1.            Description of William E Rhinehart’s accident.

2.            Coroner’s Inquest into death of William E Rhinehart

3.         Article about William E Rhinehart’s insurance policies

4.         Article about William Rhinehart’s funeral.

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1.            Description of William E Rhinehart’s accident (Eveline E Sellers, Isaac Sellers, Martha Rodman, Roseann Cusac, Andrew John Cusac)

W E. RHINEHART CRUSHED TO DEATH BENEATH WHEELS OF LOCOMOTIVE ON SEVENTH STREET

        Prominent Business Man, Dazed and

  Bleeding from Previous Hurt,

Wanders Onto Tracks and Is Killed

INQUIRY BY JURY

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            Walking directly in front of a west-bound freight train at the foot of Seventh street at noon today, W. E. Rhinhart, a prominent business man of this city, was struck, run over and mangled, death ensuing instantly. The tragedy was enacted in plain view of at least half a dozen persons, the majority of whom are connected with the Grand Junction Fruit Growers’ Association near the office and shipping station of which the awful fatality occurred.

            According to thorough investigations made by the coroner’s jury, relatives and friends of the deceased, it has developed that Mr. Rhinehart went to his implement warehouse near the railroad tracks for some purpose. While there he appears to have caught his left leg on a plowshare, and, in trying to free himself, overturned another upon his leg, the points of the two blades nearly meeting near the kneecap of the left leg.

   Marked by Trail of Blood.

            He is supposed to have tried to cut his trousers leg with his pocket knife in an effort to get the wound, and then sought about the building for something with which to bind up the bleeding wound. His trail of blood marks only too well the frantic efforts to find something whereby the flow of blood might be staunched.

            From the warehouse Mr. Rhinehart went to a shed a little northeast of the warehouse, apparently still in search for wire or other means of checking the crimson stream which by this time was gushing freely.

            Not finding what he was looking for, he left the shed and wandered aimlessly about the premises, gradually approaching the railroad tracks, thinking, as it is supposed, in his dazed and weakened condition to reach the Fruit Growers’ offices and get help.

            Walks in Front of Freight Train.

            He stepped on the tracks just as the freight train from the east came thundering down the rails; and, unheeding or unconscious of the engine whistle and the cries of Head-Brakeman Burdette, who was riding on the pilot of the engine, Mr. Rhinehart was seen to throw up his hands, turn toward the engine and fall across the tracks, the wheels of the locomotive passing over his body. His skull was crushed in at the frontal bone, a hole was dug into the base of the brain, and both legs were crushed and mangled.

                        Pocket Knife Is Discovered.

            Later search of the premises disclosed the pocket-knife with which he is supposed to have slashed his trousers, lying among the canvas and sacking, soaked with blood. The plowshares, also show blood stains where the wounds spurted blood as the blades entered the leg.

            Coroner Day attended to having the remains taken to the morgue at the Stough undertaking parlors, and then swore in a jury for an investigation. They made a survey of the premises and the track at the scene of the accident, examined the body and clothing and will hear the evidence of eye-witnesses tomorrow, after which a verdict will be rendered.

                        Planned Birthday Celebration.

            Mr. Rhinehart was a man about 48 years of age, and had planned a celebration for his coming birthday on August 18, when he and W. P. Stough and Mr. Stough’s eldest son, whose birthdays fall on the same day, were to have enjoyed an outing.

            The family was at once notified and a telegram sent to the mother in Kansas. Funeral arrangements will be perfected probably tomorrow, and interment will probably be held in this city.

                        Enginemen Horrified.

            The engine was stopped in remarkably quick time due to the cool headed work of Engineer Thos. Carr, who is known as one of the best engineers employed on the Denver and Rio Grande. Only the pony truck passed over the body and when the horrified engineer and fireman stepped out from the cab and Head Brakeman Burdett had stepped from the pilot where he was riding, the mangled remains lay almost wholly under the engine. Conductor Mike Madden issued strict orders that the body should not be touched and Coroner Day was at once summoned to the scene. In record breaking time he was on the spot and with half an eye it was easily ascertained that the railroad men were totally blameless.

            Witnesses stated that the brakeman, Burdett, was riding on the front end of the engine and that both the engineer and brakeman shouted for Rhinehart to look out and jump back from the path of the steel monster.

              News Spread Quickly.

            The ambulance of the Undertaker Stough drove up and the mashed and shredded remains were loaded in and taken to the morgue on Main between Sixth and Seventh streets in front of which an awe struck crowd has stood all afternoon.

