Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-26
The Tehachapi Proofs that
the Risnstnr rrns fnnsnn hv HoI,hars


the Disaster was Causea by Robbers.
San Francisco. January 25sh.-Ex. Con-
gressmaa z. ID. Wig3intoD, attorney for the
railroad company, has returned from Te-
hachapi, where be went to examine the cir.
cumstances attendant upon the recent disas-
ter: Being interviewed by an agent of the
California Associated Press, he gave it as his
opinion, founded upon the evidence taken at
the Coroner's inquest, and upon the attend.
ing facts and circumstances, that the brakes
of the train were let off by parties contem.
plating robbery. Referring to the certified
transcript of the testimony taken at the
inquest, he cited the evidence of J. W.
Wheeler, saloon-keepsr at Tehschspi, who
testified that a few hours previous to
the disaster he put thres trsmps out
the man who was brought back from the
wrecked train and died in the dep It waiting
room as one of those he ejscted. On the ar
rival of the train. while standing at the door
of his saloon, he heard the brakes let off on
the train, and saw the train start down the
grade.
Mr.. Wigginton continued: After the re-
movsl of the wounded, Assistant division
Superintendent Prugh, while in the room
where Governor Downey lay injured, wit
messed an attempt on the part Of q stranger
to obtain from Downey al order for the &C.
livery to hlm of the jewelry ard valuables
found on the person Of Mrs. Downey. It
turns out that this man has several aliases,
but under the name of R2Isom has just
served out q term in this County Jail fo-
stealing clothing from train. a After the
accident he went to Los Argeles. Ransom
told Porter Ashe, before the relief train
left for Los Angeles, that ho knew
how the train was started could tell ell
about it il it were made to MS interest l
am satisfied that this man wss one of the
three put out Of the saloon by Wheeler The
other was killed. When Conductor Reed and
his men got down from Tehachapi TO the
wreck the express car was wrecked, but not
on fire. They Immediately searched for
Pierson, the express messenger, and found the
dead body of o man 10 the express car. They
carried it up and laid it on the track. Oce Of
the train Zen turned his lantern on the face
and said, :" My God il is not Pierson. -
They returned to the car aud found the body Of
Pierson undersome boxes. Think undoubtedly
that was the other tramp, ard with Ransom
and the dying tramp recognized ty Whse,ec
accounts for the three he put out of his
saloon. Those who saw the dead body CT
Pierson ssy there was deep cash across bis
temple, and no other wound on his body. I
believe ne was killed by the tramp before the
wreck occurred to clear the way for robtecy.
Doherty, the station agent at Tehachapi,
says that according to custom he knocked at
the express car door. but received no answer
got the mail from the mail car, and returned
to the express car, which was still closed;
took the mail into the depot, and when he
the train was gone. Doherty's
theory is that after the first knock P;erson
reused from his sleep and opened the door,
when the tramp slipped in. shut the
door and probably struck Pierson. When
the train left the locomotives uid not fol-
low because a single locomotive cannot be
let down the hill. It requires seven fat cars,
with all the brakes or, to let 8 locomotive
down the grade. Flat cars are kept at that
station for that purpose. There was plenty
of time TO commit the robbery before train
could be made mp to pursue the runaway
cars. Miss Collins, the lady whom brake
man Patton escorted 70 tha waiting-rooro,
testified that Patton before taking her in
charge, asked her to wait moment. and
stepped on the platform Of a car. He was
gone Perhaps half q minute, then returned
and took her to the Depot. Evidently he
was setting the brake. SIS he himself
testified that he did. She testified also
regarding the bio wing out of his lantern and
the delay occssionsd thereby. This agrees
with Doherty's statement as to the length of
TINA the train stood on the track. Had the
brakes been off when the engines were dis
connected, the train would have started dewn
the grade Immediately. Further in regard to
my theory of robbery, one of the passengers
stated that while the wounded were being
cared for, three strangers in army overcoats
stepped up on the grade where the wounded
were lying. On seeing them some one cried,
" Here comes the relief party" The stran-
gers cor optemplated the scene for moment,
then quickly disappeared, and were not seen
in the vicinity before or afte: the diaa ster.
The Investigation OF tie Pilot Commits
sion.
SAN Francisco, January 25th.-The Legis.
lative Committee on Commerce and Naviga.
tion resumed the investigation of the Pilot
Commission. Pilot Commissioners Travers,
and Colidgs and PORT Admiral oil.
fife were exs mined. 1t was elected that dis
elimination was made in favor of several of
tie steamship companies, because they sig.
nsie1 from a long distance whether or not
they wanted pilots, and did not try, Ike
many vessels, to dodge the pilots. 4 contract
was brought to light whereby the Pacific
Tugbost Company received 55 per cent. of
pilots ehsrge1 for furnishing efficient towsgs
and for putting pilots on board of vessels
when required TO do so by pilots. Miller,
Griffith, Charles and E Twin G0odall comprise
the Pacific Company. A recess was taken
until 2P NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The committee recouvened ct 2 o'clock.
Captain j life, Port Admiral. appeared
with the books of the pilots. He testified
that previous to December, 1881, the pilots
had different contract with the tug-boat
company. During the year 1882 the p;lots
nc II
The anoaat PAID the tug-loas com
pa7y is 223 PER cent. of the gross
total receipts of the in and out going pilots,
No other contracts existed now. Three pilot
boat ars on duty all the time. The aggregate
pilotsge collected in fifty-seven months past
was S737, OILS "a. The towage ought to be
regulated by law. The ug-boats charge
what they please. There is no place
where tug. boats persecuted the pilots as they
do here. The tug.bost charges are excessive.
The captains Of coasters ara exempted from
pilotage. To reduce the port charges you
should reduce the towage charges and out
ward pilotsge. Pilotage is compulsory in all
of the Eastern cities and in many English
ports. This is the only port in the United
Ssstes where they charge by tonnage. Many
vessels Of the same draugnt as Others carry
more, and the Legislature equslzsd matters
by charging By tonnage. Photage inward in
New York on deep.sea vesgels is lighter,
but outward pilotage is mora than here.
Here tho pilots are combined, but in New
Yoik there is no combination. The average
earnings of pilots there per month is $40
Here it is S30S. Wages are higher here than
in New York. They have no bars there, and
consequently with bar here the dargers are
greater. In New York steamer has to
take pilot at full rates. Here steamer can
take tug and pay the pilot only half rate.
Ii the New York rates were adopted the
rates here would be from Is to 20 per cent.
less. Inward and outward pilotsge on
% foot ship would be S15S each way. In New
York it is about the same. New York rates
on light drsught vessels are much lighter than
here. We have very few deep-water light
vessels. A fair salary for pilots here would
be $3.50 per month. In 1882 the pilots re-
ceived S19S GOO in 1881 they received $751;
go; in 1880, SEQ, 000 less.
Andrew Crawford was called and presented
some statistics, explaipiug that he had found
that there were determinations made Largely
in favor Of steamers, and some In favor or
sailing vessels belonging to Spreckels. Many
vessels running to Mexico and the Pacific
islands have been charged pilotsge without
having pilot when spoken Inside the bay.
The sum ia dispute was so small that it was
always paid in preference TO having a law
suit. There should be a fair computation on
the basis of pilotege received during the last
three years, and rates should be 80 fixed
as to give pilots a reasonable amount
for their eervicas Their toxvaoe aho-rld ha