The New York herald., 1869-12-08
CALIFORNIA.

Recent Railroad Accidents-Hcavy Loss oF
Life-Explosion Of GIycerine-Oamage to
the Mnls-Iasical and Theatrical Gossip.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. 2s. 1889.
The sensation Of the day is the recent railroad col
lision, happening 1t did 80 city, almost
as might say In the suburbs. for San Llandro Is
bnt some nine or ten miles from Oakland and some
eighteen miles from San Francisco, 1t is bringing t
right under our own observation and making US
realize ell the horrors Of such ACCIDENT for when
such tragedies are enacted at Q distance from US.
even though our own friends or relatives may be
sufferers thereby scarcely realize all their horrors
from the fact OF being far removed from the scene
OF the catastrophe. Up TO the present time some
twelve victims arc reported dead, ten killed
outright and two dying Of their injuries. The
switchman, an Irisnman named Kane, has
been arrested and peld to answer on the
charge Of manslaughter. a. It Is claimed
that through his neglect or ignorance the collision
occurred or course there must be some one to bear
the blame and he Will do well as another, though
some people think that tne fault really lies with
those who placed an ignorant or incompetent man
in q position where he could cause much harm;
be that as may is little doubt Of thing that
the company will have to pay right dearly In tne
way OF damages for the injuries sustained BY the
victims OF the accident. Since then there have been
several other accidents the line; one at Sacra-
mento, where two freight trains ran Into each
other, injuring several, and one at Oakland landing,
the cars running of the track fortunately, how
ever, doing no damage. This last might have been
q much more terrible catastrophe than even the
frat, for the wharf on which the cars only wide
enough for one track. 1t runs down into ths bay
nearly half mile, built piles all the way. WITH
out any outer wall or protection Whatever; and
should the train Dy any misnap-such. ior instance,
occurred the other day-run OH the track 700 far
to be stopped, nothing on earth could save every
man, woman and child on tnat car from certain
death. Ali these accidents occurring so after
each other has had the effect or soaring une timid
from travelling BY the line. and numbers are going
East now M ~ tns me M ~ ~ hays
adage, sthat blows nobody good" The Pacific Mail
Steamship Company are the gamers BY this.
ttoned-not however, in the railway Understanding
in the loss Of several lives and the iDjurIng OF many
Creek, some four miles from the city blew
up on Friday, the 26tn inst. The telegraph
but not Of the desaiis Those mills are used IN the
manufacture Of the Grant blasting powder. which
IL now much used IN this country, both ior mining
and railroad work. On the evening OF the explO-
sion there the tanks pounds OF Miro
gycerine, run on that day TO be made into powder.
Is yet An impossbility to say Some Say 1t was the
work OF design BY some devil incarnate, but for
chemist Er Buslnurs, and one Of the men men smpoysd
round the works were playing cards In the house of
the superintendent when the explosion took place.
Both were instantly killed. the DOCTORS head being
blown completely from his shoulders. 1ne works as
they now appear present terrible spectacle being
distance they present q confused mass or ,umb,e
OF wood and metal scattered over q considerable
mixing Kettles were strewed In all directions. one
great piece being hurled 1ully quarter OF q mile
over hill about 800 feet high that stood behind the
WORKS.
On the day following the explosion people came
from all quarters, IN buggies on horseback and on
ing which contained the giycerine scarce yestlpe
remains. All Its machinery Is strewn with the
building itself the nsldes around, and its site is
only known by great rent IN the earth's surface
where II stood. At some distance from It stood a
frame house, occupied by Chinamen--some eight
In number--who were employed round the works.
These men were at supper wnen the catastrophe
occurred, and all escaped with their lives, though
OF them were severely injured and the
house itself blown TO pieces. When one exa-
mines the house they occupied it seems most
being literally blown to pieces about their ears One
OF the assistants. named Walterwuler, had an
the air distance Of nearly ty feet and aahea
some straw almost entirely untrlrt Strange to say
the Grant powder, OF which there was nearly 1000
pounds made mp In cartridges and which was stored
the building IN which the explosion took place.
never exploded although the building In which II
strewed around. This goes far towards proving
what It's inventor claims for II, viz.:-froedom from
Tue Chinese qnestion il at present occupying a
good deal Of the public attention. Several anti
by those opposed 10 the importation OF Chinese labor
IL Ia very mixed question; those who favor
the importation OF coolies argue that what the
country needs Is cheap labor to develop Its re.
and build its railroads; and they also say
that there are many enterprises (w0olen manufac-
ture, for anstance) that cannot be made to pay at
the present nigh rates or wages On the other hand
those opposed to the system argue that 1t Is no
thing better than introducing slavery into tho
country IN opposition to white labor; q slavery
worse than the slavery Of the South, for there what
money was made by the slave. n any, was spent In
the country where II was made; whereas In tho
cooie system nearly all the money made Is sent
out OF tho country and Is therefore OF no use what
ever to the community. The snttcoolleites also