The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-21
By a Santa Fe Train Yesterday
Morning
Mr.. AND MRS. j. T. LINK
They We're WhirIed From the Track
Into a Ditch
No One Witnessed the Accident-The Rail.
road Company Exonerated From All
Blame-How 1t Occurred

J. T. Link and wife, an aged couple.
were killed by Santa Fe train near Ma
deau Park yesterday morning about S:l5
o'clock. They were going in buggy across
the railroad track and did not know of the
presence of the engine until it struck them.
Both were killed instantly.
1t was about o'clock when Mr. and
Mrs. Link got into their buggy and babe
farewell to their son-in-law, III. @. Heyer,
and their daughter and started to drive to
this city. The house is about sixty feet
from the track, which is crossed by pri-
vate road. Over this the old couple went
and turned into roal parallel with the
railroad, intending to go to Central Avenue
station to cross to the road which leads to
Los Angeles. They had gone but short
distance before they turned and went back
toward the first crossing. The train from
Redondo Beach was coming at that
moment, and just as the rig was on the
track ran into it and whirled the occupants
into ditch on the south side, carrying the
horse about 500 feet further down the
track.
The train was stopped as soon as posi-.
BILE and backed to the scene of the tragedy.
where the train crew and passengers gath
cred around the remains. The couple were
lying close together and had been carried
only ten feet from the crossing. Mr..
Links head was crushed on the back and
his chest was stove in. The back of his
wife's skull was also crushed, her left
limb was nearly severed and her arm was
broken. Mr.. Hsyer and his wife were
summoned and their grief was terrible.
The bodies we're removed to Central
avenue station, a short distance west, and
Coroner Campbell notified. In company
with Mr.. Beamer and P. W. Ross of the
railroad he got special train and was
hurried to where the bodies lay. The re-
mains were taken to the undertaking par
Tors of Kregelo & Bresee after the coroner
had seen them.
An inquest was held during the after
noon, when a verdict of accidental death
was found, the company and trainmen be-
ing eXonerated.
Charles Pitman, the engineer, stated
that for quite distance is level stretch
of road, by the fatal crossing. He saw the
couple drive across the track, the top of
the buggy being up. They turned into the
wagonroad, parallel with the track, and
drove but few yards before the
horse turned and started back. When
within thirty feet of the crossing, to his
horror, there dashed on the track the same
morse ana buggy H9 uau ObSerNeu OH the
side of the road. He applied the air
brakes. reversed the engine and blew the
whistle and did all that was possible to
save the people from their danger. but to
10 purpose, for the engine struck the
horse and the seat of the buggy. The fire.
man saw nothing of the affair, except
when the collision took place.
There is some Question as to why the old
people turned back when they saw the
train. 1t was at first thought probable
that they had forgot some article at the
house and we're returning for il, but Mr..
Heyer testified that he had searched the
house carefully and had discovered moth
ing that had belonged to their relatives, SO
this could scarcely have been the reason
for their return. The most probable
theory is that advanced by the coroner.
He said that the horse was very young.
and, becoming scared at the approaching
train, suddenly wheeled and darted away
from the object of its fright and ran on the
track, the engineer testifying that when he
saw the horse it was running over the cros-
sing.
Mr.. Link was 76 years of age and his
wife 20. They have seven children and
lived in hit Ter where they had recently
erected fine home.