Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-01
OVER A PRECIPlCE.

San FRaNcIsCo, June 25.-Last night 3
terrible accident occurred nsar FELTON,
Santa Cruz county, on one of those
mountain roads 10 whose perils it seems
strange that more travellers do no. fall
victims. coach drawn by four horses
ana containing twelve persons, beside
the driver, fell over a precipice two
hundred fee high. three ladies' and one
gentleman being almost instant ly killed
while some OF the others are probably
fatally injured The names of the de-
ceased-ail from San Francisco-are
George Scott. Eva Hussey, Ida Cowdery
and Celia Clark.
A large number of San Francisco peo.
pie are Camping near the town of Eel
ION, which Is near the Big Tree Grove,
and seven miles and half from the
town of Santa Cruz. All went well at
camp until friday night. There WAS
proposed \ moonlight ride to Santa
Cruz, where dance was to take place.
Dat this was objected to by many of the
party, as the mountain road was known
20 be very steep and dangerous; b W
ever, party OF twelve started on the
troiic which terminated SO fatally. A
hay wagon and four hCrses were secured
at FELTON,, III which party OF six ladies
and six gentlemen left camp early in
the evening. On the way a slight ac-
cident happened to the wagon, bu. it
was patched up. After the dance and a
general good time at Santa Cruz, an.
other team vas secured and the party
started on the Return trip.
About two miles from tho camp on
the county road, over which they travel
led, there IS a particularly dangerous
point. The road has been cut along the
side of the mountain, and at this point
it is narrow and made of planking. 1t
runs also on the verge Of q precIpice,
several hundred feet high, overlooking
the boisterous stream known az San
Leandro Creek. This roadway is so
narrow that there is roon for one vehicle
only, provision being made at stated
intervals for teams to pass one another.
1t was about one O'Clock when the
party reached the place. Ii was very
dark, the moon having set, being then
IN Its first quarter. LII some unaccount-
able manner the driver lost control Of
the forward span of horses. The others
became Interchangeable, and backing
wildly, the entire outfit, horses, stage
and thirteen persons IN it, went down
over the precipice, distance of about
ninety feet, into tie ravine below. The
stage was demolished and two of the
horses We're instantly killed, or died soon
after, and fogr OF the purity were also
killed and several seriously injured
Those Of the party who we're uninjured
crawled OFT from the wrecked stage as
soon as possible and set about extricat-
ing their companions. The cries of the
horses and grOans of the wounded per-
sons were terrible to hear. Two OF the
party set out Immediately to obtain
medical aid, but, not knowing the To-
cality, wandered about in the woods.
About a half hour after the accident
two woodchoppers,. encamped near by,
hearing the cries of the wounded, came
10 their assistance. One of them, ia
ton for aid. Rousing the occupants of
several houses he secured their willing
help, and, obtaining physicians, relief
party reached the scene of the accident
about o'clock this morning. When an
exami nation was made it was discovered
that four of the party We're killed, as
already stated, namely: George Scott,
sou of ex-Supervisor Scott, of San Fran
cisco: Eva Hussey, Ida Cowdery. dauGh-
ter of the City and County Attorney
Cowdery, and Celia Clark.
The following were found insensible,
and it Is feared that their injuries are
fatal: Ben. Burling, q nephew Of James
w. Burling of this city and grandson
of Lucien Herman, William Mockbee
and j. ID. Barth lin some dispatches he
is called Mr.. Barr, Burling is badly
bruised about the head. Miss DAVIS,
daughter of A. G. Davis, President of the
South Pacific Coast Railroad of this
city, wa also in the wagon but escaped
with slight bruises.
benjamin Buriing il thirty years Of
eye, and employed as a clerk In Will
liam II. Lent's Office, 81 Nevada block,
George w. Scott was the son of ex-Su-
pervisor A. w. Scott, and the idol Of
of his parents. He was only seventeen
years of age, but a remarkably bright
youth. Miss Eva Hussey was also
resident of this city, aged seventeen
years. w. X. Mockbee, aged twenty
years, is shipping clerk Ia FOlger q
Go. y store, lO& California street.
fhe wagon was driven by q man
named Charles Boyce, who is employed
in Santa Cruz stable. He escaped UNI
injured. One report says he was under
the iafiuence of liquor at the tine of
the accident and another that hs was
blamed for carelessness. but not enough
is known of the circumstances to war
rant positive statement. One account
states that the moon had been bright
during the whole drive, bu. at the point
at which the accident happened it be-
came suddenly obscured by clouds, and
throwing shadow directly on the path,
frightened the horses, which reared and
plunged over the precipics. The fan
VAS q straight 0ue4ue 8 distance of be-
tween two and three hundred fest. ~
the bottom was the track of the South
Pacific Coast Railroad.
Tho dead and the wounded were con-
veyed as soon as possible to FELTON,,
where they were cared for by kind
hands. A coroner's inquest was acid al
FELTON, at clock on Saturday after
noon. The niece of President Davis Of
the S. p. c. K. h., who was one of the
party. Escaped unhurt aud remained
with the wounded all night, tearing up
hs- own clothing for their relief.