The herald., 1893-08-06
CAUGHT By THE LOCOMOTIVE.
Mrs. S. =. Scofield Instantly
Killed at Glendora,
And Her Little Son Probably Fatally
Injured.
A Fatal Accident Yesterday Morning
Details of the ARair-The Re-
suit OF the Inquest by
tho Coroner.

A terrible railway accident happened
yesterday at Glendora, station on the
Santa Fe railway, 25 miles east of the
city, whereby Mrs. s. s. Scofield was
instantly killed and her little son Amos
sustained fracture of the skull and
may not recover. ~ Al
The Santa Fe overland due here at
1880 a. m. was four hours late. When
the train is behind time no stop Is made
at the smaller stations between here
and San Bernardino, consequently the
train passed Glendora as a high rate OF
speed. The overland reached the sta
tion at :55 o'clock, and moment later
caused the death OF Mrs. Scofeld, the
crushing of her little sons skull, the
killing of horse and the smashing OF q
phaeton.
The train was running at q speed OF
between 20 and 30 miles an hour. Com-
ing in diagonal direction was Mrs.
Scofield and her son in q phaeton. OS-
ing to the position OF the depot and q
bunch of pepper trees, she could not see
the train until it was within 20 yards OF
the crossing. The engineers sight Of
the road was also obscured, making 1t
we'll nigh impossible to see vehicles un-
til they are nearly upon the track.
The horse being driven by Mrs. Sco-
field evidently become frightened at the
sudden and unexpected approach of the
train, and made wild dash to cross the
no 1olx 20 N
task of checking the maddened animal
and it dashed into the flying train.
The accident occurred exactly on the
railway crossing. Those who witnessed
it say that the horse leaped against the
pilot of the engine. The lady was
thrown 20 feet, killing her insanity.
The child was thrown ID feet further
along the track, while the horse
and buggy were piled up in an un-
recognizable mass. When the
bystanders reached the scene they found
the life of Mrs. Scofeld slowly ebbing
away, and a moment later she ceased to
breathe. Her head was crushed almost
TO pulp. Reaching the little boy the
persons picked him up and found that
his skull was fractured. He was evil
IDENTIFY thrown against railroad tie,
alighting on his forehead. The outer
part of the frontal bone was mashed in.
The train was soon brought to stand
still and the body OF the woman and her
unconscious boy were removed to the
depot. DR.. A. E. Inglehart Of Glendora
attended the injured boy Immediately,
but he did not recover consciousness
except at intervals during the after
noon.
The body of Mrs. Scofeld was placed
upon truck, where it remained until
the coroner arrived in the afternoon.
The attention of some persons was then
turned to the writhing horse, which
soon died from the terrible shock. The
phaeton was smashed to smithereens.
Engineer Nesbet OF the overland gave
the signal as usual before approaching
the station. The engineer did not OBJ.
serve the approaching runaway, which
was trying to reach the crossing, until
it was too late. The supposition OF
some is that Mrs. Scofeld could not
hold the frightened horse. while others
think that she was endeavoring to cross
the track by hurrying the animal for
ward. Realizing her awful position,
she drew the horse to the right. escap-
ing being struck equarely by the pilot
but meeting most frightful death.
Coroner Gates was notified, and he in
company with DR.. N. H. Morrison, chief
surgeon OF the Southern California rail-
way and HERALD reporter, visited the
scene of the accident.
A coroner's jury was impaneled and
evidence adduced which showed that
the engineer was not responsible for the
accident unless the bell was not rung,
and there ia no evidence on the latter
point.
D. A. Norcross, who say the accident,
said that the horse appe&red to be un-
manageable. He thought the train was
passing the station at the speed of about
80 miles an hour. The whistle signal
was given about 400 yards from the cros-
sing.
Station Agent Thompson said he was
attracted to notice the accident by the
calling Of Mr.. Norcross to Mrs. Scofield,
warning her Of the approaching train.
But he thought she did not hear him
and could not see the train on account
Of the depot and the trees. The engineer
saw the approaching buggy and its ill
lated occupants too late but gave the
danger signal. The train was going at
Its usual rate in passing the station,
which is rather rapid owing to heavy
down grade.
s. W. Funk said he saw the accident !;
was standing on the platform about 200
feet from the crossing. The horse ap-
peared to be running away. He said the
train looked to him as though it was
running 40 miles an hour, and the horse
Was running at full speed.
The testimony of other witnesses was
about the same as that given. After
discussing the matter for half an hour,
The jury rendered the simple verdict
that "Mrs. 8. S. Scofeld, native of H.
inois, aged 36 years, was killed by q
Santa Fe railway train at Glendora, Au-
gust 5, 1893." hf
Nothing was said as to whether the
occurrence was accidental, and no blame
was attached to the railway company
nor any Of its employees.