The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03

there were more people waiting to get on
board than could find room. In the efforts
OF the outs to get in and the ins TO get out
men struggled to pass each other, women
were pushed aside, and many of them had
their wraps torn from their shoulders and
skirts torn and ruined. Two of these were
so much frightened at finding themselves
in such an uncomfortable crowd that they
tainted and had to be carried away.
Fully 1000 persons were on the five cars
that LETT the depot at half past O'Clock.
The little but powerful locomotive snorted
and puffed as it pulled out with its heavy
load and ran along we'll enough until it
passed the lifesaving station, when the
dead weight commenced to tell and the
train came to dead halt. 1t was backed
down and fresh start made, with no bet
ter result. 1t was backed down second
time when more steam was put on, but it
was steady and hard pull to get around
the curve on to the track that lies east
ward. From that point to Strawberry Hill
station the rise is gradual one and that
station is 232 feet higher than the curve.
Once more the train backed. and as 1t
rounded the curve on its backward trip
those who were on the rear car and those
who were on the side steps were horrified
to see another train coming full speed out
OF the tunnel under the main drive to the
great highway. On came the train with
unslackened speed and still backward con-
tlnued the former train. Men, women
and children in the last car of the forward
train feared tail-end collision and be-
came almost panic-stricken. Men jumped
OIL the train in the most reckless manner,
falling over one another; women screamed
and few took chances and sprang from
the moving train. Others who wanted to
throw themselves from the car were with
difficulty restrained by strong men, while
others were so paralyzed with fear as to be
unable to move.
Suddenly, while the confusion was at its
height, there was warning whistle from
the engine of the rear train, shrlll and
quick. It startled those in the front part
of the forward train who were not aware of
what was going on in the rear. The air.
brakes on the forward train were applied,
and the two trains came to dead halt
only about block apart. None of those
who sprang from the train were hurt.
Then the second train followed the first,
and the locomotive, drawing its own load /,
attempted to push the forward one, but
hauling and pushing were too much for it.
When the forward train was half way up
the grade the engine puffed and puffed,
and with every revolution of the wheels
the advance slackened, then the wheels
churned the track, and the train COM
menced to back slowly, pushing the rear
train down the grade until the airbrakes
were again applied.
Finally the rear train ran back to the
llfe-saving station, the locomotive cut
loose from the train and waited for the
former train which was backing down the
grade. The rear locomotive was coupled
on, and the one pushing and the other
hauling the heavily laden train was taken
over the grade when The rear locomotive
returned to its waiting cars and the other
train went on and landed its passengers at
Stanyan street, all thankful that nothing
more serious had occurred than delay OF
half an hour. From this point there was
another crush to get into the street cars.