The morning call., 1893-10-17
A FLYER Sr1ASHED.
1t Was Run Into by the
Oakland Local.
THREE CARS ARE WRECKED.
What Might Have Happened IL the
Cars Had Been Crowded and
the Gates Had Been On.

OAKLAND.-At the solicitation of the
Southern Pacific the Sheriff yesterday ap-
pointed eight deputies to keep order on
the Seventl-street local when the gate
system was put in operation. which was to
have been to-day.
1t was to have gone into effect to-day.
but now, perhaps, it will never be. An
accident occurred on Seventh street last
night which will probably be an eye
opener to weak-kneed Councilmen and
warning TO the railroad company which
will cause it TO go slow on the gate propo-
sition, for had the gates been in use 40 doubt
many people would have been seriously in
jured. AS it was several were injured and
a number of women tainted when the
stampede was made to reach the car doors
after the collision, which happened at
Seventh and Oak last night at Z 80 o'clock.
1t appears that the flyer" had reached
its destination at Oak street and was
switching to get on TO the back track.
when bff it was caught in the rear by the
regular. which does not stop at Oak street
and which was coming up on the track the
flyer" had Just left or WAS trying TO leave.
| The flyer" Lad got the engine and one
car fl safe enough, but the next car and
the one following were badly scrap ped and
had their sides torn out, while the fourth
or last car was caught sQuarely in the
middle by the engine on the regular, which
was running backward, and the car badly
stove in, while the engines tender was
completely demolished and the two-the
car and the engine-Were stuck together
so tightly that it was impossible 10 sep
arate them aud there they lay.
A great crowd gathered, and the shout
ing men and faintinr women made scene
/ hot oft ha foryptfpn
When the crash came the flyer" was
really flying in trying to get out of the
way, bat tha regular was not moving very
rapidly. When the cars struck everybody
rushed for the doors. and had there been
gates to Intercept them there would have
/ been many persons crushed to death AS
| luck would have it there were not many
/ passengers on the flyer" the demolished
train. Two men, names unknown, were
! slightly injured, and one boy, aged IL
years, whose father is first mate on the
! steamer Piedmont, had his thigh badly
| bruised and was removed TO the hospital.
! He was afterward taken 10 his home at
| 1121 Twenty first street.
/ Bill Dean was engineer and Miners con-
! dUctor of the regular train. while the fly
| er" was being operated by Engineer Smith
/ and Conductor Johnson.
! The accident must have occurred through
/ gross carelessness of somebody, but Just
|
! The "hye was Fastening to get off the
switch when caught, as George Brader.
| who was hurt. says she was making the
| dust fly when she was struck.
The greatest excitement prevailed for
| awhile after the accident occurred, as it
was reported that many persons were
! Killed.
Luckily this report was incorrect, but
| the crowds kept gathering until Seventh
street from Broadway to Oak was black
with people. The trains were all jumbled
ND. too, and Mr.. Wilder and Assistant
| Thompson were rendered nearly frantic in
trying to straighten matters out.
The accident seems to have aroused
the people on the gate question, and moth
Ing else is heard on the streets but the re-
mark:
THAT settles the gate proposition
1t is easy to see now how a wholesale
slaughter might result from people being
| locked into cars when collision had
turned the lights over and set the cars on
fire.
The only reason that many persons were
not hurt last night WAS that the flyer"
had so few aboard.
Engines and help were sent for, and
after awhile the disabled cars were pulled
out with one exception and slowly moved
| down Seventh street. the people jeering at
the splintared remnants at they were
| pulled along. The last car could not be
extrIcated, and will probable lie where 1t
is until morning, closely wedged in with
Engine 1901. square on the switch. block
! ing all traffic.
There was no approach to Fruitvaie by
this road, and The electric lines did bank
| ing business all evening.
At 9:30 P. NJ. the disabled engine and car
were dragged out and taken to the yard,
and wreeking-caT was put to work re-
pairing the track.