Butler County KS Archives Obituaries.....Mettler, Grover P. 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, 4:00 pm Walnut Valley Times, January 30, 1903, Volume 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 January 30, 1903 Volume XXXIV, Number 2 Glen Mettler arrived from the city of Mexico this morning to attend the funeral of his brother, G. P. Mettler, which occurs at the M. E. Church tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. Walnut Valley Times February 6, 1903 Volume XXXIV, Number 3 THE METTLER FUNERAL The funeral of Grover P. Mettler at the Methodist Church this afternoon was very largely attended by sincerely sorrowing friends and acquaintances. The body was conducted to the church by thirty-four Knights of the Pythiss, Rev. M. V. Burns conducted the ceremonies. The orders of which Mr. Mettler was a member were largely represented. The flowers and flora pieces were most beautiful. One emblem was a clock with hands pointing to the fatal moment of the wreck in which Mr. Mettler lost his life. It was from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The pallbearers were engineers, Lahey, Tack, Summers, Garrett, Bray and Thompson. Interment was made in the Belle Vista cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/butler/obits/m/mettler597ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb