Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-31

which naQ just feacneQ Wnen tnaC emu
of the car rose out of the water, and
quite a number of people escaped in this
manner, principally women and chill
dren.
"The car was about two-thirds full
when we left the wharf, and l should
judge there were at least twenty-five to
thirty persons in it. There was a fear
full outcry when it began to fill, but this
was almost Immediately hushed in one
final wall OF despair. l was very fortu-
nate in escaping with slight injury to
my shoulder and several cuts on the
head"
George T. Hawley, of Oakland Heights,
was in the car which went over, but es
capped. He said there were about forty
people, including children, in the car.
When he found the car filling with
water he climbed to the upper end, but
did not get out until he was completely
under water. He came to the top and
made for the window and got wedged
After struggle, however, he managed
to get through.
John L. Howard's Experience.
John l.. Howard, manager of the
Oregon Improvement Company, was in
the forward car when it went off the
abutment.
II was in the center on the right-hand
side OF the car" said Mr.. Howard. 81
felt the shock as the wheels left the rails,
for that awful moment before we
went into the water. The water
rushed in, splinters and pieces
OF glass were flying, and the
shrieks of the passengers, especially
r
open a window, and taking a long
breath, dived through the water, COM
ing up all right on the surface. 1t was
a difficult job, for the water was filling
the car with fearful rapidity, and every
thing was done so quickly that I hardly
realized it all. While swimming about
l saw Captain Hackett on the
car roof, pulling Miss Roberts
out through a window. / assisted him
until they were safe on the abutment.
Men in small boats did grand service in
rescuing those who were foundering
about in the water and struggling
through the windows. The shrieks and
piteous cries for help were heartrending.
They soon became smothered as the car
filled"
The Conductors Account.
Conductor 'Perath said "The first
car was combination, and had gone
through it before we reachedthe bridge.
1t would hold about forty-eight people.
After it went down it was as much as l
could do to attend to the passengers of
the remaining two coaches, some of
whom were frenzied with fear. I made
my way to the head end, though, as soon
as | could force my way through, and
looked down on the scene of death. |
noticed at least half 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
the coach.'
What the Bridge-Keeper Says.
James Dunlap, who was tending the
bridge at the time of the accident, said:
'T was in charge at the time, and had
just opened the draw to allow the yacht
Juanita to.pass through. l was in the
act of moving the draw back into place
when the up train from San Francisco
came along. That is all l know about
it."
He declined to answer the question if
it was not rather unusual to open the
draw just at the hour when train was
due.
Some Who Escaped.
Brakeman Hutchison, who was on the
first car, escaped, as did Councilman
John Hackett, of Oakland.
Among those who were rescued was
Captain Roberts, owner of several coal
barges.
Mrs. p. H. Look had her arm cut, but
escaped. Several others were injured.
Ernest Ferguson is reported to be
missing.
The frame of the car has been raised
and it is believed there are no more
bodies in the wreck.
The Scene of the Disaster.
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 800 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
Both sides of the creek are lined with
shipping, and the boatmen from the
vessels were of great assistance in res
cuing those who escaped from the car.
The drawbridge is about 100 feet long,
and just before the trains from San
Francisco get on the bridge they have to
come around a sharp curve, and usually
travel at a high rate of speed. A pas
senger train crosses the bridge every
half-hour during the day, and when the
bridge is open the keeper is supposed to
signal by hoisting a red flag.
j. N. Dunlap, the bridge tender, says
the 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 just gone through,
and the bridge was being swung back,
when the train pitched off. He sup
posed the engineer did not see the signal
on account of the curve. The stories of
the engineer and fireman have not been
obtained, as they disappeared as soon as
rescued.
Scenes At the MOrgue.
The scene at the morgue, on Wash
ington street, was terrible one. Hun
dreds of anxious people gathered in
front of the building, and struggled to
gain admittance. The building was in
charge of Sheriff Hale, who with a
large force of deputies and police, kept
the crowd back.
One white-haired old man frantically
sought to gain admittance, saying he
was looking for his boy.
There are no boys in here" said the
sheriff."
He was 35 years DID," said the old
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