The morning call., 1890-11-16
FERRETING OUT
THE MISCREANTS.
Further Light on the Disaster
Near Salem, Oregon.
Completion Of the Colorado Midland - Over
land Time Changes-Arrival of the
Sailor Special

When questioned yesterday relative to the
cause Of the accident which occurred on
last Tuesday night near Salem, Oregon,
General Manager Towne expressed some
hesitancy in imparting all the informl-
tion he had received. lest it might inter
fere with the officers Of the law in ferret
ing out and arresting the mscreants who
were the authors of this dreadful ac-
cident. He finally said, however, that
the fact that rail had been removed
for the purpose of wrecking the express
train had been established beyond question.
This, ne says, was a S1uth-bound train from
Portland TO San Francisco. The statement
of passengers and others that the alarm
whistle was sharply sounded Immediately
prior to the accident seems to clearly ind
cate that the engineer saw by the aid of his
headlight far enough ahead to warn him OF
the impending danger, and that he made a
great effort 10 stop the train by the applica-
ton Of the automatic brake and the reversal
Of his engine before it reached the point, 430
feet from the north end of the trestle, where
the east rail had been removed and thrown
over the trestlework upon the west side
down on the ground, distance of more
than twenty feet. The application OF
the brakes and the reversal of the
engine only partially checked the mo-
mentum of the train in so short distance
The shock referred to by passengers on the
train was undoubtedly caused by the loco
motive running off on TO and crushing
through the treStlework at the point where
the IA Ill had been removed. This caused the
baggage, mail and express cars to follow,
falling through on to the ground, taking
with them ten or twelve bents from near the
middle of the structure, thereby greatly I'M.
wi. ha mil If ha Ia nm
which the remainder of the cars were stand
ing. The weight Of these cars, together with
tile momentum of the train, naturally forced
southwark and downward the standing
bents which, as may be readily under
stood, had lost their longitudinal sup
port by the engine crushing through at the
point where the rail had been removed
hence, that portion of the standing trestle
under the sleeplng-carS and coaches, north of
the break, was forced over southwark, fall
ing to the ground. all the coaches, however,
remaining in an upright position after reach
ing the ground.
FURTHER EVIDENCE FOUND.
When asked if he had any further evidence
than the finding Of the removed rail Mr..
Iowne said:
Yes, this rail was perfectly straight and
without a mark of any kind, as were the
four angle plates found Lear il, while the
other rails were more or less bent and bat
tered up. The ties from which this rail was
removed clearly show that the inside spikes
We're drawn or removed, while the outside
spikes yet remained in the ties. The ties
also clearly show the indentation of the heel
of clawbar used in pulling tho spikes.
There was also sufficient evidence OH the
ties and stringers, where the wheels of the
forward engine struck them. telegram
just received advises that the clawbar used
in pulling the spikes and the wrench used in
turning of the nuts were found this morning,
about 200 feet from the wreck"
Was this structure generally in good
condition."
Yes, Sir; this portion of the trestle- work
was rebuilt only short time ago. As fur
Their evidence of the security Of this tres!le-
work, will add, four gentlemen not con-
nected with the company-two eminent
civil engineers and two well-known bridge
contractors, all having large railroad ex-
perience-went to the wreck from Port
land yesterday. reporting that the timbers
ia the structure were all in such condition
that no one can possibly assign to this the