The San Francisco call., 1899-10-30
WILD DRIVING
ALMOST CAUSES
FATAL SMASHUP
he Davis and Whittle
Families Injured.
THROWN ON RAILROAD TRACK
YOUNG ALFRED WHITTLE COOL
LY FLAGS THE TRAIN.
G. L. Davis and A M. WhittIe, With
Their Families, Hurled From
High Grade in Mill
Valley.
THROWN ON RAILROAD TRACK
YOUNG ALFRED WHITTLE COOL
LY FLAGS THE TRAIN.

The courage and presence of mind dis
played yesterday by 12-year-old Alfred
Whittle, son of A. l.. Whittle, paying tel
ler of the San Francisco Savings Union.
averted a fearful accident on the line of
the Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway to
party from this city. Before he had an
opportunity, however, to display his hero
ism, the party, consisting of Charles L.
Davis. receiving teller of the San Francis
CO Savings Union, Mrs. Davis, Mr.. and
Mrs. Whittle, the boys parents, and his
two sisters, Bessie and Grace, had been
precipitated from bus over a ten-foot
embankment onto the tracks.
All heard the whistle of an approaching
train, but with the exception of the boy
they either had not the presence of mind
or were so pinned down that they could
not get out of the overturned bus. The
heroism of young Whipple grew with the
proximity of the danger. He eXtr1cated
himself from the wreck and without
moments hesitation ran as fast as he
could up the track and tagged the train
with his coat. Engineer johnson shut
down the brakes and stopped the train
before it reached the scene of the smash
up. The two families were taken ABOARD
and transferred to the local line.
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis and Mr.. and Mrs
Whittle, with their three children, were
visiting at the cottage OF Robert Parsons
in Mill Valley. They took bus, driven
by one Mccarthy, with the intention OIL
catching the 2:l5 train to this city. AS
the vehicle was going down steep grade
manageable, and taking fright dashed
down the grade at a furious rate. Reach
ing a sudden turn, the bus was hurried
over an embankment. The traces broke
and the liberated horses ran away.
When he was picked up 1t was discoV-
cred that Mr.. Davis was the worst IN
iured His left arm above the elbow was
broken and he is now suffering from the
shock. as is also his wife. Mrs Whittle
is a severe sufferer. She sustained a
sprained wrist, numerous bodily bruises
and great shock to her nervous SysIenl'
Her husband and the children, Grace;
aged IA; Albert, aged II, and Bessie, aged
8, escaped without a scratch;
My husband and Mr.. Whittle are en-
ployed in the same bank" said -1rs.
Davis. relating the story of the ride. TO
day we all went over to Mlll valley 10
look at some property: We intended stay
ing at Mr.. Parsons all day, put the ram
coming on we decided to return to the
city When we got into the bus, eau
toned the driver to go slowly, as aP-
preciated the condition OF the roaa' ne
was either intoxicated, or out or pure
wantonness drove his horses toward the
station at high speed.
The traces broke and the liberated
horses ran away. was on the side OF the
bus that careened and was thrown on my
head My husband sustained broken
arm, but managed to aid me TO cnmo our
from among the debris. Mr.. Whlttle ana
the three children were uninjured, but
Mrs. Whittle was pinioned under. the
broken wagon. The little boy, Albert,
acted the hero. Seeing the danger his
mother was in, he rushed up the track
and tagged the train which was coming a.
that moment. Fortunately for Mrs.
Whittle, she was lying outside the track,
as when the train moved slowly forward
and pushed the destroyed vehicle out of
It's path she was not touched. we then
boarded the train and came to the city.
while waiting for the train to start the
driver of the bus, evidently sobered by
the accident, came into the car and swore
to US that 1t was not his fault. l came to
San Francisco without my hat, and Mr..
Davis was unable to secure medical treat
ment until he arrived home"
Driver Mccarthy says he is unable to
understand why no one was killed He
denies that the accident was in any way
due to his fault.