Butler County KS Archives Obituaries.....Giltenbacher, Dick January 30, 1903 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Peggy Luce pegsue59@cox.net January 1, 2007, 4:25 pm Walnut Valley Times, January 30, 1903, XXXIV, Number 2 TWO KILLED Engineer Grover Mettler and Fireman Dick Giltenbacher Killed in a Wreck at Yates Center. Negligence Caused a Terrible Accident Engineer Grover P. Mettler and Fireman Dick Giltenbacher were killed in a wreck at Yates Center this morning shortly before 2:00 o’clock. No. 42, the east bound Mo. P. passenger train due here at 11 o’clock at night, ran into six loaded coal cars on the main line about three quarters of a mile west of the crossing at Yates Center. The collision occurred at the bottom of a grade about 100 feet west of the switch which connects the division with the V. V. I. & W. The cars had been left standing without the brakes set and they had run down onto the main line. The passenger train was in charge of Conuctor Stearns and was about twenty minutes late out of here. It was running fast to make up time. When the crash came the tender was pushed with irresistible force through the cab of the engine and on top of the boiler. Engineer Mettler and Fireman Giltenbacher were buried beneath the debris. The front end of the baggage car was smashed but it was not derailed. The other cars remained on the tracks but were not derailed. The other cars remained on the tracks but were not damaged. A woman passenger and the baggageman were considerably bruised but Mettler and Giltenbacher were the only persons killed. The accident occurred within a few feet of where Engineer Jap Clover and Fireman Colonel Rowan were killed several years ago, and under nearly the same conditions. It was a bad night, snow and sleet made it impossible to see but a short distance in front of the engine. Engineer Mettler, like nearly all Mo. P. trainmen and an innate dread of running into Yates Center. The yards are badly arranged and it seems that more accident happen there than any other place. It was the scene of several unfortunate occurrences and narrow escapes for Grover before his last run. At one time, lat year, the cab of his engine was torn to splinters by a coal chute, “apron” which was hanging down, and he had a narrow escape from being hurt or killed. Last night he did not want to go out on his run went back three times to kiss his mother. Grover P. Mettler is a son of Mrs. S. J. A. Bond, who lives on north Vine street, was born at Horsehead, New York, July 5, 1865. He began railroading at Fort Scott 14 years ago. He wiped for two years, fired six and has been running for six years. When not out on the road he was generally at home with his mother. He was perfectly devoted to her and was her constant companion. His kind-heartedness and geniality made him friends with all he met. He was especially popular with his associates in railroad circles. His brother, Glen is a conductor on the Mexican Central Railroad in Old Mexico and lives at San Luis Potoal, about fifty miles west of the City of Mexico. He was here on a visit a few weeks ago. Miss Anna Mettler, a sister, lives at San Diego, California. Grover was a member of the K. P., A. O. U. W. and B. of L. E. He carried life insurance of $5,000 or more. Mrs. Bond is prostrated with grief over her son’s awful death. He was a kind, loving and dutiful son, her pride, joy and support. He had just built a new home with modern improvements on Waco Avenue in Wichita, that she might spend her declining years in ease and comfort. It was to have been completed within a few weeks and she was looking forward with eager anticipation to the time when they should occupy it together. Firemen Giltenbacher was a young man 26 or 27 years of age. He is a son of Peter Giltenbacher, the night caller who has been in the employ of the Mo. P. here since 1886. He began working as wiper in the round house over two years ago. After working about a year he was promoted to fireman and has been working extra for a year and a half. He was a quiet, conservative character, with a bright and inventive mind and a liking for mechanics. He was the only son of Mr. And Mrs. Peter Giltenbacher and had one sister Anna. He was a hard working, industrious young man, the idol of his mother and the pride of poor old Peter, whose hearts are broken by the loss of their only boy. The wrecking crew was called out last night but did not succeed in removing the bodies from the wreck until afternoon today. They were brought in on the 5:00 o’clock train this evening. The funeral of A. D. Giltenbacher who was killed in the Yates Center wreck Thursday night will be held at the Methodist church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Burns. Interment will take place in Belle Vista cemetery. The arrangements for the funeral of Grover Mettler have not yet been made. The body will be held for several days, awaiting the arrival of his brother from Old Mexico and his sister from California. Walnut Valley Times February 6, 1903 Volume XXXIV, Number 3 IN MEMORIAM Swifter than the lightning's flash, as unexpectedly as a thunderbolt from a clear sky at midday, came the Fable Messenger an din his departure took with him our Bro. A. D. Giltenbacher. Again our circle is broken, our number decimated by the ruthless hand of Death. Again are we left stunned and grieved at its suddenness and reminded of the certainty of life and yet we are never prepared for the change. It takes from us our friends and loved ones and leaves us with broken and bleeding hearts and loneliness inconsolable. But a few days have passed since Bro. Giltenbacher stood before our altar and took the vows which made him an Odd Fellow and our Brother in the sacred bonds of Fraternity. Little did we then think as he then in the full strength of his manhood subscribed to those conditions that so soon we would be called upon to lay him beneath the sod and pay this last sad tribute to his memory. But we meekly bow in humble submission to the decree of the Almighty. Therefore, be it, Resolved by El Dorado Lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., that we sincerely mourn the loss of our Brother and deeply deplore his untimely death. That we extend to his aged parents and only sister our sincerest sympathy in this their hour of bereavement and point them to Him who heals all sorrow and binds up the broken hearts. Resolved, Further that our charter be draped for a period of thirty days, that these resolutions be embodied in the minutes of this session, that a copy be presented to the familiy of our deceased Brother and a copy be furnished each of the papers for publication. Fraternally Submitted, Geo. F. Fullinwider, Edw. T. Butler, V. A. Osborn, Committee File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/butler/obits/g/giltenba598ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 7.2 Kb