Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-24
Railroad Accident.

railroad Accident.
An accident ON the Southern Pacific
railroad ut Tehichipa, Cal, Saturday, wa.
more terrible than supposed from the frs
dispatches. No less than 81 persons los
heir lives and many others were wounded
Ex-Gov. Downey is badly though no
fatally hurt, and Mrs. Downey was killed
A dispatch from Los Angeles says: 1t il
now ascert ined that the train broke loose
and ran down grade. The air brakes
had been taken off, and the men who
tended the land brakes were away from
their posts one attending to switching the
engine, and the other relighting his
extinguished lamp. The train gathered
Roadway quickly and was soon dashine
down the grade at the rate of mile a
minute. At sharp curve of the road the
coach and smoker, which were ahead
broke the coupling and separated from
The rest of the train, making the turn
safely. The sleepers and the mail.
express and baggage cars were dashed
against high bank and then thrown
back, rolling down an embankment. The
lamps and stoves at once set fire to the
wreck, which was instantly in blaze
Harry Connors, news agent, who was
sleeping in the baggage car, was awaken
ed by the movement of the car and
aroused James Woodruff, baggage master,
just ms the cars made the jump. The roof
of the CIR was split open, and both men
were thrown out and severely bruised.
Connors, while lying on the ground unable
to render any assistance, saw the train
envel ,ped in flames and heard the shrieks
OF dying victims, and saw them vainly
nndeavoring to struggle from the burning
ruins. Porter Ashe and wife, who occu,
pied drawing room of one of the sleep.
ers, we're awakened by the crash. They
succeeded in getting out without injury,
hut of 16 other occupants of the car not
one is believed to have escaped. Mean
time The occupants of the coach which
kept on the down grade succeeded in
stopping it, thereby saving the lives of
some 40 occupants of that and the smoking
car. They Immediately walked back to
the scene of the accident but found only
the sm0uldering remains of the train and
the few who had escaped with their lives,
lying bruised and bleeding in the dark
ness, shivering in the piercing cold night
or rendering assistance to each other.
Relief soon arrived from Tehchipa, four
miles distant, and as soon as possible
medical attendance was sent from Sumner
and Bakersfield, and subsequently from
Los Angeles. A search for the dead soon
showed that 81 persons had persisted.
Eleven were beyond all recognition, only
headless bodies and charred limbs being
found. Of the body of Mrs. Downey,
only the head and bust remained, which
were recognized W the jewelry. All the
bodies and fragments of bodies were
placed in collins. The wounded were
removed to the baggage car, and on the
arrival of the relief train from Los Angeles
were sent to that city. One body, that of
Il large man, badly charred, was found
and is supposed to be that of Col.Larrabee
ex congressman from Wisconsin. Ex.
Gov. Downey says Mr.. Larrabee was on
the train and has been missing since the
ac> ident.
The mixing house and six packing
houses of The Giant powder works at Point
Clement, near West Berkeley, Cal, ex.
ploded Saturday afternoon, the shocks OF
seven explosions being felt at San Fran.
cisco, One white man, foreman named
known 10 have been blown TO atoms
Nearly the entire plant was destroyed by
lire, which began Immediately after the
explosion. The superintendent was thrown
a long distance but was not hurt. The fire
was still raging at last accounts. The
large magazine, containing over 200 tons
of powder, was then safe. About eight
tons exploded. The dwelling houses on
the east side of the hill are safe, but all
the glass is shattered.
STILL ANOTHER HOTEL FIRE. The
Quincy House, one of the largest hotels in
Quincy, ILL.,, was burned Friday. The fire
was discovered by one of the guests on the
third floor. Many of tho guests were in
the dining room, but large number of
them were still asleep. Men, women and
children rushed to the street, few waiting
to dress, and although the fire progressed
no lives were lost. Kate Butler, one of