Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-27
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH 70 rHr nrooAD-uMOs-l

San Francisco, January 26.h.-John L.
Cassell. who was injured in the Tehachspi
disaster, and is now in this city, makes a
statement IN addition to his previous version
of the sffsir. After recounting his experience
in the wrecked snd burning sleeper, from
which hs was dragged By Howard Triton and
Porter Ashe and laid on mattress, he con-
tipugs: At the time we were lying there we
looked toward the express car, and
I SAW THREE MEN,
Oae a tai, erec5, slender mar, wearing q hat
that was stiff immed and the crown
slouched down. Il was then as bright as day
from the fire. Tne slender man had on an
ulster that reached nearly to his feet, and
was buttoned up to his chin. TIE others we
could not see go plainly. We called to them
TO bring down blankets, etc., number of
which the man with the ulster held on his
left arm, for the ladies, who were periahing
from cold. These men were going up and
down the track about opposite the wreck OF
the express car. They were walking about,
and clothed as if they Ihad just come from a
time none of the men had come
from the station above or from the cars that
had been stopped a couple of miles below US.
When these men on the track heard us call
ing for help they paid no attention to US at
all. Soon after this, perhaps five or ten min.
utes, Mr. Mckenzie came up to US alone, and
Governor Downey said to him, For Gods
sake bring me coat, for he was nearly
naked. Mckenzie stripped off his coat and
gave it to him. Downey asked Mckenzie to
make a fire. He rushed off and seemed to
start to do it. Very shortly afterwards
saw couple of men, who were coming to-
wards the passengers. One of them gave me
the impression of being a Chinsmsn, but l
am not sure of this 1 saw Mckenzie running
towards these men. He had stick in his
hand. One of these mea turned and Nc
Keuzie ran after him. At this time l saw no
more of these men on the track, and l never
saw them afterwards. The men that Nc
Kenzie chased away am cure were not of the
three that we saw on the track previously. 1
do not know exactly their number, but one in
front faced Mckenzie for moment then
turned and ran. The relief train from Te-
hachspi was just in sight. 1 saw no more Of
these men on the track at the time the relief
engine and men arrived from Tehachapi.
got into the engine and went up with the
others to the station, then to the hotel. 1
laid down behind the stove. Governor
Downey was calling on me all the time. He
was in a room just off the parlor, in bed. 1
told him 1 would come as soon as I could.
When went 10 found fellow in his room
with him who called himself Millet5. I cid
not like bis looks. He looked like
ABA0 MANA SORT OF GHoUL.
He had persuaded tho Governor to sign an
order to ALLOW him to go in search of Mrs.
Downey's remains. He said to Downey, 81
have no money. 1 am an important witness
for you. 1 can prove that the train was
abandoned by the conductor and brakeman,
and you will have to take me off to San Fran
cisco or Los Angeles and treat nee well, or
the railroad company will murder me if they
find me. l was up when the train came in
and saw the train men leave it and the train
run away without them" He talked this to
me, too. I told him, "I don't want to talk
with you at ALL" Downey encouraged him
some. He was weak and uunerved. MilIett
never helped to find Mrs. Downey. He also
said before me, 81 have got piece of silk
that came out of the express car. suppose
I must give it up to the railroad COM
pany." After that he came in where
1 was lying down behind the stove and
said to me, " You had better take care OF me
better take me with you. There is heap
of money in it" I said, II don't want any
of your blood money. Keep away from me- -
Just then my partner, Mr.. Garvey, arrived
from Los Angeles, and told this fellow to go
away. 1 said no more, and thought no more
of it till my friend Steve Roberts came to my
bedside aud asked il I was not little off
when told him about the tramps and thieves
who were there to rob the passenger train. 1
said, So What l told you was all right" see
1 am ahead of my story. Mckenzie came to
me aud said ne was running off those thieves,
and that he had scattered them in all
directions. I paid no further attention to it
then. Robert Hauxhurst stopped with me
all day here, and said to me, What do you
think of robbing the train by thieves?" He
said the railroad company were trying to get
up an impression that the train was attacked
by robbers. I replied, 81 believe there is
something in It" began to think again
about what McKenzie told rae. He told me
just what 1 have told you. You NUT make
allowances for my condition then. give the
facts now IS nearly as I can. Ny lung was
blocked with a severe cold, and l sook whisky
to relieve It; but did not feel undlr the in
huence Of it. I was
PERFECTLY COOL AND COLLECTED
All the way through. My statement at the
Coroner's inquest WAS true as near as 1 could
remember at the time. When the reporter of
the Chronicle interviewed me on the train
was m a weak and depressed state. / did
not want TO be interviewed, but he persisted.
/ told him my evidence st the inquest would
take precedencs of anything could say theu.
He no doubt tried TO report what l said ac-
cursiely, but am misrepreseDted in many
particulars. Maltby, the front brakeman,
told me he believed Patton, the rear brake.
msn. had put tee brake on that he was
good man, and that he tells the truth
In his story 1 believe. from bis
cold. blooded desire to speculate on others
mistortunes, that Millett was base enough to
turn that brake eff. What was be doing
waiting there? He had no business there
that | could see or learn from bis own state
ments. 1 leaned by henrsay that some of
the train men have been in the habit OF leav
ing the train there for a short time and going
to saloons and drinking. This was the talk
around there. am led TO believe that Nc
Ksnzie saved the coach. though papers give
8 different report. I have theory that the
robbers knew the train would be stopped or
ditched there, and that some of them went
there and laid in ambush at the curve on the
grade. knowing that the train would be
ditched or stopped there, and that q
confederate turned the. train loose at