A small white cross, close to the roadway, lies south of Stone Cellar campground in Saguache Park. The cross, located in a grove of trees, bears the inscription “Rest of Pat Martinez June 26, 1958”. In recent years, some thoughtful person has piled flat stones to form a base for this remembrance to a man who lost his life in a tragic accident. The steering wheel of the machine he was operating, encircles the little white cross.

Pat was doing road work to the - Sky City mining claims, which were at that time being worked by Bill Dickerson.

Here is a “Crescent” account of what happened: “Jose P. (Pat) Martinez, 53, lost his life Thursday afternoon, June 26th when a road grader he was driving tumbled 600 feet down a canyon near the Saguache Park campground, 60 miles northwest of here. An autopsy, conducted in Monte Vista Friday night revealed Martinez died of multiple injuries, inclu-ding a fractured neck. He was thrown from the vehicle and was found halfway between the road he had been grading and the canyon floor.

Saguache County Sheriff Charlie McCormick said tracks indicated the wheels of the maintainer must have slipped off the road. It appeared as though Martinez tried desperately to pull the maintainer back on the road several times, but failed, said McCormick.

The tragedy was discovered when two fishermen spotted the maintainer laying at the bottom of the canyon about 5 p.m. and notified authorities. Martinez was last seen near the campground when he turned around to make another run on the road.

Martinez, a life-long resident of Saguache, is survived by his wife, Mary, his mother, Mrs. J G. Martinez and sister, Emma Maestas and a brother, Victor.

Funeral services were held in Saguache Monday morning with burial in Chicago Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Joe Trujillo, John Trujillo, Fred Pena, Avelin Gallegos, Joe Chacon and Frank
Abeyta.

Pat celebrated his 53rd birthday on June 18th.

A good friend of mine, Ramon Mondragon, was the rider for the Saguache Park Grazing Assn. for many years. Ramon was one of the volunteers who helped carry Pat’s body up the steep hill, so that it could be brought to town. Ramon has many wonderful memories of the years he spent in Saguache Park - but this incident is not one of them!