111 Years Ago
The August 26, 1915 Colorado Transcript describes a series of unfortunate events happening around Golden.
- Auto accidents of that era were frequent and often grotesque. "Auto Plunges Through Iron Railing Into Ditch" describes an accident involving a car occupied by six people. They were driving at night, at a high rate of speed, and had been drinking. The driver was attempting to pass another car when he crashed into a bridge over the Arapahoe ditch. The 2-inch pipe railing of the bridge passed through the radiator, between the occupants of the front seat, and out the roof.
The occupants were thrown into the water and the machine toppled over after them, but all escaped injury. The driver claimed that the accident happened because the "bridge moved." - Mrs. Williams "had a narrow escape when her car was crushed between a heavy truck and one of the sight seeing cars. Her car was badly damaged, but Mrs. Williams escaped without injury."
- In other news. a local farmer (aged 68) "died as a result of injuries caused by the kick of a horse."
- A 1915 Mines graduate, former captain of the football team, was examining mining properties in Mexico (which was in the midst of a revolution). "Captured by belligerent Mexicans at a point just over the line from Texas, placed against a wall to be shot [he was] saved only by the opportune arrival upon the scene of United States consular officials."
- A 22-year-old man was killed on the roller coaster at Lakeside Amusement Park. "His body was frightfully mangled." The coroner brought him to Golden and conducted an inquest. Several people testified that the young man had been standing up, reaching out, and trying to grab the cars going the other direction. The jury concluded that "deceased came to his death through his own carelessness."
- The Shelly household had a particularly bad week. "Mrs. Shelley, in attempting some surgery on a sick cow, cut her hand in a terrible manner." Her sister rushed to her aid. "While she was thus engaged her baby drank a quantity of turpentine and became seriously ill. Then the cow passed away."
