The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-10
Locomotive PIunges Into
the Mud.
The Pricket-Prackett Case Comes
to Light Once More.
ROBBED AND TIED TO A TREE.
Colonel Dan Burns, the Ticket
Maker, Pays Oakland
Visit.

OAKLAND.-An open switch was the
cause Of an accident yesterday morning to
one of the local trains which runs on the
Seventh street road, in which, very for
tunateIy. though through no fault OF the
careless gateman who failed to close the
switb, no person received as much as a
scratch. A locomotive, however. lies al
most buried in the muG, and tender and
one end of a baggage-ear are in need Of
very extensive repairs.
The accident happened in this wise. 1t
is the custom of the railroad people to lay
up two of the Oakland locals at Brooklyn
station during the night. The first hauls
out at 80 O'Clock in the morning, and the
second half an hour later. 1t was the Sec
ond which met with the accident yester-
day morning.
On the previous night the train had been
run onto siding, which terminates ON the
edge of the mud fats which fringe the
shore of the estuary. A few minutes be-
fore o'clock yesterday morning Conduc-
tor Iytle and E02 ineer Orth ran the train
off the siding onto the main track, and
down TO the station some 800 yards from
the siding.
One of the gatemen should have closed
the switch, which joins the siding with the
main track. but this individual failed IN
his duty. The train left the station, Fire
man Drisc0ll was busily engaged in pass
ing coal into the fire, and Engineer Orth
busted himself with the injector. Clouds
of steam arose from the open piston valves
and enyeloped the cab in vapor. and
neither one noticed that the engine had
left the main line, and was speeding down
the siding.
Suddenly there was a crash as the loco
q hUmnnr a n
the siding. Then came a great splurge
as he locomotive squashed into the mud,
and shorty" Orth and Driscoll dived into the
mud for safety.
The locomotive plowed through the mud
about twice its length and then came TO a
standstlll as the driving wheels were so clogged
by the mud which covered them that the
machinery could no longer drive the piston rod.
The sudden stoDpage brought the baggage car
and tender together with great force, partly
demolIsbiDg them.
By this lime the passengers were all excite
ment and piled OF The cars IN great disorder 10
learn the cause OF the trouble, and congra'
tulated themselves when they found out that
The only Inconvenience caused by the accident
would be long wait for the next train. Traffic
was not resumed until some TWO hours after The
accident.
1t is very fortunate circumstance that at
the point where the accident occurred Il
dredger had thrown up The mud until IL is very
nearly even with The shore, and instead of
plunging down an embankmeuI the locomotive
only plunged into the mud. IL may be long,
however, before the machine will be extracted
a similar accident occurred al the same
point some years ago, and despite all the
appliances that were brought into use by the
wrecking crew, II took more than eight days To
raise the engine from the mud.
AT almost the same place another accident
occurred al O'Clock yesterday afternoon. AT
this hour the westbound train struck an ex-
press wagon owned by H. II. Colby and driven
by n. T. West. and so wedged il between itself
and freight train that traffic was suspended
for half an hour. The wagon was spllnIered
and the horses ran away, but as in the more
serious accidents, nobody was injured.
DR.. Prickett- Prackett Again.
DR.. PrickettPrackett who has gained con-
siderable notoriety of late by being claimed as
husband by TWO women at the same time, one
IN Los Angeles VINO says, as MIR. PrickeIt, he
was her husband, and one in Oakland who
said as DR.. Prackctt he belonged TO her by
virtue of a Mormon marriage. is again brought
into notice.
The doctor" says now that ne was never
married TO the latter woman. who calls herse If
Mrs. McCusker. but that The whole scheme
was one of blackmail. In order to bear out the
statement Of The doctor The woman herself
recants and says she Is sorry. In letter to the
press SIZE says:
OAKLAND, October Is 1894.
Wishing so far as possible to undo the wrong
"Dlch mas Deen zone TO Ut. d. l. racket IN pur,
ported statements made by me and pubilshed
through the press wish to say that the whole
ness and that was the lnstrunenS used by Others
FOR that purpose. And wish TO say further that
lshed and that 1 am sorry that ever entered
into such a scheme, and that L wonld not have
done had IL been for over-perSuasion by
those who suppose were my friends: and that
know Dr. Prackett to be au honest man. This is
all that can now do to undo the wrong which
have d one him.
j wish to deny that Dr. Prackett claims to be an
ex-Prtest. Yours respectfully,
MRS. McCUsKER
just what influence the doctor has brought
TO bear on MIS-. McCuskeris not known, but she
certainly made the statements attributed to heI
IN the presence of witnesses
But the 'doctor' says now it is all blackmai
aud that he is not bgamist. Besides he makes
the statement regarding the Los Angeles wife
that she had two living husbands from whom
she had not been divorced at the time of the
alleged marriage to bin, which the ''eminenl
practitioner repudiates. 'BelDg a Catholic u
he says, 81 cannot recognize any but sacra-
mental marriage and II any ceremony had
taken place between myself and any woman
who has TWO living husbands from whom She
had not been divorced Ii could not have been
legitimate"
doctor" 1t is stated that he will on Friday in
company with Mrs. McCusker, shake the dus
OF Oakland from his feet. The sudden deter
minati0n is said 10 be brought about by the
State Board OF Health securing the names Of
all practlcing physicians IN Oakland.
Robbed and Tied to Tree.
{. E. Alderman, drummer who travels fol
New York house, had an experience neal
Haywards last night with some California brig
ands, which he will not soon forget. AcKer-
man has been residing with his wife at be
Haywards Hotel. but yesterday morning lie
accompanied friend to Castro Valley. There
they separated and Alderman started 10 walk
BACK TO Haywards.
He had not proceeded far when he was over
taken by two Mexicans in a wagon. They
politely invited bin 10 ride. and he elambered
up beside them. They talked very pleasantly
about the land and the scenery, and very soon
they overlook another Mexican, who also
mounted into the wagon.
Suddenly one OF the Mexicans asked Acker.
man If he would kindly change $40 gold
piece. The latter obligingly responded that he
would, and he began 10 count the silver dollars
into the palm of his hand.
Suddenly pistol was Doked under his nose
and be was thrown into the he'd of the wagon
when his friends proceeded 10 relieve MIN oil
$170 and valuable DIAMOND stud. They then
took him canyon about five miles from Hay
wards and tied him TO tree, where he re-
NAMED until z O'clock last evening.
That Is the story as told by Alderman. The
oncers do not put much trust in IL, but thor
ough investigation Will be made.
To Recover an Old Debt.
The Union Savings Bank has commenced
suit against Thomas Ross as administrator o
The wills of Thomas Hickling and Annie L
Kicking, III order to secure the payment OF
claim amounting TO $1,000, which the plaintiff
noids against the estate. Annie T. Hlcklinl
died before her husband, Thomas Hickling
VINO until his death administered upon her es
TATE He failed, however to make any account
ing, ana In consequence the Union Savings
BANK was unable to collect its claim, although
the new administrator had approved It. Tn,
SUIT Is friendly oDe, and seems TO be the only
melnod VI getting around the difficulty.
IQdy