The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-12
FATALITY MARS
THE CLAMBAKE
Miss Emily Blanchard
Meets Death.
SAD ACCIDENT AT SAN JOSE
YOUNG LADY GROUND UNDER
A DERAILED CAR.
Shocking Occurrence Causes a Panic
Among the Merry Makers, Who
Were Unable to Render
Assistance.
SAD ACCIDENT AT SAN JOSE
YOUNG LADY GROUND UNDER
A DERAILED CAR.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Sept. 11.-Clams were the
principal diet of about 5000 Native
Sons and Daughters and their friends
to-day-clams and corn-with a few
accessories-and it is doubtful If one
of those in attendance ever enjoyed a
feast more than they did that served
under the trees at Alum Rock.
The affair was married by an acct
dent in the afternoon by which a young
lady was fatally injured Miss Emily
Blanchard. a beautiful girl of 10 years,
whose parents reside in this city, was
the victim. The steam cars running
between the terminus of the electric
cars and Alum Rock were crowded
with humanity on every trip. All the
rolling stock owned by the company
was called into use, each train being
made up of four or five cars drawn by
a steam dummy. Miss Blanchard, with
some friends, was on board the train,
arriving at the scene of the festivities
ut p. m. She was standing on the
platform, being unable to get a seat
When nearing the depot and running
at high speed, the car on which Miss
Blanchard was riding was derailed by
defective switch, dragging the fol-
lowing car with 1t and both being
lAAON Al dllllOSl Sil IlS1l angles WITH the
rails.
The unfortunate girl either Jumped
or was thrown from the car-those who
were with her and others who saw the
accident differ on that point-as it left
the track. At the same time her dress
caught in the car and she was thrown
under the wheels She was rolled and
dragged for several feet and was terri
bly, crushed in the lower part of the
body while her right arm was nearly
severed above the elbow.
Many hundreds witnessed the acct
dent, and there was panic among the
women. The track was lined with peO-
pie on both sides waiting to take the
train back to San Jose, and when the
derailed cars swung around they mar
rowly missed a number of persons
Miss Blanchard was so tightly wedged
under the truck that it was necessary
10 lift the car up bodily in order to
rescue her She was given such aid as
It was possible to render under the cir
cumstances while a carriage was being
prepared to convey her to the city, but a
glance was sufficient to show that she
was beyond all human assistance. She
was unconscious, and there were but
faint signs of respiration. AS rapidly
as possible she was driven to the Nc
Mahon Hospital. She never rallied from
the shock and at 1920 tonight she
died.
me ACCIDENT put an END 10 Iurphor
merrymaking, but the derailed cars
blocked the road so that it was several
hours before trains could resume their
trips. and it was long after dark before
the last of the throng could get away
from the park.
Another, and happily, less serious ac-
cident occurred earlier in the day. ].
p. Bubb of San Jose, was driving out
to the clam-bake when his team be-
came unmanageable, throwing him
from the carriage and dislocating his
shoulder.
The clam bake itself was a grand
success and fittingly closed the three
days celebration. The guests began to
arrive at the park before a. m, but
it was two hours later when the first
attack was made on the provender
Tables were spread for 500 people and
the first relay was composed exclu-
sively of ladies, the men being obliged
to take a back seat for a time After
that all were on equal terms.
All the trains for San Francisco to-
day were packed and tomorrow
morning the last Of San Jose's guests
will take their departure. The Celebra-
ton has been a great success through
out. the citizens and the Native Sons
and Daughters being equally well
pleased with the affair