            Bulletins of both papers were placed in the windows about town and the news quickly spread. A son of the unfortunate father was down town in his automobile when the news was received and to him the news was first broken. Kind friends then took upon themselves to break the heart rending news to the mother and daughter, who were prostrated with grief when the tiding reached their ears.

                        Eyewitnesses of Tragedy.

            Among the eyewitnesses of the tragedy were John F. Moore, Ed Hartnett, Carl Rupp and Lester Johnson, a brother-in-law of the dead man.

            While their statements vary in nonessentials they practically agree that Mr. Rhinehart paid no heed to the whistle of the locomotive or to the cries of those who saw and realized the peril he was in.

            Whether he heard the warnings and was physically powerless to act, or whether he was too near unconsciousness at the time to hear the alarms and thus met his death unwittingly, may never be known for a certainty.

            Enough is known, however, to establish the fact that he walked deliberately on the track, failed to get out of the way when warned and was cut to pieces by the wheels of the freight engine of the westbound train, before the locomotive could be stopped.

            The early arrival of an ambulance and removal of the remains, however, was not rapid enough to overtake the report of the terrible tragedy as the saddening news spread throughout the city with the rapidity of wildfire.

            Quiet groups of men could be seen on every street corner and in front of nearly every business establishment, whispering the tidings and voicing their regret at the sudden and awful termination of the life of their fellowtownsman.

             Family of Deceased.

            The deceased leaves a widow and two children, - Earl, a young man but recently graduated fro the local high schools, and a younger daughter, Margery, -- to whom the loss of husband and father will come with the awful shock that accompanies the death of companion, indulgent parent and generous supporter of the family circle.

            The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the afflicted family in the dark hour of their bereavement, and all that can be done to allevate their distress of heart and soul will be done by loving friends and neighbors.

                  His Business Career.

            W. E. Rhinehart was one of the old time residents and business men of this city. He originally owned the splendid ranch which he later sold to J. W. Osborn.

            For about four months he was associated in the feed and implement business with J.A. McCulloch, withdrawing from the connection to take over the similar business of Lee and Dudley on the corner of Main and Sixth street two years ago last April.

            A few months ago he contracted his business to the rooms in the eastern part of the building and confined himself largely to vehicles and to selling out his stock of farm implements.

            This he hoped would give him time to devote his attention largely to the automobile business, in which line he was an enthusiast, always having several machines on hand, either for sale or in his private ownership.

                 The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Wed 06 Jul 1910 p. 1

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2.            Coroner’s Inquest into death of William E Rhinehart

                        ACCIDENTAL SAY RHINEHART JURORS

            “That the said deceased came to his death by being struck by a train of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway company after he had fainted upon the track because of loss of blood on account of an injury accidentally received by him in his warehouse; and we further find that the said accident occurred without fault or negligence on the part of anyone and was not felonious.” Verdict of the coroner’s jury in the matter of the death of William E. Rhinehart in this city yesterday.

            At 3:15 this afternoon, Coroner Day convened the jury to hold the final session of the inquest over the death of William E. Rhinehart whose demise occurred at noon yesterday.

            The first witness was Frank R. Davis of the Fruit Growers’ Association. He stated that he saw the man on the track when the engine whistled; that he seemed dazed or weak; that he threw up his hands and fell across the track, when the train was not 100 feet away, and that he seemed to turn around when he fell. The train was not moving at more than 5 miles an hour when it struck the deceased.

            Lester Johnson, a brother-in-law of the dead man, also saw the tragedy. His testimony was similar to that of Mr. Davis, except that he stated that he saw Mr. Rhinehart’s legs move after he had fallen.

            Carl K. Rupp of the association seemed to have seen more and acted quicker than any of the other witnesses. He declared that Mr. Rhinehart paid no attention to the engine whistle, but threw up his hand and either stumbled or threw himself across the north rail. Mr. Rupp declared that he did not see the deceased limp while walking. The engine, he said, rolled the body about 300 feet after striking him. After the accident Mr. Rupp inspected the remains, and then went to the warehouse and followed the trail of blood which the injured man had left in his wanderings. He stated that the small steel plow had blood on the point for about 4 inches.

            Thomas Carr, the engineer of the train which hit Mr. Rhinehart, said that he saw the man walking too close to the track, and he blew his whistle to warn him. The man paid no attention to the whistle said Mr. Carr, but fell over in a few seconds right in front of the engine. The man did not limp, but his trousers leg was bloody when he fell.

