The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27

speed the jar of the sudden stoppage as
the engine rolled over into the water threw
the passengers from their seats. bruising
many and frightening all almost out OF
their senses.
Their fears were not allayed when they
rushed to doors and windows and saw the
vast sheets of water stretching away on
either side and heard the roar of escaping
steam as it rushed from the engine with
the noise of shrieking geyser.
A panic at once ensued and a further
loss of life was only averted by the fact
that the embankment on each side slopes
gradually, and that at a distance of few
feet from the train the water was not OF
such depth as to go over the heads of the
passengers. Several women leaped madly
from the windows and platforms in the
hope of escaping further danger, only to
land in water up to their necks.
Their screams for assistance added to the
general confusion and for time it was be-
lieved that more lives than that of the en-
gineer had been lost. Finally all were in
duced TO return TO the coaches.
In the meantime Conductor Stanwood
had hurried forward to ascertain whether
the rest of the train crew were safe.
He found the fireman, Charles Gill,
clinging to the top of the cab which had
been torn from its fastenings by the force
of the lurch into the ditch, and holding
on to the arm of Engineer Keyer, whom
he was vainly endeavoring to drag on to
his frail support. The weight of the lat
ter's body was so great that he was unable
TO accomplish his object and he was we'll
nigh exhausted when his rescuers elm bed
over the derailed baggage car and carried
him back TO the rear coach.
After ascertaining that the fireman was
not greatly in danger, the efforts of the
baggage-master and conductor, as well as
two Catholic priests who were on board,
were directed to an attempt to resusitate
the engineer.
A hasty examination showed that his
left leg was broken ana that he had re-
manned so long under water that his lungs
were filled with water. A couple of Stan
ford University students advised rolling
him over barrel, but as none could be
found a seat was impovised into means
of relieving him of the water. and stimu-
lants were forced down his throat.
All these measures were without avail
and he was gwen up for dead.
The freman's injuries consisted of a
badly torn left ear and terrible cut that
extended from the left temple to nearly
the top OF his head.
He was much dazed when led into the
coach, and the horror of the awful plunge
into the water seemed to have completely
unnerved him, for he covered his face with
a coat borrowed from a sympathetic pas
senger and answered in monosyllables
when questioned.
The horrors of double wreck were only
averted by the prompt action of the con-
ductor of the train in sending messenger
10 South San Francisco station to stop the
Monterey express at that point.
While working on Keyer's body a wild
cry of fire struck new terror into the
hearts of the frightened passengers and
all began hastily gathering their effects
and hurrying from the train. The glare of
the flames came from the baggage-car, and
1t seemed for time that the trunks of the
passengers would be consumed, but by
hard work the fire was subdued and the
passengers were induced to return TO
their seats.
1t was fully two hours before a relief
train went to the rescue of the wreck.
1t was dHe within a few minutes after
the San Jose train was wrecked, and as
the employees at South San Francisco
knew nothing of the washout nothing else
could have prevented it from going into
the break, as it must pass through long,
narrow cut just before reaching the break
As it happened the messenger arrived
just in time and the lives of many passen-
gers were saved.
Among those who were cut and bruised
by being thrown against the seats by the
force of the collision was Mrs. Vaggini of
San Jose. she sustained severe injuries
about the head and was insensible for
some time.