he was an engineer
ton the "Pando Hill passenger run.'
from Minturn TO- Tennessee Pass, and
had given up iris run not great
>, while ago to 90 onto the more .remuner-
ative freight run. He had tbsen- In. the
company's employ since 1898 and, hsi'i
the reputation 6f being one Of vtha