            The evidence of the other witnesses was largely to the same effect as that related in yesterday’s Sentinel and given in the foregoing.

                 The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Thurs. 07 Jul 1910

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3.         Article about William E Rhinehart’s insurance policies

              W. E. RHINEHART CARRIED MUCH INSURANCE

            The funeral of the late William E. Rhinehart will be held at 10 o’clock tomorrow forenoon from the Congregational church. An elegant casket is being prepared by Undertaker Stough. It is quartered golden oak, silver mounted and richly lined with silk.

            Later developments in the tragedy which so shocked the community, add interest to many circumstances connected with it.

            Mr. Rhinehart carried a large amount of insurance, in fact the grand total is $28,000. Of this amount the Northwestern had $10,000, the Prudential another large policy as well as the Providence Savings, and one other company, the name of which is not given. In addition to the foregoing ordinary life policies, he also carried $5,000 accident insurance.

            He had shown much concern of last as to his standing with the companies regarding his premiums, for some of which he had given his notes already overdue. But as the companies had issued receipts in exchange for the notes, the insurance is valid. A local agent for one of the companies had endorsed Mr. Rhinehart’s note for the premium which paid him up to August 25^th next. This note was overdue and the agent had called at the Main street store of Mr. Rhinehart to see if he was ready to take up the note, at practically the same hour when Mr. Rhinehart met his death at the foot of Seventh street.

            Mr. Rhinehart was not a member of any fraternal order so far as can be ascertained, yet he had a large circle of friends to whom he frequently confided regarding his business matters. He seemed to realize that he was carrying a larger business burden than he could successfully pull through, yet he was insistent that his standing with the insurance companies be maintained at least to the extent that the insurance would not lapse.

            Practically all of the policies are made payable to the widow, so that she will be well provided for financially regardless how the settlement of his business affairs may leave her.

            Another peculiar circumstance connected with the actions of the deceased near the time of his taking off, was the filing on July 6, the day of his death, of two chattle mortgages: one was to James B. Masser for $465. 50, on his horses, harness and wagon. The other was to Warren Walker for $300 on all the harness, saddles, collars, bridles, hardware, robes, blankets and merchandise belonging to him. From this it will be seen readily that he was hard pushed for ready money, and was nearly crazed with worry over his financial condition.

                 The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Thurs. 07 Jul 1910

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4.         Article about William Rhinehart’s funeral.

                        RHINEHART FUNERAL LARGELY ATTENDED

                 Last Sad Rites Performed for Citizen

                Who Met With a Most Tragic

              Fate.  Services are Held at

                        Congregational Church.

                    A STRONG SERMON IS PREACHED

            All that was mortal of the late W. E. Rhinehart was laid to rest in the presence of scores of tearful friends standing with uncovered heads, in Orchard Mesa cemetery at 11 o’clock today, at the bier, covered with floral offerings, was a striking tribute of the prominence of the deceased wand of the esteem in which he was held by the people of the Grand valley.

            The services were held in the Congregational church, and the large auditorium was none too large to accommodate the audience which was composed of sincere and intimate friends and the relatives of the late Mr. Rhinehart.

            The sermon and prayer pronounced by Rev. Lane were indeed a powerful lesson, and the invocation of the Lord’s blessing and the glowing tribute which the speaker paid to the departed life brought tears to the eyes of all, and yet could but comfort the grief-stricken family and the inconsolable host of friends to whom the loss of a noble character and loving friend seemed to leave a gap and a vacancy in life. It emphasized and clearly pointed out the fact that the parting is but for a short time and that a Christian life is a success, and that the purpose of that life is accomplished when the beckoning hand takes back that which He has given and ends the worldly service of the Lord to enlist in that life in the Lord’s service of eternity.

            The musical selections of the quartet were beautiful. The harmonious blending of the well trained voices, lifted in sincere praise of the Creator and the bending of the will to His omnipresent power, told of the acquiescence of the worldly to the will of the immortal God as beautifully as the touching words of the pastor.

            Following the last selection of the choir, Rev. Lane pronounced the benediction and the pall bearers carried the bier to the hearse, and the long file of carriages composing the funeral procession moved from the church to the cemetery, where, after short services, the body was lowered to its last resting place.

            The pall bearers were close friends and associates of the deceased and were seven in number – Charles S. Horahan, Howard Piatt, Henry Nichols, W. H. Bannister, S. N. Wheeler, W. E. Page and J. F. Byers.

                 The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Fri. 08 Jul 1910 p. 1