Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-17
TEHACHEPI WRECK.
Colonel Harvey the Only
Person Killed.
Several Other Passengers Sc
verely Injured.
Two Sleepers, An Engine and a Lot
of Freight Cars Ruined.
The Coroner's jury Ascribes the Disas
ter to Carelessness on the Part
of the Passenger Crew
Tunnel IL Caved In.
Associated Press Dispatches.

laSb ulSnJ dJ IL U ClOCh, anu III Dall
Francisco at IL O'Clock this morning,
was wrecked in the mountains between
Girard and Tehachepi last night. The
train had stopped to remove a rock
caused by a landslide. and while at
work, down came a freight train of
about thirty cars, some filled with
wheat, and ran into the passenger
coaches. Colonel William Harney,
president of the San Francisco wooden
mills, who was standing on the plat
form was killed outright and his body
brought to Bakersfield this morning.
A. G. Baldeman, commercial traveller,
was considerably bruised and is lying at
the Southern hotel. Several others
were hurt, among them Mrs. F. A.
Healy, of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Emma
Spring, of Lafayette, Ind. The train
left here this morning at o'clock with
all the wounded on board. The south
bound train is still here waiting for the
track to be cleared.
PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.
TEHAcHEPI, CAL, Sept. l6.-South-
bound passenger train No. Is, Fillmore
conductor, which left Tehachepi last
evening on time, was brought to
standstill at tunnel II, by slide on the
track. The rear brakeman was sent
back to flag freight train 22, Dropan
conductor, which was known to be only
few minutes behind them.
While the passenger train was stand
ing still for the workmen to clear the
track, the air leaked out OF the brakes
and failed to hold the train, which
started and went through the slide,
leaving the rear brakeman, who was on
flag duty, behind. Conductor Fillmore
and his one brakeman succeeded in
stopping the train with the hand brakes,
with the engine reversed, between tun-
nels IL and Is.
The freight train, with the flag brake
man of the passenger train aboard, fol-
lowed slowly down to where they ex-
pected to find the passenger train, and
not finding it, supposed the latter had
proceeded on its run. The freight then
started down the mountain at the usual
speed, and struck the passenger train at
at tunnel thirteen ,letriking the rear
sleeper, nearly demolishing it.
VICTIMS OF THE WRECK.
Colonel William Harney, of San Fran
cisco, was killed.
A. G. Baldeman, of San Francisco, was
slightly cut. on the head.
Mrs. Healy, of Los Angeles, has her
back hurt.
Miss Spring, OF Indiana, has her back
hurt, not seriously.
G. Hanson, foreman of the carpenters !
gang, had his hip hurt.
Mr.. Longshot, carpenter, had his
lip hurt.
Two sleepers, five or six freight cars
md the engine of train 20 were badly
wrecked. Passenger trains will trans
er passengers today.
VERDICT OF THE CoRoNER's JURY.
BAKERSFIELD, Sept. 16.-The jury in
he coroner's inquest found that Will
am Harvey came to his death by
abroad collision, being jammed be-
ween the cars, the cause of gross
neglect on the part of the attaches OF
rain Is of the Southern Pacific COM
,any in not setting the hand brakes at
he time it was standing at tunnel Is.
proving it by testimony that after the
rain had escaped it was controlled and
topped by the hand brakes at tunnel
2; in not sending back and notifying
reight train %, that was following; and
urther, that train Is was insufficiently
upplied with men to properly handle it,
COLONEL HARNEY's HISTORY.
SAN Francisco, Sept. 16. 6.-Colonel
William Harney, who was killed in the
collision, was one of the best
.nown citizens of San Francisco, and at
he time of his death was a member of
he board Of education. He arrived here
n 1850, at the age of 16 years, from New
York. lie was appointed purser on the
Id steamer Senator, belonging to the
california Steam Navigation company,
md continued in the company's employ
Until it was sold to the railway company.
He was then appointed deputy county
;lerk, and for some years afterward held
he same Office. In 1871 he was elected
county clerk. and at the end of his term
vas renominated. He was a prom
nent militiaman, and served on
,he stats OF Governors Low, Booth,
Haight, Irwin, Perkins and Pacheco.
Colonel Harney was for many years re-
,order of California commandero, No. l,
Knights Templar, and was also prom
nent in the Odd Fellows and other
secret societies. For eleven years he was
identified with the Golden Gate Wooden
Manufacturing company. and was secre-
tary and manager Of it at the time of
his death. He left brother, John H.
Harney, deputy county clerk, and
wife, young son and daughter, Mrs.
Evan G. Evans.
TUNNEL II CAvED IN.
BAKERSFIELD, CAL, Sept. 16.-Tunnel
II, near the scene of the wreck, has
,aved in, and another wrecking train
has gone up with plenty of heavy tim
bers, but it is thought no trains will get |
through for two or three days. The
train from the. south, due here at s
o'clock this morning, arrived after 3 ,
o'clock this afternoon, the mail, express
and passengers having been transferred
At Girard. An accommodation train
was Immediately made up and left for
y