The morning call., 1891-06-16
RAILROAD WRECK.
A Bad Smash-Up of Two Trains
Near a Port Costa Curve.
The Los Angeles Express COllided With a
Construction Train, Killing Two Men
and Injuring Others Mail Robbed.

A bad accident occurred yesterday on the
line of the Southern Pacific, near Port Costa,
as a result Of which two men were killed
and half dozen injured, some seriously,
and others only slightly.
The Los Angeles express, No. is, due
here at II 10 this morning, and a gravel
train. made up Of eighty heavily loaded
cars, collided at sharp curve between Port
Costa aud the Nevada Docks at GAS o'clock
yesterday morning. The construction train
was employed in hauling gravel from Niles
to San Ramon Valley for the purpose Of
balastng the new line in this vicinity, and
should have waited at Port Costa for the
southern train, which was running on time.
For some reason which remains to be ex-
planned it was allowed to leave the station
and occupy the main line on the passenger
trains time, in an attempt to make siding
at the docks. The two trains met on
sharp curve and came together with terrific
force. The passenger was running at a
high rate of speed. while the gravel train
was slowing down, preparatory to entering
the switch.
TWO MEN WERE KILLED.
The mail-car was teleScoped and both en-
gines were thrown from the track, the shock
piling up a number of the gravel cars in
wild confusion. William J. Jordan, the
head brakeman of the construction train,
was instantly killed. The engineer and fire.
man jumped in time to save their lives.
The passengers on the express escaped
with a severe shaking up, but several Of the
occupants Of the mail-car Jared worse. Mall
Clerk w. II. SpuTgeOn was caught between
two timberS and crushed so badly that he
died hpfora reaching Oakland. He was
native Of Santa Ana and occupied lodgings
on Taylor street III this city. The injured,
according TO reports received at railroad
headquarters, are as follows:
ALBERT PALMATER, mail clerk, bad
y bruised about the head aud face.
CARL PARTRIDGE, mail clerk arm in
jured and face cut
w. A. DAGGETT, slightly bruised about
the head.
JAMES ABBEY, engineer of express
train, skull fractured and severe internal
injuries. but will probably recover.
FIREMAN FARLEY of express train,
badly scalded and injured internally.
THE TRACK CLEARED AGAIN.
AS soon after the accident as possible the
passengers We're transferred to No. 4 and
brought TO the city. Superintendent Wilder
OF Oakland Pier went to the scene OF the
collision with a wrecking train and the
track was cleared for traffic by 2 o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
In spraking of the accident yesterday
General Superintendent Fillmore said: 1T
was entirely due TO the careleSsness of the
conductor and engineer of the work train.
They are men Of experience, and what they
could be doing on the main line when the
passenger train was due is more than l can
tell"
From the Office of the Superintendent of
the railway mail service it was learned that
w. Ii. SpurgeOn, the mail clerk, was on his
first trip in the service. He is a son of eX-
Senator Spurgeon, and made his home with
his parents at Santa Ana. He was a grad
| uate of Berkeley.
A BAG OF MAI. CUT Open.
Albert Palmater has been in the service
one year. His mother lives at Pasadena
w. A. Daggett has been in the service
THREE years. His folks live in Stockton, and
he, with his wife, lived at no Taylor street,
in this city. His injuries consist of burns
from scalding, an injured eye, and broken
shoulder blade.
Karl. Partridge has been in the service
three weeks. He was cut in the face.
1t was also learned that when the mail
was OYerhauled, one bag was found cut
Open. a bag containing $500 10, from the
Postmaster at Chino, was missing; also sew
eral letters known 10 lave contained money.