New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-21
BURNED IN A RAILWAY WRECK.

TEHICHIPA CAL-TwENTY PERSONS BURNED OR
KILLED AND MANY INJURED-PRoDABLE CAUSE
OF TIE DISASTER.
SAN Francisco, Jan. 2O.-The Southern express
train, which left this city yesterday, was wrecked
near Tehichipa, and twenty perssns were killed and
many injured. There is only one tele graph opera
tor at Tehichipa Station, and no press dispatches
were received from the scene of the disaster up to
late hour tonight. The following particulars
have been obtained at the office Of the railroad
company here: Shortly after midnight the over
land express by the Southern Pacific, which started
at 0:20 a. III. yesterday, stopped near Tehchipa
Station to leave an extra engine which was taken
on at Sumner TO assist in pulling the train up the
Tehichipa grade. While making the change the
train, by some means yet unknown. got away and
started back northward down a grade of 12O feet
20 the mile. 1t consisted of two engines, express
mail and baggage cars, two sleeping cars, one coach
and smoking car. 1t went down the grade at a
frightful speed for about four miles. when tue last
sleeping car jumped the track and went over at
embanknent fifteen feet high, carrying with it
the other sleeping car and the mail, baggage and
express cars, which were piled in a shattered heap
took fire and we're consumed.
Tie passengercoach and the smoking-car kept on
the down grade but were stopped without leaving
the track, two miles further on. No one on board
these cars was injured. The scene following the
wreck was terrible one. "A number of persons,
jammed in the debris of the train, were roasted to
death before the eyes of those who were unable to
save them. AT present it impossible to give the
loss of life accurately, but it IS believed
that from twelve to fifteen persons
killed or burned to death
At 1880 a. M. seven bodies had been taken out,
some of them burned beyond recognition. 1t is a
remarkable fact that the wounded are almost with
out exception only slightly injured. special train
has been sent to the scene from Los Angeles with
physicians and an undertaken. The dead and
wounded will be taken to Los Angeles. Meanwhile
every possible attention ispaid them OH the ground.
wrecking train arrived at the wreck from Sum-
ner.
Further advices from Tehchipa state, as the
was stopped the air-brakes were applied and that
on .detaching tho engine the brakes wero relaxed
and the hand-brakes were either left open OF were
not strong enough To hold the train. The movement
may have been helped by strong gale which was
blowing at the time 1t is now certain that eigh-
teen passengers and two sleeping-car porters lost
their lives, and that ten or twelve persons
were badly injured. Seventeen bodie, have been
recovered from the wreck. One Of them is consd-
cred certainly TO be that of Mrs. Downey.
The wounded Will be placed in the hospital
at Los Angeles at the railroad company's expense.
The remains of the unidentified dead, if any, will
be buried at Los Angeles. superintendent Fillmore
says that it is not yet known who is to blame, but
that someone has been careless The matter will
be thoroughly investigated. The train carried
from this city pouch Of registered letters for ST.
Louis aud about 100 small packages of registered
letters for various other points. The mail was i'm
portant and unusually heavy containing letters
and printed matter for Los Angeles san Bernardino
aud all post Offices south of those points in Arizona
New Mexico, Texas q portion of Colorado and
the State of Sonora Mexico. One report Is that all
the mail and express matter were burned, while
another Is that they saved
LIST OF THE KILLED
The names of those known to have been killed
are as follows
CAssELL, MRS. JOHN, wife Of a well-kno mining
man. She burned.
DowNEY, MRS, wife of ex Governor DOwney. She
was on the tram with her husband and 1t is
thought that her body has been recovered from
the wreck
LAWRENCE, -, porter of one of the sleeping cars.
He was burned.
WRIGHT, -, porter of one of the sleeping
coaches. He was taken out Of the wreck alive.
but DIED soon afterward
LIST OF SOME OF THE INJURED.
The following list contains some of the names
of those known to have been injured:
BROWN, Miss IDA.
BROWN, Mrs. j. X.
CASSlLI, JOHN /.
COFFIN, STEPHEN
DOUGHERTY. +. W.
DowNEY EX-GOVERNOR THOMAS
HATCH Mrs. Z. Z.
HA CH MRS. IL.
RONs. X. &.
Sc ARIES. j. w.
THATCHER, CAPTAIN T. II.
Mrs. A. l.. |
NATERHOUsE, LEE, was badly burned, and is not |
expected to live.
" WAyATERnoUsE, -, child Of Mrs. Waterhouse.
" NOoDALL. JAMES
-. -, maid of Mrs. Porter Ashe.
THOSE WHO ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY.
Following is list of those known TO have es-
capped from the train without any injury:
AsHE, PORTER, was in the sleeping coach with his
wile and both escaped unInIured.
AISLE, Mrs. Porter. daughter of the late Judge r.