Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-05
THykrEEH DROWNED.
the Horrible PianRa of a. Railroad

Bratn Through an Open BRAVE
SAN Francisco, May 30.--One of the
most horrible railway accidents ever
known in California occurred at l. 40
O'CLOCK this afternoon, when the local
train connecting at Oakland with the
ferryboats from San Francisco ran
through an open drawbr!dse over the
San Antonio creek at Webster street,
Oakland.
The yacht Jusnita had just passed
through the draw when the train ap-
peared, going in the direction of Alemeda.
The drswbridga keeper endeavored at
ones to close the bridge, but it was too
late, and the engine, with its tender and
first car, which was filed with passen-
gers, plunged into the river, which is
hsre quite deep. The engineer, Sam
Dunn, aud Fireman 0'Brien, went down
with the engine. Dunn, when he saw that
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 the first car
broke the couplings and left the two
other oars of the train standing on the
track The second car ran Rbou. third
Of tho way across the bridge and stopped,
but the jar was sufficient to break open
the front OF the car and many pssseng IRA
were thrown into the water.
The first car which had followed the
| engine 10 the bottom of the muddy
estuary soon rose, and such of the passsn-
gers ae had escaped were picked up BY
tine yacht and some boats which gathered
at the scene. The trRinmen and the rest
| of the passengers lent their aid to the
work Of resc1ing, aud when the wrecking
train arrived from Oakland the car was
drawn into shalloW water and the boats
began dragging Tho creek for bodies.
Thirteen bodies were soon recovered, this
number covering the extent OF the cas-
uaitios. Three women and three giril
were taken from the water altvs and re-
moved to the receiving hospital. Another
young lady died soon after being taker
from the water.
The body of i. p. Robinson, whiot
was among those taken from the hole Gu
in the roof of the car, was among the frs
removed and was taken charge q by Cor
oner Eyers The bodies Of 16 men ani
two women were brought in soon after
some of the bodies being at first LETT q
the receiving hospital, where the injured
were also taken. In q short time Il
bodies lay on the floor and on the msrbl,
slabs Of the morgue, awaiting identified
ton. Many heart-rending scenes wer,
witnessed as the friends came forward t
claim their dead.
The draw bridge is about 100 feet lont
and just before the trains from San Fran
cisco get on tine bridge they have to com
around sharp curve, and usually traye
at o nigh rate of speed. A passenge
train CROSSES the bridge every half hou
during the day, and VIXEN the bridge
open the keeper is supposed to signal b.
b isting red flag.
James Dunlap, who was tending tn
bridge at the time of the accident, said
81 was in charge at the time and had jus
opened the draw to allow the zach
Juanita to pass through. was in th
act OF moving the draw back into it
place when tho up train from San Fran
cisco came along. That 10 all / know
about it." He declined to answer tn
question If it was not unusual to opel
the draw when train was due.
, The people who lost their lives wer
| nearly all Of better classes and belonged
! 20 well-known San Francisco and Oak
land families. ....