The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-06
LOCOMOTIVE EXPLODES ON PASS;
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN
KILLED

Robert Thomas Dobbie, familiarly
known as Tom Dobbie, veteran engin-
eer of the third division, was killed
instantly and his fireman, Elmer E.
Lindsey of Sargent, was fatally in
iured at 8:15 o'clock Monday morning
when their engine, No. 451, exploded
ct Shawano, just west of Marshall Pass.
The boiler was blown several hundred
feet into the air and alighted $50 feet
down the embankment. Mr.. Dobbie
was blown through the right side of
the cab against the hill and was
picked up dead few yards from his
engine Mr.. Lindsey was blown out
the opposite side of the cab and was
found 200 feet from the engine down
the embankment.
Mr. Lindsey and the body of Mr..
Dobbie were placed on train and
hurried to Salida. Mr.. Lindsey died
at the Rio Grande hospital at 500
Monday afternoon. His back was
broken and he was badly burned
about the head and arms.
Mr.. Lindsey regained consciousness
several times for "a few moments,
His wife hurried over from Sargent
and was with him until he died. He
recognized her and answered few
questions briefly, but said he was in
great pain. He did not discuss the
accident.
Mr.. Dobbie also was burned about
the face and head No bones were
broken in his body. His spectacle
case was bent and the glasses shiv-
cred.
The ill-fated engine was the lead
locomotive on freight train that was
climbing up Marshall Pass on the way
to Salida They had stopped at Sha-
wano water tank half hour before
and had only gone a quarter mile
when the explosion occurred, The
train was in charge of Conductor
Fred Rhodes. c. L. Shively. conduc-
tor on a passenger train which pre-
ceded the freight, witnessed the ex-
plosion from the top of the mountain.
The cause of the accident may be de-
termined when the government in
spects the boiler. The boiler will not
be touched until the government has
inspected it, but the engine was
brought into the Salida shops on its
own wheels. The cab and boiler
were blown off the frame.
Mr.. Dobbie was born in Paterson,
N, j., Dec. IL, 1859. He attended
school until he was II years old, when
he was apprenticed to blacksmith
and horseshoer in Germantown, Pa
After completing his trade he came
to Salida his brother Harry having
preceded him here. He was one of
the first crew of blacksmiths en-
ployed in the Salida shops. During
the strike of 1885 he went to st.
Louis and worked at horseshoeing for
two years and while in that city he
was married to Miss Mary McAvoy.
He returned to Salida and entered
the engine service on the third divi-
sion, remaining there until his death.
| Mr.. Dobbie made his headquarters
at Sargent for the last two years
and had "helper" run from Sargent
to the. top of the pass. His family
remained in Salida, He was in Salida
Monday of last week to visit his fam
iyl, He is survived by his wife and
two sons, R. T. Dobbie, Jr., of Salida,
and Cochems Dobbie of Lodi, Calf.
He is also survived by two brothers,
Harry and Alex Dobbie both of Salida,
and two sisters, Mrs. Katie DeWeese
and Miss Anna Dobbic, both of Phil
adelphia.
Mr.. Dobbie was member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and of the Masonic lodge at Colum-
bus, KY. He lived at S42 E street.
Arrangements for the funeral have
not been made.
Mr.. Lindsey was born in Lindale,
Texas, in 1898. He came to Colorado
March 5, and worked at mine for a
few weeks He entered the engine
service at Gunnison six weeks ago,
and was transferred to Sargent three
weeks ago He is survived by his wife.
who lived with him at Sargent, and
by his mother who lives in Spaven-
burg, Texas. He spent several years
at LeMesa, Texas, and the body will
be sent there for burial.-Salida Mail.