Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-18
FOUR PEOPLE KILLED.
Santa Ana Startled by a
Terrible Accident.
THE VICTIMS WELL KNowN.
Their Buggy Caught on the Crossing
by the Santa Fe
Overland.

Their Buggy Caught on the Crossing
by the Santa Fe
Overland.
One OF the most distressing acci-
dents that ever occurred in Los An
geles county startled the residents OF the
Santa Ana Valley yesterday noon. Will
liam Bratley, his wife, daughter-in-law
and adopted daughter, Rose Ben ton, be-
ing struck and instantly kill ed by the
south-bound Santa Fe overland train at
the crossing, 200 yards north of the Santa
Ana depot. The victims of the tragedy
were all resident of Ell Modena and we're
on their way to Santa Ana in two-horse
rig, which had been shipped to them
from Nebraska some three months ago.
1t was little past IL O'Clock as they ap-
preached the crossing by Stuchell &
Gerbel's planing-mill, and just as their
horses heads were within few
feet of the rails they heard the shrill,
warning whistle of an approaching loco
motive. William BARLEY was driving,
and eye witnesses of the affair state that
he whipped up the horses and endeav-
ored to get across. The team took fright,
however, and set off at lope down the
track, turning when they were about
fifty feet below the crossing and throw
ing the wagon completely across the
metals. There was crash as the en-
gine dashed into it, and old BARLEY was
knocked from his seat and fell head
foremost by the side of the track. The
vehicle, which was cut in two, caught in
the pilot and was pushed along, old Mrs.
BARLEY and her daughter in-law
being thrown out about twenty
yards from the place of collision, while
the other victim, Rose Benton, was
dragged along by the engine until it
stopped, her head being beaten into
pulp by contact with the ties. The train
men and the other few persons who
had witnessed the catastrophe rushed to
the assistance of the unfortunates. bat
mortal aid was useless for they had been
killed instantly. U. s. Deputy Mar
shal Reed, who was at the depot await
ing the arrival of the train, was soon on
hand and placed guard over the bodies
so as to ward off the curious pending the
arrival of the ambulance. 1t is worthy
of note that the two horses that were
dragging the wrecked wagon, escaped
unhurt, having just cleared the rails in
time and being relieved of their encumbr-
ance by the forcs of the collision. The news
of the accident soon spread about town
and in an incredibly short space of time
the entire population of Santa Ana seemed
to have emptied itself on the scene, which
was horrible one. A few broken boards
were all that was left of the buggy, and
it's unfortunate inmates lay by the side
Of the track bleeding from wounds 30 ter
rible in their mutilation that even the
most hardened turned away with horror.
On the arrival of the ambulance the
remains we're reverently lifted into it and
conveyed to Grants undertaking estab-
lishment, where arrangements were made
for
THE OFFICIAL NvE sTIGATIoN
Into the affair. Coroner Meredith was
telegraphed for and came down on the
afternoon train, accompanied by Judge
Egan, DR.. Ross and Mr.. Carter, OF the
Santa Fe, and HERALD reporter. The
first thing they did was to carefully ex-
anime the scene of the accident with
view to finding the responsibility Of the
railroad in the affair and this resulted in
the knowledge that the unfortunate
travellers must certainly have scene the
train as they came along the road. The
next place of visitation was the morgue,
and here very unpleasant expert
ence was endured. The remains
were terribly mutilated, old Mrs.
BARLEY and Rose Benton having their
skulls beaten into almost unacceptable
shape, while Mr.. BARLEY and his
daughter.in-law, although not 80 badly
mutilated, still presented pitiable spec
tacle.
Coroner Meredith decided to perform
his official duties forthwith, 80 jury
was hastily summoned and the taking of
testimony began. The Santa Fe officials,
with view to protecting themselves
against probable suit for damages, had
the evidence taken down closely, these
precautions being deemed necessary by
the fact that Victor Montgomery, Esq,
was on the scene watching the proceed
ings in the interest OF the relatives of the
deceased. The testimony adduced was
in substance the same asabove described,
the most important witness being
the fireman of the train that caused
the accident. 1t was shown that the
engineer had whistled according to GUS
tom on approaching the crossing, and,
judging by the statements of the few
that witnessed the sad affair the team
had gained control of old BARLEY, who,
in the excitement of the moment, for
the whole thing happened within sixty
seconds, was powerless to do anything to
save either himself or the ladies with
him. A great many witnesses were
called, so that everything bearing on the
railroads standing in the matter should
be brought out, and the proceeding were
still going on when the HERALD man at
late hour left with his report for town.
WHAT is KNOWN OF THE VICTIMS.
The scribe's inquiries as to the identi-
ties of the deceased resulted as fellows:
The victims we're William Barley. aged
'76, and his wife, Margaret, aged 80, both
born in New York State; Mary E. Bart
ley, aged 38, daughter-in-law Of the old
people, native of Wisconsin Rose
Benton, aged 10, their adopted daughter,
born in Iowa. Old Mr.. and Mrs. Bart
ley passed a gooi deal Of their lives in
Pennsylvania, from which State they
migrated to Lincoln, Neb., and from
there moved to FL Modena year ago
last September, with the idea Of passing
their declining years in peace, for they
had been hard workers for many
years, having engaged in agricultural
pursuits. Their family consisted of five
sons and three daughters, the females