The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-23
ACROSS THE ROCKIES.
AFFAIRS ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE,
Further Details of the Railway Aeeld.n.-Toueh
Ing Tales Of Two oSurrIrors-FrIghtfuI Nor.
tally Ofthe Powder Mill Explosion.
Attempted Train Robbery.

SAN FRANCISCO, January GA Tehach'
ipa dispatch says the Coroner's jury found
verdict in the train disaster case that the
victims came to their death by the neglect
OF Conductor Reed and brakeman Potion.
The verdict has not yet been approved by
the Coroner. Two bodies were identified
as those OF Thomas Keigan and Ferdinand
Gromfort discharged soldiers Of company
Fl, 9th cavalry. John +. Carroll, one OF
the sleeping car passengers, arrived in the
city yesterday. He reports: l think it
must have been but few moments after
the train started that l woke up. realized
we were in danger, but how l could ottell.
We were rushing along the mountain side
at a fearful velocity, and in few seconds
the crash came. Over we went, and a
thousand splinters and pieces Of debris
completely buried US. AS quickly as pos
sible was on my feet working to make an
exit through the masses under which We
were buried to gave myself and the other
occupants OF the train. Everywhere l
found myself hemmed in by masses Of
wreckage. My wife ! think was killed by
the first shock, as her hands were cold
when l touched them, and my calls re-
mained unanswered.
ATERRIDLE MOMENT.
I cleared passage way along the hog
chains for some seventeen feet till l reach.
ed place near where Miss squires was
imprisoned. l heard her scream. She
said she was uninjured, but merely unable
to get out OF the window. The flames be-
gan breaking through where l was work.
ing and was driven back to where knew
no hopes OF escape existed, and retreating
merely to avoid fiery death. went
back to my wife for the fourth time
and now could only grasp her hair.
Again and again called to her for one
sign OF life but oil to no purpose. The gases
and flames now drove me from her side,
and as a last resort buried myself in the
debris when hope had left me. Men work.
ing from the outside suddenly accidentally
came upon me and drew half OF my body
out, but there became lodged, our conf
bined efforts failing to free me from the
debris; finally succeeded in dropping
throug ID hole made for me by the res
cuers. l was the only one who ever
reached the light Of day from under that
heap OF ruins.
Mr.. ASHES ESCAPE.
Parker Ashe, who was on the train
wrecked at Tahachapi, telegraphs the fol.
lowing: My wife, maid and myself were
occupying the drawing room Of sleeper.
We were awakened by the swaying Of the
cars, going at about the rate Of seventy
miles an hour. We had just braced our
selves when the crash came. The maid
was buried in the debris, my wife and
myself falling on top Of her. The car i'm
medately took fire, and l was forced to take
the timber and burning boards of the
maid. The car became enveloped in
smoke. By the breaking OF windows at
the top OF the car succeeded in rescuing
my wife and maid, pushing them through
the window. We were climbing of from
the car, nearly suffoCated by smoke, when
l heard man calling for help aud beseech-
ing us not to leave him. l reached down
through the broken window and succeeded
in getting hold OF Governors Downey's
hand and hauled him out nearly strangled.
While helping tho maid to the ground my
wife stepped on the window and fell
through into the car again.
The car by this time was burning rapid
ly. 1t Is impossible to tell how got her
out. l jumped with her to the ground and
Immediately ran down the hill to ayoid.the
flames. Before leaving the car | pushed
through the window seal skin cloak, n
dolman lined with fur, blankets and mat
trass. had no other clothing except my
night shirt. The wind was blowing strong
and intensely cold, surrounded by the dy-
ing and the dead. Governor Downey,
Mr.. Cassel, my wife, maid, Mr..
Howard Tilton, who rendered us
great assistance, and acted splendidly, q
child OF Mr.. Watcrhouse and myself oc.
cupied the mattress and were only pro.
tected by blanket till assistance came
from Tabachapi. The railroad did every
thing in their power to relieve the dis.
tress, and from Superintendent to brake.
man acted with the same delicacy and
courtesy. We were provided at Tahacha.
pi with warm clothes and comfortably
housed.
THE POWDER WORKS EXPLOSION.