The herald., 1898-10-24
A BAD FREIGHT WRECK
ENGINEER DAVIS KILLED AND
FIREMAN BERRY INJURED
ON SANTA BARBARA BRANCH
The Engine Was New Out Of the
Shops and Being Stir From Re-
pairs Jumped the Track

An unfortunate accident occurred on the
Santa Barbara branch OF the Southern Pa
citic railroad yesterday afternoon, resulting
in the death of Engineer Harry Davis and
the wounding of Fireman John z. Berry,
both Of this clty. The cause OF the wreck Is
not exactly known, but it is thought that
the engine, which was recently out of the
shops after repairing, was stiff, and jumped
the track on sharp curve, frequent occur
renee. The train wrecked was q freight,
and as about ten cars left the track it is u
very fortunate circumstance that the regu-
lar passenger was not the one derailed, as
such an occurrence would probably have re-
suited in the loss of more lives.
Traffic on the Santa Barbara branch has
been very heavy recently, and at times there
have not been enough engines to attend to
the business. Yesterday afternoon the
freight train drawn by Davis engine left
Ventura for Saugus Junction, on the main
line, with load of beets. The return to
Ventura was begun about 430. The wreck
occurred on curve close to Blue Cut, which
is a short distance this side OF Camulos
Ranch station, and near the Castaic switch.
The train was running at fair rate of speed,
but when the engine struck the curve, in
stead of taking the turn all right, the tlanges
did not hold, and the locomotive jumped the
track, breaking loose from the tender.
Davis was thrown out of his car window
and the tender and the other cars which
followed after struck and ground his body
into a mass of broken bones and mangled
flesh, death resulting instantly. Berry was
caught by the wreckage, and pinned under
meath one OF the cars. His left hip was
broken, and he was bruised internally. The
cars piled up at the side of the track, and
were thrown across the line, blocking traf-
fic.
The body of Davis was picked up, and the
wreckage was cut away from Berry. The
Santa Barbara passenger train which leaves
this city at oclock in the afternoon ar
rived several hours after the wreck, as did
Neither train could pass until the track had
been cleared, SO the baggage car and engine
of the train which left this city were sent
back to Los Angeles with the injured man
and the body OF Davis. A wreckage crew
was also sent from River station, and the
work of clearing the track begun. 1t was
decided to transfer the passengers and run
the two regular trains back to their respec-
tive starting points, so the Santa Barbara
passengers were expected to arrive in this
city about midnight.
Berry was removed in Bresee Brothers
ambulance to the Sisters hospital, and the
body of Davis was taken to the undertaking
rooms of Bresee Brothers, where an inquest
will be held. The broken limb of Berry was
set by physicians and he was reported at
midnight to be resting easily. 1t is thought
he will recover.
The dead engineer was a brother of Police
Officer Harvey Davis Of the local force, and
was well known railroad man and prom.
nent in fraternal circles. He was about 50
years Of age, and resided at 100 West Ann
street with his brother, aunt and sister, Miss
Helen w. Davis, who is teacher in the
high school. He was unmarried. Davis
had formerly been employed by the Pacific
Improvement company, and eleven years ago
went to work for the Southern Pacific COM
pany. He had been in a number of wrecks
before, and though injured in some of them
always escaped without permanent injury.
In 1889 he was signaled by conductor to
back too far, with the result that he ran
the entire train and engine into the river in
the Soledad canyon, the water being then
very high. Davis lay i'll at the hospital at
Sacramento for months, but eventually re-
covered. He had taken degrees in Pen
talpha Lodge, No. 202; Signet Chapter, No.
81; Los Angeles Council, No. IL, of the Ma
sons, and had taken one degree in the Los
plar, and on next Thursday night was to
have taken the degree of Malta and Templar.