Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-31
Fourteen Lives Lost in a Railroad
Disaster Yesterday.
SAD FATE OF CAPT. THOs. DWYER.
One of the Most Disastrous Wrecks
That Ever Occurred on the
Pacific Coast.
Especial DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRD-uMos.l


Webster-street bridge. Two cars, the
caboose and locomotive now lie in Oak
land Creek. One of the passenger cars re.
mains out Of water.
They are piled one on top of the other,
and it is believed that the occupants, fully
100 IN number, are all dead.
Beside the 100 persons reported drowned,
several have been rescued who are severely
injured.
Information at the railroad offices at the
foot of Market street is very meager at
this hour, as no attention seems to be paid
to sending news from the other side.
Boats were at once dispatched to the
scene of the accident, and they were
crowded with vast assemblage going to
the scene of the disaster. Aid has been
sent from Alameda and Oakland.
The engineer of the locomotive was Sam
Dunn, and the fireman's name was
O. 'Brien.
Both are believed to be drowned. The
conductor was P. Davis. Brakeman W. o.
Hutchinson escaped.
Mr.. Wilkins, of 1912 Polk street. San
Francisco; J. p Friend, II. Guernett, Mrs.
S. H Roberts, 937 Twenty-frst street, San
Francisco, and two daughters, also escaped.
Councilman John Hackett and G. T.
Hawley were in one car, but escaped with
slight injuries.
gentleman named ]. L. Howard, who
was on the train, has not been seen.
Mary Austin, of San Jose, escaped, but
it is believed that her father and mother
are lost. G. NJ. McGraw and son escaped.
The draw bridge had just been closed, but
1,a1 .,osh haa- II, fae III
open when the heavy weight was put
upon it.
From an eyewitness it was learned that
not more than fourteen were killed although
many are injured. The engineer is said to
be the one to blame.
OAKLAND, May 30th.-The train leaving
San Francisco at lbs ran into the open
bridge at Webster street at about lao.
The engine, smoker and one passenger
car went into the estuary. The bridge
tender says the danger signal was set. The
engineer is said to be in the water.
Up to 3 o clock eleven bodies were taken
out-six men and five women. Henry L.
Ashton and daughter are said to be among
those drowned.
LATER.-A reporter who has Just re-
turned from the scene of the accident
learned that the number drowned was
fourteen.
1t is not known how many were in the
car when il went into the creek.
The correct story of what is one of the
most disastrous railroad accidents that
ever occurred on the Pacific coast is as fol-
lows:
The local train which left San Francisco
ferry Oakland, at las P. NJ. went into
Oakland creek off the Webster-street
bridge, owing to what now appears to have
ba oil Of ~ hr;jo 1a-
whose name is Dunlap. He had opened
the draw to permit the yacht Juanita to
pass, but failed as far as is known, to stop
the approaching train. The bridge was
within its own width of being closed when
the engine reached the approach which led
into it and dashed over into the creek, fol.
lowed by one passenger car.
Both the engine and the car were com.
pletely submerged, as the tide was al
nearly full food. Engineer Dunn, as be
neared the edge of the bridge, blew 9
whistle of warning and went down with
his machine.
Fireman Brien was rescued, but was
badly injured. As quickly as possible the
submerged car was raised and the living
rescued and the dead removed.
The engine is still under water. Among
those rescued was Captain J. H. Hackett
member of the Oakland Council. He
was slightly injured.
Thousands of people were gathered
about the scene of the accident and doz
ems of boats are seeking to render any
assistance that may be needed. Another
car passed half way over the bridge ap
prosch but was held back by the weight o
the rear portion of the train, and none who
were in it are believed to have beer
injured.
The conductor of the fated train was Ed
Reyalk, who escaped uninjured. Th,
rescue of the passengers was largely effected
by row-boats, which were soon on the
scene.
Among the dead identified were Captain
Thomas Dwyer, of Sacramento.
J. r. Irwin, sewing-machine agent witt
c. A Chandler.
Mr. Robinson, of West Oakland.
Il. A. Austin, of 2202 Mission street, Sar
Francisco.
II. Malatesta, a japanese boy.
Il is said the regular train men were or
picnic and the men in charge were new
Conductor Revalk in an interview said
The car that was submurged was com
bination, and had gone through il befor,
We reached the bridge. 1t would holt
about forty-eight people. After it wen
down it was as much as l could do to at
tend to the passengers of the remaining
with fear.
Il made my way to the head end
though, as soon as force my way through
and looked down on the scene of death.
noticed al least half a dozen men swim
away from the wreck, but did not see any
women or children escape. / do not know
any of the people who were in that coach.
There are now thirteen bodies at th,
Morgue, four women and nine men. Hon
n. A. Kelly, of the Whsrfngers Office, ha.
just identified a lady whom he thinks j.
MIS-. 0'Connor, of the firm of 0'Connor
Motif.
One of the bodies at the Morgue hes beer
identified as ". +. Williams of San Fran
cisco. Another is H w. Aud.
Train Master Joe Thompson, who wa,
speedily on the scene of the accident sai(
that the fault of the whole thing, al presen
appearances, lay between three men, th,
bridge man, who was intrusted with tn,
placing of the flag, and the engineer anC
hteman, who were supposed TO look out fo
it.
One of the worst features in connection
with the affair was that no one knew whit
was on board the train, and on the bridg,
could be seen many pale, anxious fac,
that feared that the next body that cam,
to the surface might be parent, brothe,
or g sister.
Il was long after o'clock before anv o
the bodies were brought to the morgue. a
large number of people called 10 look a
the dead, and TO see if among them the,
could identify either friends or relatives
On one Of the slabs at the Morgue lie.
the body of beautiful young girl, appar
emily "A years of age. Her clothes ha,
been torn from her body in vain effort +
revive her after she had been taken from
the water. Her complexion is clear am
she had long red hair.
On the adjoining slab lies the body of
young girl about Is years of age. She i
evidently sister of the girl mentione
above, as she has long red hair and he