Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-14
The Tshachapi Disaster Case-Testimo7y
of Conductor Reid

CALEf9ENtA.
The TShachapi Disaster Case-Testimo7y
of Conductor Reid.
BAKERSFIELD, February 13sh.-The Court
converting, the defense moved the dismissal of
the prosecution and the discharge of defend
anti, on the ground that the evidence was in
sufficient 10 establish criminal charge.
Wigginton and Leach argued for the de-
Tense, and District Attorney Freeman for tie
prosecution. The motion was ovsrruled.
Conductor B. f. Reid sworn Ga the night
Of January 49, h we arrived at Tehachapi at
2:30: the wind WAS strong; was in the
smoker, my proper place; Patton was in the
rear coach, awake saw him about 10 o'clock
in the coach; Miss Collins and the man
Smith, for Tehachapi, awoke, and told Pat
ton they were for Tehachapi; he assisted the
young lady off, as it was his duty to DO; PEG.
pie sometimes sleeping know they are ap.
preaching Tehachapi by the engineer swhistle;
when the train stopped my duty was
to go to the Office for orders and
register the train got off the smoker; saw
Patton helping the lady, as he should; went
alongside the train to the station looking
around 1 saw the head engine out forty feet
and the helper uacoupled and starting; the
station clock marked 2:2S; watch was 2:30;
registered the time OF arrival ss 2:30; departure,
2:33; also the number and description of the
cars and engine; laying down the register, |
saw Miss Collins coming in I; asked if she
resided at Tehachapi; she said no. Bakers
field; Patton was then lighting his lsntern
the plight messenger cane, and said the train
had left us and gone down the hill; said it
could not be; telegraphed w. w. Pfugb,
Assistant Superintendent of Tulare, not to
let the trains go either way he answered
Immediately instructing me to send down
two engines after the train, which would
have done anyhow; knew that train u would
follow, and ordered the track cleared /; got to
the wreck twenty minutes after the train
started Pattsn went down on foot; saw the
two sleepers so gene that we could not get
around them, and the baggage car burned
say the wounded below on the sheltered side
looked to see if anyone in the mail or express
car had got out !; found all but Pearson after
I found him in the debris l heard man
groanir e; he was taken out Pearson had
cash in the temple, which did the work;
thought FIRST of taking this people on fats {,
Tehachapi, but it was too cold, and did not
wrapped clothes from the cars on them,
hestsd rocks snd placed them at their feet,
or where they were cold sent three men on
horseback for clothes; brought blankets
after had put the wounded on the fats, /
went TO Tehachapi with them; provided
every way possibls for their comfort; went
back to the wreck after Mr.. Prugh came;
saw the dead bodies saw tive, apparently of
tramps, who were not on before cur arrival
at Tehschapi see tramps every lime over
the road always met them: can tell them
on the trip all did as usual; sometimes the
rear brakeman Goes not leave the car.
On examination Reid stated that he
had not given Patton orders TO take the young
lady to the depot; did not tell him to leave
II ,of
the brakes; three minutes had not elapsed
from the time of entering the station and tie
train starting; when 1 entered the fife the
night messenger was near the mail car.
a. journed until 1:30 P. NJ.
SECOND DIsPATCH.J
BAKERSFIELD, February 18Th When the
Court reassembled, John Patton was sworn
and testifi. d IS follows: Have been employed
by the railroad sirce 1866; am familiar with
the road from Tulars 90 Los Angeles; have
passed regularly over Tehschapi mountain /;
on January 1854 was rear brakeman OF train
10 don't drink dozan times in twelve
month was perfectly sober that night; The
whistle signaling for Tehachapi, lett the
coach for the smoker, calling the station !;
Miss Collins rising, / moioned her to wait
awhile, and set the frat brske Of the last
coach as we'll and firmly as usual; walked
VIII utF tbiI5 Vie Gals dDbuO ACt lSG<--SWO
cars length; my lantern was extinguished !;
arrived at the station found Reed and
BnlkelY there; trimmed the wick with
nail, relighted the Lantern, and returning saw
the end of the baggage car descending the
grade q quarter Of a mile off it is always
the custom of conductors and brakemen
to assist lsdies and elderly persons with
parcels to the station the brakemsn are
instructed to assist in handling baggage, ex-
1 AMI mail all stations Know tina
company's rule 81, ordering the resr BRAKE
man not TO leave bis position except for fsg-
ginZ following trains, when the conductor or
an0ihsr brakeman takes his place firmly
set the brakes before leaviog; circumstances
seldom neces state fl 'ggiDg upon an average,
eight trains, including passengers, psss zach
other at Tehschapi daily, under the same Cir
cunseances as mine that night; nothing sim
liar ever happened before; could l have
foreseen coming events. I'd have thrown all
the rules to the wind and been on that train I;
there are possibilities no train men think Of !;
all train hands leave the trains fer meals /;
the first DUTY Of employees Is 60 obey your
Instructions"
Fraeman-Would you run over trsstle-
work, if ordered?
Witness-No, sir.
Wigginton-Would you ditch q freight
train to save passenger train, if ordered?
Witness-Yes, sir.
To II ach-That train could not have left
!, ii the brakes were not let eff human hands
| must have done it.
District Attorney-Ii human hands had
let them off, could they not have PIT :he..,
on?
Witness (misunderstanding)-I have OK
planned hrakemsn's duty.
Judge Wilkinson-How long did it take
you to 90 to the station
Witness-Is wac $50 feet, and you can
judge for yourself; one Of the proofs that l
set the brake, and it was not left unset by
me, is that when leaving the coach the en-
g1ne backed for slack 10 take the pin out and
uEcouple the engine from the train, the train
did not move, nor from that time till got to
tie station; understand that Rule 81 is not
applicable at stations as the duties of brake
men and conductors there are various on the
road, while the train is in motion, the brake
msn must be ready to attend to the brakes.
After recess till o'clock the Courts
judgment was rendered SIS follows Gentle
msl / have thought over this matter, aud
fed from the evidence ad6uced that Mr..
Reid was in the discharge of his duty, as re.
quired, but Mr.. Patton was guilty Of gross
criminal negligence, and hold him to appear
before the higher Court" The bonds were
set at $500, which were readily obtained
IRON his former DOnCSHl1u. OOnuucGCr IletG
was ordered exonerated.
seriOus Railroad Accident.
Los ANGELES, February 13sh.-The pas
senger train which left San Francisco yester-
day morning reached this city this evening at
half-psss 6--eleven hours late. It brings
news of an extensive railroad accident four
miles south of Sumner. 1t appears that
freight coming south at Sumner learned that
the passenger train was an hour lste, and at
tempted to make the side track five miles this
side ef the above station. Il was running
very fest, when the engines few the track,
viii, b was covered several inches deep with
slush and null and drew the entire train
after them. The jerk was fearful, rs the two
gines, which were ten. whGelers, were pulled
completely around after eing thrown great
distance from the track. This engineer Of the
train had three ribs broken, snd fireman A.
w. Sproui was instantly killed, being
crushed under the engine. The whole train
is total wreck, excepting tie last cars.
which were lefs standing on tina track. Cars
were Piled upon cars in hopeless confusion and
ruin. A side-track was thrown up around
the wreck to allow the passenger train to
pass. Ire amount of freight damaged is not
yet nscertained. The accident occurred about
midnight. By the barsst chance it was not
the passenger train, or there wonld have been
another Tehachapi disaster, as all the freight
cars turned ever and FIRE would have been