The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-16
Engineer George Burke Succumbs
to the Injuries He
Rece we'd.
JURORS CENsURE THE COMPANY
Declare the Accident Was Due to the
Unsafe Condition of the
Timbers.

day OF sorrow in Arcata. Three of those
killed in Sundays bridge disaster were
buried. Flags were at half-mast; grief
was written on every face.
The funeral of Miss Annie Holland took
place this morning from the residence of
Mrs. c. c. Richards. From a radius of
thirty miles large numb ers of sorrowing
friends came to attend the last earthly
services for the departed. The funeral
procession was several blocks in length.
The demand was so great that not rig of
any kind could be procured this morning
at any of the liveries in Eureka, Arcata,
Blue Lake or Korbel. Miss Holland was
widely known and beloved by all her ac-
quaintances. 1t would seem that she was
predestined to die in a railroad calamity.
She was on the train which collided with
the Vance construction train a few months
ago, and had been visiting i'll Arcata since
that time. When the day for her depar-
ture arrived she became depressed, and
expressed her reluctance at going, saying:
Something forewarns me that am going
to be killed.
When pressed to remain she said she
was expected at home and must go. She
would have got off at Riverside, and was
but one mile from home when the mIshap
occurred. Her brother was coming in
buggy to meet her when he learned of the
accident. When he asked the names of
those killed the first one he heard was that
of his sister.
The second victim, Brakeman Alexander
Cameron, was buried under the auspices
of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias
lodges, and the funeral of Miss Ada Kirk
ham took place this afternoon from the
residence of o. II. Spring. Both we're we'll
attended. CLAUSE and Sophia, children of
David Wood, and Engineer George Burke,
who died from his injuries this morning,
will be inferred tomorrow. The schools
of Arcata will be closed TO allow the pupils
to attend the funeral of the Wood chill
dren. They viii be buried together from
the residence of I. Minor Sr.
Mrs. Wood is just beginning to realize
the terrible death of her children. Mrs,
Cameron cannot be comforted, and fears
for her life are entertained. Relatives of
Miss Holland bear their grief with more
composure.
Concerning the widely circulated report
that the chief engineer had frequently
warned the company that the bridge was
unsafe and liable to collapse at any time
Anton Korbel, one of the owners, said this
morning:
mo one has ever intimated to me that
the bridge was insecure. l have always
considered 1t the safest part of the road.
From time to time have had the struc-
ture inspected. Three weeks ago our mill
wright gave the bridge thorough going
over. Only two hours before the disaster
Superir tendent Zaruba and myself closely
examined it. Do you suppose for moment
that If l suspected that the bridge was
dangerous would allow my family to con-
tinually cross it? Ny two nieces, the
Misses Vintera, were aboard the Inflated
train. Their injuries are painful, but
they will recover. It was nv intention to
return on the train with them. a broken
piece OF machinery, which had to attend
to, kept me over.
THAT bridge cost our company $40, 0o0.
1t was guaranteed to last for ten years,
allowing 30 ton locomotive to run thirty
miles an hour over it. The wrecked train
didn't weigh more than twenty-five tons
and was running only six miles an hour
When asked what caused the collapse
ne answered: There is no doubt in nv
mind that the engine jun ped the track
and cut the needle beam with the wheels.
indications all point that way. Marks
where the edge of the wheel scraped the
rails can be seen, and the needle beam is
cut as clean as a whistle. When the nee
dle-beam was severed there was nothing
to support that bent of the bridge and it
collapsed"
Mr.. Korbel looks careworn and troubled.
He did not care to talk a great deal on the
subject. In the ArcaJa section feeling is
strong and bitter against the COMPANY.
People believe that If proper precautions
had been taken the accident would not
have occurred. This sentiment is nowhere
more noticeable than at the company's
works at Korbel. The bereaved and their
friends do not feel like making excuses for
the affair.
The testimony at the inquest to-day has
not helped matters ior the company. The
inquest was held before Deputy Coroner
skinner and nine jurors. District Attor-
ney .Gurnell appeared for the people and
S. Nj. Buck represented Korbel Bros,
owners OF the road.
Martha Ball was hunting for eggs when
she saw the train sink through the bridge.
She said IL went down like knife cutting
through butter. Clara Ball and Martha
Logan also saw the train fall. A. Kirk
patrick, section foreman, examined the
bridge on Saturday, but did not bore any
holes to see the condition OF the timbers
NJ. II. Muller, the bridge superintendent
bored some holes, but none in the needle
beams which gave away. General Super
iptendent Zaruba claims he has spared no
pains or expense to keep things in order,
ana he believes the bridge was in good
condition. Grant Warren was in a box
car and believes it was of the track at
the time of the disaster.
The strongest witness against the COM
pany was Fireman Henry Burke. He
swore the locomotive never left the track
and the trestie must have dropped from
under the train. There was no warning;
all was so sudden that he had no time to
move.
Alter Few moments deliberation and
careful inspection OF the decayed timbers
the Jury found that the cause of the acct
dent was the breaking of the needle
beams 1t further found that the break
age was due TO the decayed and unsafe
condition of the bridge timbers Several
Jurors were in favor of attributing the dis
aster to criminal negligence.
NJ .nI.r. ~, Z. nARRN In