The morning call., 1891-06-17
WHO rs TO BLAME
The Gravel Train Men Knew the
Express Was Ahead,
But Deliberately Opened the Switch and Al
lowed Their Train to Pass on to the
Main Line-The Injured.

The disaster near Port Costa ON last Mon
day morning is still the chief topic of con-
versation among the railroad people. The
Southern Pacific officials at Fourth and
Townsend streets eoneede it to be one Of
the most peculiar accidents ever coming I'M
der their observation, and certainly one OF
the strangest ever happening on the South
ern Pacific system.
They are still confident that the first
theory advanced concerning the cause of
the wreck was correct one, and do not
hesitate to fix the responsibility upon the
engineer and fireman of the work train.
Both men have been in the service of the
company since 1883. and have always been
considered steady and entirely trustworthy.
The strange fact which throws this acct
dent cut of the ordinary is found in the
conversation held between the conductor
and engineer of the gravel train aud the
train-diSpatcher not four minutes before
the switch was thrown. and this train al
lowed to pass on to the main line. The
talk was concerning the time of the express.
The gravel train arrived at Port Costa at
exactly 9:17 and the conductor asked for
ord ers at the same time inQuiriug of the
dispatcher if No. IS was on time
HOROOA hhAA VAILED rum
The dispatcher replied that IS was on
time, and few minutes later, at 9:26,
handed the conductor and engineer orders
from Oakland Pier which read as follows:
Run to Martinez, avoiding regular trains"
Both men read the orders, aud Conductor
Collins, turning to the dispatcher, said:
Eighteen is due here in ten minutes; at
$40 register me out as soon as she arrives"
The dispatcher answered "all right and
went upstairs to attend to his duties The
conductor and engineer went directly to
their train, the switch was thrown and the
long heavy work train swung out on the
main line, only to meet the express four
minutes later. rounding the curve at full
speed.
Besides Conductor Collins and Engineer
Moore there were three brakemen on the
gravel train. 1t was not their first day on
the run. They knew the time of 49, bad
met the train at this point before and knew
as we'll as Collins and Moore that it had not
passed and was soon due,
The affair narrows down to this PROPOSE
ton: Five intelligent men, in their sober
senses, forgot what they waited twenty
minutes for, and this while they talked of
the very thing for which they were waiting.
THE DEAD AND INJURED.
Charles III. Spurgeon, the mail clerk who
was crushed to death In the wreck, was the
son Of William Ii. Spurgeon, an old resi-
dent of Santa Ana and one Of the founders
of the town. The blow Will be sad one 10
Mr. Sturgeon, who suffered a terrible be-
reavemeDt less than year ago in the loss
0f daughter who was drowned-a very
estimaDe young lady and graduate OF
Mills College. Young Spurgeon was a stu
dent of the University Of California IN the
class of '92. His body will be taken 10
Santa Ana for interment.
Emil j. Farley, the fireman Of the express
train, is at DR.. W0olsey'S Hospital in Oak
land, and yesterday afternoon was resting
easily. 1t is thought that he will recover
DagGett, one of the mail clerks, lives at
ITO Taylor street in this city. He will
Iouse the sight of one eye and yesterday was
suffering considerably from bruises around
his head and shoulders.
Albert PalmateT, another mall clerk, Is
also under the care of DR.. WOOlSey. His in
juries are more serious than at first sup
posed. and are of an internal nature. He
had hemorrhage yesterday and il iSfeared
that ne cannot live.
Karl Partridge was another clerk. badly,
though not seriously injured. He lives at
907 Dolores street, and as a result Of the
accident will be dishgured for lie, having
been cut feaI fully about the head and face
Conductor Wo0dal of the express train
resides in Berkeley and escaped with very
slight injuries. lie is highly praised for his
effective services in rendering assistance to
the injured passengers. Mr. W0Odall was a
bagEageman in the terrible TehachaDi dis
astSI aud has never fully recovered from
the effects Of injuries received at that time.