The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-22
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BRAKEMAN's cowARD1cE.
Deserts Women in Runaway Car at
Santa Ee Wreck.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
ll18 Broadway, Nov. q.

Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
Ills Broadway, Nov. p.
Mrs. H. H. Gribben of this city, one
OF the passengers in the Santa Fe col
lision in Arizona yesterday, returned 10
her home at 931 Poplar street, this morn
ing, after having undergone an experience
thrilling as anything IN the record Of
wrecks on land or sea.
Mrs Gribben and her husband were pas
sengers on the eastboUnd train, No. 4.
They were bound for Pittsburg and had
with them the body of Miss Blanche
Thompson, who died here last Friday and
who was a niece Of Mrs. Gribben.
The body was in a composite car in
the front part of the train and was Gre
mated in the holocaust which followed
the collision.
Although badly shaken up, the Crib
bens were uninjured- The train crew,
fearing danger TO the passengers from
fir, placed Mr. and Mrs. Gribben, Miss
Aazlert OF Riverside, who was on her
way TO Boston, and three injured porters
on board an observation car, which was
put N from 4naT rye 6 9 Pr frain ana cut
The observation car started down grade
and was rafting along at lively pace
when the brakeman discovered that the
brakes would not work
The situation was desperate. The run
away car, gaining speed with every revo-
luton OF me wheels, was speeding to-
and coming toward them as fast as
steam couia force it was the wrecking
train.
Brakeman Deserts Car.
The brakeman knew this. The realiza-
ton of approaching danger seems to have
ratified him Without a word of warn
ing he jumped from the car, leaving his
deserted charges helpless and at the
Gribben also realized the danger, but
was made of sterner stuff than the
brakeman. Talking of the affair, he said:
We were left TO our fate and there L was on
a runaway car that was going faster every
minute. with two women and three wounded
men for company.
some men were standing and I tried to tell
them to telegraph ahead and warn the wreck
on and on we rushed. 1 did what I could to
calm the fears of the women and prepared as
1 put the two women with their backs to
the front end Of the car and built buffer
Of cushions behind them. This thought would
lessen the shock when the collision came.
We began go UP grade. This reduced the
pace somewhat but we were still travelling at
what took TO be the summit Of the grade.
once over that l knew our last hope would
made up my mind that in jumping lay our
only safety
Wrecking Train Tagged.
I first helped Miss Hazlett to the platform
6s6 here er e on heq face and
and although bruised sustained no broken
bones. Then I helped my wife off In the same
way She was not so lucky as Miss Hazlett
and sustained rather severe injury. 1 got the
porters off and then jumped myself
Before jumping had picked up red flag
and when the car stopped. about two miles
from where I had left It, / started out to
flag the Wrecker. AS / reached the car / met
a tramp. I was tuckered out and the women
required my attention, I turned over the
flag to him and he stopped the train. They
coupled on the observation car and took US
all back to the scene Of the wreck.
Although I made careful search / was
unable to find sign of the casket which had
contained Miss Thompson's remains. The de-
struction had been complete and the fire had
removed the occasion for our going to Pitts
burg We are home 10 stay and glad to be
here although I afraid IT Will be many
day before my wife gets over the effects OF
that awful ride.
Mr.. Gribben is superintendent of the
Underground Cable Company at First
and Filbert streets. The family is prom
inent In the affairs Of the Union-street
Presbyterian Church. -