Some Early 4th Div. accidents, etc.

April 17, 1889 San Luis Valley Courier- Alamosa
Yard Master Broad meet with a very painful accident Tuesday morning, had his thumb mashed, while coupling cars. Dr. Estates was at once called and dressed the wound.

On the 14th the westward bound freight on the D&RG met with what came very near being a serious accident. At Mud tunnel, one mile west of Toltec gorge. The train was running at a speed of twelve miles per hour, struck a mass of earth and rock which had caved in from the mountain side, which threw the engine against the tunnel’s mouth knocking down the timber supporting it. The engine No. 68 was pretty badly demolished but very little damage was done to the cars with the exception of breaking a few draw head bolts. Engineer George Riddle and Fireman Wendle came very near losing their lives, the latter was caught under the tender and came near being scalded to death by the escaping steam he was taken out in an unconscious condition but soon recovered. Great praise is due the engineer and fireman for the heroic manner in which they acted under these trying circumstances. The debris has been cleared away and trains running as usual.

April 24, 1889:
Since the change in the time card the D&RG will run a chair car between this point and Cucharas to connect with the broad gauge through train to Denver.

Jack Hanlan is now running a freight train. He says he prefers it because there is just as much money in it and not half of the strain on the constitution, besides it gives a man an opportunity of wearing out his old clothes.
A landslide in Black Canon caused a wreck on the Rio Grande road last week in which Fireman North was killed and Engineer Ryan seriously injured.