The herald., 1897-12-13
BAD WRECK AT GIRLOY
PRESUMABLY CAUSED BY RAILS
SPREADING
Engine and Cars Thrown Down High
Embankment but Occupants
Escape as by Miracle

GILROY, Cal, Dec. 1.-THE local
northbound passenger train running be-
tween Hollister and Gilroy was wrecked
at a point about four miles south Of Gill
roy about l p. m. today. This train
makes a trip from Gilroy to Hollister
after connecting with the southbound
San Luis Obispo train, then returns to
catch the northbound train an hour and
half later The southbound train was
half an hour late, hence the Hollister
local had to make a fast run to and
from Hollister to reach Gilroy In time
for the north train. The local, which
was in charge Of Conductor George w.
Clark, a veteran conductor of over
twenty years experience of the coast d.
vision and one of the most efficient and
careful conductors in the employ Of the
Southern Pacific company, had been
running very fast. but had just slowed
up to pass over the long trestle span
ming the Pajaro river and had just be-
gun to make good headway of about
fifteen to twenty miles an hour when
the engine, which was backing up and
pulling the train, jumped the track on
an embankment about fifteen feet high,
toppled over on its side into the bottom
of the ditch, with its wheels still revolv-
ing at a great rate. 1t now lies there
with its wheels in the air, dismantled.
Engineer Lynch and Fireman Rockefel-
Ter, bothrold an experienced. employees,
stayed at their posts even while the en-
gine was falling, but when 1t fell and
struck on it's side they were thrown
violently twenty feet or more against
the fence. Engineer Lynch came out un-
scathed, but Rockefeller, who was
thrown a greater distance, sustained Sc
we're but not serious injuries to his back.
The baggage car and passenger car also
Jumped the track One end Of the bag
gage car followed the engine down into
the ditch, but the passenger car, con-
tanning about twenty passengers, re-
manned on top Of the embankment.
None of the passengers or train hands
except the fireman were injured beyond
a severe shaking up by the derailed cars
humping over the ties. They consider
the escape almost miraculous, as the
train had been making such exception
ally fast speed previous to the accident
The main line train from San Luis
Obispo backed up to the wreck and took
aboard the delayed passengers and pro-
ceeded on it's way. A wrecking train
was brought from San Francisco and
cleared the wrecked cars from the track
about midnight, when the local resumed
it's run to Hollister.
It will take several days with large
gang of laborers to raise the engine
from the ditch. The injured fireman was
taken to st. Luke's hospital, San Fran
cisco. The accident is attributed to
spreading rails.
RESTING EASILY
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12-Fireman
Lynch is resting easily tonight, but his
condition Is precarious. He is believed
to have sustained severe internal inju-
ries.
TRAINMEN HURT
WILKESBARRE, Pa, Dec. IA
heavy freight train crashed into train
Of empty coal cars in the Vossburg tun-
mel on the Lehigh Valley railroad this
morning, blocking the tunnel complete
ly. The wreck took fire and burned furi-
ously all day. Engineer John Thomas
and Fireman James Deegan were badly
hurt. The other trainmen escaped in
jury, but thay had the greatest dif1iculty
in making their escape from the tunnel,
crawling Tor 800 feet.