The morning call., 1890-07-14

The remainder of the party who were In
jured were placed ON the train and taken to
San Francisco. Just as the Valencia.
Mrs. Roschmann expired from the eff
fects of its injuries. The poor little
one had been moaning in agony during the
short journey, but died before it could re-
ceive any substantial medical assistance.
Some of the other injured par
train at Valencia street. were
taken to st. Luke's Hospital on Valencia
street near Twenty-sixth, where their in
juries were Immediately attended to by Su-
perintendent +. II. Titus. A few of those
who received severe injuries were taken to
the house of Charles Beach, ia Shotwell
street.
A SAD RETURN.
While the wounded sufferers we're being
placed on the train the parties in the other
vehicles, who belonged to the excursion,
proceeded on their return journey. Rosch-
mann, who owns one OF the teams and who
drove the fatal wagon, got on one of the
conveyances, and drove it home, although
his wife lay dead at the station. 1t was
a melancholy spectacle to see the change
which had come over their spirits by the
great calamity which had converted their
day of joy into one of tears. Sad and des-
pairing on their arrival they went to their
homes to mourn for their dead friends.
GLAClNG IhE BLAME.
The blame for the accident, according 10
the evidence that could be gathered, seems
to rest with the picnickerS. Some of them
were extremely hilarious, while others were
more so.
b Superintendent Titus of st. Luke's Hos
pital stated that one of the men who came
to him 10 see about Eberlln, and who said
he was one of the picnickers, was in state
of utter intoXicati0n. The way several of
the men acted after the collision and their
arrival in this city indicated that they were
under the influence Of liquor.
In the wagon which was struck there
was one large empty beer keg and two
dozen bottles of beer. These were strewn
in all directions when the cow catcher
struck the vehicle.
HEARD NO WHISTLE.
Notwithstanding this fact the parties
who were in the shattered conveyance claim
that no whistle was blown by the engineer to
warn them. ROschmann, Str0bel and Eberlin
stated that they did not hear any whis-
tie, but were struck, unawares. Strobel
stated that the line of the track was
straight. When asked if he did not perceive
the train approaching be replied in the
negative.
On the other hand the officers of the train
claim that proper warning was given. The
conductor of the train is A. Hood. and the
engineer ID. c. Cornwall. On the arrival of
the train Hood at once left for his
regular return trip to Menlo Park, but
Engineer Cornwall remained in this city.
He stated that the whistle was blown as
usual and all customary signals properly
attended to.
Hood attributed the collision to the reek-
lessness of the driver of the vehicle struck.
1t is claimed that Roschmann foolishly
thought he could cross the track before the
train came along, not calculating properly.
When the train was on him he became
GhoftlTHh
cowcatcher.
The reticence shown by some Of the pic
nickers on the subject of how the accident
occurred seems to place color OF truth on
this claim of the railroad people.
AS soon as information was received at
the railroad Office in this city of the catas-
trophe the greatest surprise was displayed
by the officials, as the road is one of the
best and most cautiously managed in the
State.
Superintendent Bassett. who was at Menlo
Park, was telegraphed to about the affair
and lie answered that he would at once pro-
ceed to the scene OF the tragedy. He issued
instructions 10 send as many men as would
be necessary from this place to Baden
to attend to the dead and make all possible
arrangements for the care Of the injured.
Accordingly five subordinate officials of the
line at once left for the scene of the acci-
dent.
The collision interfered greatly with the
local schedule of trains, throwing them all
out OF gear, as they had to wait the delayed
train at Baden.
RETURN OF THE WOUNDED.
When the wounded were brought to this
city they were taken, some to their resi-
denceS direct and others to the house OF Z.
Beach, a brewer, 116 Shotwell street, near
Seventeenth, where their wounds were
dressed.
In some cases, as in that of MIR. Beach.
fr,f. a 10 fnr
than at first supposed. He was injured
about the limbs and felt queerly" else
where. On diagnosis it was found that
he had also sustained severe cOntusions of
the hips, and had three ribs crushed in and
an arm injured.
SHE NAY DIE.
Mrs. Giesep and child were also taken to
Beach's residence. Both we're injured
about the head. She may die from her
wounds, as she also sustained internal in
juries. Her residence is $50 Linden avenue,
to which she was conveyed at 10 O'Clock
last evening. DR.. T. Humid dressed her
wounds and pronounced them very serious.
When an attempt was made to interview
Mr.. Beach or those at his residence 1t was
found that none were willing to talk about
the subject, refusing to do so until after the
shcck Of the accident is over.
Detective Burke, as soon as the accident
was reported at the Seventeenth-stree Po-
lICt DldtlOt, CdLleu db liie ltSiCcuCo VI ".
Beach, who is an intimate friend of his,
and was given the following version of the
unfortunate affair by Mr.. Beach.
a TALE OF HORROR.
The trip to the Seventeeu-mile house
was a sort OF picnic which was got up
early last week. | have vehicles to rent
and a couple of mine were taken. Each
one of the vehicles was built to contain tif-
teen persons. and were filed this morning
when they left the city. We went to
Uncle Toms Cabin, beyond the Seventeen
mile House, and it was on the return trip
that the accident took place.
'The first vehicle was a cart. 1t crossed
the track safely. The second vehicle was
an express wagon, TO which were hitched
two horses. The driver thought he could
get across safely, at least, l guess that he
did, for l don't see why he would drive on
to The track il he did not. and he drove up
the horses as fast as he could. The horses
and the front part of the wagon got safely
across the track, but the engine struck the
hind wheel and everything was shattered.
ALL OF SUDDEN.
Mrs. Fritz Giesen and her child were
hurt about the head, and. being more par
ticularly my friends, l had them brought to
my house. The whole shock was SO sud
den that it is hard to detail. l know that
and she was found hundred feet away
where she had been dragged.
"Her skull was opened up completely
and her brains literally scraped out, and
one of her arms, the right ons | think, CON-
pletely torn out. She was hardly recog-
nizable. Oh, 1t was horrible, and so sud-
den. / hardly know how it happened.
II know that the train did not whistle.
The track is straight for quite dist lance
and, barring low fence, there was nothing
to obstruct the view from the roadway. l
think the only possible cause is that the
driver thought he could pass and made
fatal miscalculati0n."
THE DRIVER.
"Who was the driver2" asked the detect
i've.
HE was my driver, hired regularly. His
name is Rosewice."
.'Dd you drink much out theref"
"No, not very much; not more than
usual"
Other statements, however. differ from
the last one, and it is reported by many
that Charles RoSchmann was the driver at
the time the engine struck the wagon,
though that is not clearly established, as a
singular and almost phenomenal silence Is
maintained on several of the vital points.
THOUGHT HE COULD CROSS.
Charles Roschmann. who resides at 40
Sh0twall street said in an intarView after