John Foster
Marriages
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - June 29, 1923
TWO PERSONS KILLED WHEN LOCOMOTIVE CRASHES INTO AUTOMOBILE--ONE INJURED. Gypsum scene of horrible auto tragedy Sunday morning [June 24].
One of the most deplorable and sad accidents which has ever happened in Eagle county shocked the Gypsum community last Sunday morning when an automobile containing three people was struck by a light engine on the D. & R.G.W. railroad crossing on the main street of Gypsum and two people killed outright and a third so seriously injured that it was thot for a time she would not survive her injuries.
The dead: John FOSTER, Payton, Colo.; Mrs. Ella VAN HORN, Gypsum, Colo.
The injured was Violet FOSTER, fifteen-year-old daughter of the dead man.
Mr. and Mrs. FOSTER and their daughter had arrived the evening before from their home in Peyton [sic.] traveling in a new Ford coupe, for a visit with Mrs. FOSTER's sister, Mrs. C. C. KING, and her mother, Mrs. VAN HORN, who makes her home with the KINGs in Gypsum.
Sunday morning Mr. FOSTER, Mrs. VAN HORN and his daughter got into the car and drove up to the STREMME store in Gypsum to purchase some supplies and the horrible accident occured on their return to the King home, which is across the railroad track north of Gypsum. A helper locomotive in charge of engineer Sig OLESON was returning to Glenwood from a trip to Minturn with passenger train No. 2. There was a number of box cars on the railroad siding, which obstructed the view of the main street of Gypsum, the state highway, which is the main street of Gypsum. This, with the fact that there was a terrific wind blowing at the moment and the enclosed car making it difficult for the occupants of the car to hear anything from the outside, is probably responsible for the tragedy.
Apparently the occupants of the car never saw or heard the approaching locomotive until it hit the car. The automobile was moving very slowly and when seen for the fireman and engineer they were too close to stop the engine. They blew the whistle, rang the bell and as they approached closer to the doomed car the fireman even hallowed in an effort to attract he attention of the occupants of the car. The engine struck the automobile squarely in the middle throwing it into the side of the depot, which is about fifty feet from the crossing. The car rebounded and was again struck by the locomotive and carried about fifty feet down the cement platform and hurled against the station coal house. The accident was witnessed by a number of people on the street of Gypsum, who immediately hurried to the rescue of the injured. Mrs. VAN HORN was thrown under the wheels of the locomotive and was horribly cut up and mangled. FOSTER was picked up alongside the freight room of the depot, and both were dead when reached a few seconds after the engine hit the auto, being killed instantly.
The girl was lying partly under the wrecked car and unconscious when picked up by the rescuers, and apparently fatally injured. She was removed to the home of Dr. W. L. CONWAY, where every attention possible was immediately given her. As she remained in a semi-conscious state all that day it was impossible to arrive at the seriousness of her condition. She was removed to the sanitarium in Glenwood Sunday evening, and at this writing, Wednesday evening, it is announced that she will undoubtedly recover.
Mrs. FOSTER, wife of the dead man and daughter of Mrs. VAN HORN, had remained at the KING home while the others went to the store in the car, and was prostrated when she first was apprised of the fate of her husband and mother. Both Mr. and Mrs. KING were in Glenwood Springs, having gone down to attend Strawberry day celebration before the arrival of their visitors, who came unexpectedly for a surprise visit.
Mrs. VAN HORN was a pioneer of Colorado and Eagle County. Born in Otsego county, New York, September 14, 1852, she was married to Homer Van Horn July 2, 1869, who preceded her in death six years ago. The deceased was the mother of ten children of whom nine are living. She is also survived by a sister, living in Warren, Herkmer county, N.Y. Her husband was a brother of Herve VAN HORN of Dotsero and of Howard L. VAN HORN of Gypsum. Among her children now living in this vicinity are Mrs. C.C. KING of Gypsum and Mrs. Rudolph MITCHELL of Carbondale.
John FOSTER was a native son of Colorado, having been born near Table Rock, in El Paso county in 1876. He is survived by the widow and one child, the daughter who was injured at the time he met his death. He was a member of Calhan Lodge No. 115, I.O.O.F.
The double funeral service was held at the Methodist church in Gypsum Tuesday afternoon. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. GAITHER, pastor of the local Methodist church, and the Gypsum Odd Fellows attended the funeral in a body out of respect of their deceased brother and had charge of the services at the grave.
No blame attaches to the engine crew of the locomotive which struck the automobile and caused the very sad tragedy. Both engineer and firemen made every effort humanly possible to prevent the collision.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 8 - June 29, 1923
ACCIDENT. While John FOSTER, age 45, of Peyton, Colo., and his sixteen-year-old daughter, Violet, and his mother-in-law, Mrs. D. VAN HORN, 70 years old, were crossing the D. & R.G.W. tracks, riding in a light Ford coupe, Sunday morning, they were struck by an engine, causing the death of Mr. FOSTER and Mrs. VAN HORN, and at first the daughter was considered fatally injured, but at the present we understand that the latter is getting along nicely at the Glenwood sanitarium. Mrs. VAN HORN is a daughter of Mrs. C. C. KING of Gypsum and has made her home here for many years. [incorrect]
Mr. FOSTER and Mrs. VAN HORN were laid to rest in the Cedar Hill cemetery Tuesday.
