The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-31
D|IED down TO Death
Train Leaps Into Oakland Greek
Through Open Bridge.
THIRTEEN PASSENGERS LOST.
The Reckless Engine Drags . Crowded
Car Into Deep Water.
THIRTEEN PASSENGERS LOST.
Victims Nearly All wsli-Knswn Resi-
dents OF Oakland. San FrxHcsses and
sacramenfo--Msarnins ~ the saerxue
-Psase seizes Crowds ~ Csnetery.


San FRascHsco. May 3o-0ne Of the
most horrible railway accidents ever known
in California occurred at 40 O'Clock this
afternoon. when local tram connecting
az Oakland with Jerry boats frorn San Fran
cisco ran through the open draw-hridge
over San Antonio creek, at Webster street.
Oakland. TIE yacht Juauita had Just
passed through the draw when the train
appeared. going IN the direction OF Ala
media.
The draw-bridge keeper ende4yored at
once TO close the bridge but it Was too late,
and the engine. with the tender and frst
car. which was filed with passengers.
plunged into the estuary, which is here
quite deep. Engineer Sam Dunn and Fire
man Brien went down with the engine,
but both were saved. The former, when
he saw the bridge did not close. reversed
the lever. but the momentum OF the engine
was too great TO be stopped in time. The
weight Of the engine and first car broke The
couplings and left the other two cars OF the
train standing On the track. The second
car ran about one-shird Of the way across
the bridge and stopped. but the jar was
sufficient 10 break open the front of the
car, and many Of the passengers we're
thrown into the water.
The first car, which had followed the en-
gine TO the bottom of the muddy estuary,
soon rose. and such of the passengers as
had escaped thereirom were picked up by
yachts ard small boats which gathered al
the scene. The trainmen and the rest OF
the passengers lent their aid to the work OF
a..1 r~k -. A
from Oakland the car was drawn into shall
low water. ard small boats began dragging
the creek for bodies.
The train was in charge Of Conductor
Revalk and an extra crew, it being holi-
day. The conductor states that probably
twenty-five persons met their death.
The top of the passenger coach vas cut
open as soon as it was raised above the
water, and the work of removing the bodies
commenced, ten being taken out in quick
succession.
Three women and three girls were taken
from the wafer alive and removed to the
receiving hospital Another young lady
died soon after being taken from the water
News Of the accident created intense ex-
element in Oakland. and thousands of
people Hocked to the morgue and TO the
scene of the wreck. Al the morgue the
bodies were laid out as soon as received. 70
await identification. The body Of r. r.
Robinson. which was among those taken
from the hole cut in the roof of the nar. was
taken charge OF by Coroner Evers. The
bodies OF six men and two women were
brought in soon after. some of the bodies
being al FIRST left at the receiving hospital,
where the injured were also taken.
In short time thirteen bodies lay on the
floor and on the marble slabs of the
morgne, awaiting Identification, and sew
eral heartrending scenes were witnessed as
friends came forward 10 claim their dead.
Among those who were rescued was Cap
tain Roberts. owner OF several coal harges.
Mrs. II. s. Look had her arm cut, but es-
capped. Several other passengers we're in
jnred. Ernest Ferguson is reported miss
ing. The frame OF the car has been raised,
and il is believed there are DO more bodies
IN the wreck.
THE scEyE or THE pIsAsTss.
The water over which the bridge is built
Is an estuary of san Francisco bay. and Is
commonly called Oakland creek A strong
current runs in the stream. which at the
point of the accident is about so feet wide
aud twenty ieet deep. Both sides OF the
creek are lined with shipping. and boat.
men from the vessels were OF great assist
ance in rescuing those who escaped from
the car. The arswbrsdge is about 100 feet
long. and just before trains from san
Francisco get on the bridge they have TO
conie around sharp curve. anu usually
travel at high rate of speed.
4 passenger train crosses the bridge
every bali hour during the day. and when
the bridge is opea the keeper is supposed
to signal By hosting red aag. ]. n.
Dunlap. the hridge-sender. saws the red
danger flag was properly set in the center
Of The track when the bridge WAS swung
open for the yacht Juanita to pass. The
boat had gone through. and the bridge was
being swung back when the train pitched
OF. He snpposes the engineer did not see
the signal on account of the curve. The
stories of the engineer and firenisn have
rot been obtained, as they disappeared as
soon as rescued.
AT rUF Rorsg or TIE pEsp.
The scene at the nioFgue on Washington
street was terrible one. Hundreds OF
anxious people gathered IN irent of the
building ard struggled TO gain admitsanoe.
The building was in charge OF Sheriff Hale,
sho. wiih large foree Of depatses ana po-
lice, kept the crowd hack One white
haired old man frantiessly sought 20 gain
adm;tlance. saying he was looking for It's
hoy
There are no toys in here xasd .aA