The San Francisco call., 1901-12-20
SCENES IN VICINITY
OF DISASTROUS WRECK
Engines and Cars Blockade the TRACK
Until Rails Are Laid Around

The train dispatcher at San Luis Obispo
and the agent at Salinas are both Of the
opinion that the engineer of the north
bound train disobeyed orders. 1t appears
that the nOrthbound express was due to
arrive at San Ardo at 1880 a. m. and the
express from San Francisco was to pass
at that point. The northbound train was
scheduled to take the siding and wait
until the southbound train had passed.
This siding is at Uplands. Instead of
taking the siding and waiting Engineer
Coffey negligently overran his switch 1000
yards and crashed into the train of En-
gineer Konold and the unfortunate fire
man, William c. Garland. Passengers say
that the northbOund train was running at
the rate of fifty miles an hour and others
testify that the southbound train was
slowing up as per rule when the collision
occurred.
Three cars were demolished and all that
remains of them is the metal, the wood
having been consumed by fire. Some Of
the heavy steel wheels were cut as though
IT had been done by some master me-
chanic armed with proper tools. The
mass of iron presented the appearance of
a small hill. In one heap fifteen or twenty
feet high and scattered over a radius of
100 feet is what remains of the Splendidly
equipped cars. The tender of one of the
engines was thrown twenty-five or thirty
feet from the track Ihe baggage car Is
beyond recognition It was thrown off
the track and turned completely over.
There were enough holes in it to give the
car the appearance of sieve. 1t was
in this car that Thurber, the Wells-Fargo
messengers helper, lost his life and H.
G. Martin, the baggage-man, was in
jured
When the news of the dreadful wreck
was made known to the officials of this
city and San Luis Obispo relief trains
containing physicians and wrecking crews
were dispatched TO the scene to aid the
injured and to clear the track. From San
Luis ObispO Drs. Edwards, Abbott, Muir
ply and Parker were dispatched, and
from this city a corps of physicians and
attendants was sent at a rate of speed
that soon brought them to the place of
collision.
The doctors worked over the injured and
for hours were busy dressing wounds and
relieving the fears of the timfd. Those
who We're in need of further medical at
tention were placed on board the relief
train and brought to this city. During
the long trip northward every attention
was paid the injured
The wrecking crews worked with Will
and soon had a greater portion of the
debris removed. They were forced to stop
in their work until the Coroner of Mon
terey County had an opportunity of gath
ering jury to inspect the wreck. The
Coroner was delayed somewhat by being
compelled to go to San Lucas and secure
possession of one of the bodies, which had
been taken there without official sanction.
The delay in clearing the track proved
a costly one for the railroad company.
The Sunset Limited and two freight trains
were held at Bradley. a station close to
the scene Of the wreck. The track was
completely blockaded, and it was neees-
Sary to build a spur around the debris in
order to allow the trains to pass More
than fifty men Were pressed into service,
and before night the delayed trains were
able to continue on their way.
1t was reported at late hour last night
that all the mail on train No. 10 was
saved but mail on the north-bound train,
No. 8, gathered from points between Los
Angeles and the scene of the disaster
was destroyed. Fortunately only a small
amount of Los Angeles mail was on the
train.
car occupied by the Wells-Fargo mes
senger. The safe containing the bullion
is still in the wreck and guards are on
watch to prevent it being stolen.
Sheriff Keefe of Monterey County was
a passenger in the chair car of the north
bound train and he was pinned in the
wreckage and escaped death in the flames
by a miracle. Passengers chopped away
the debris and pulled him out while the
car was burning. He was seriously in
jured and was taken to San Lucas for
treatment
Milton G. Ely brakeman on No g..
won the approval of his superiors by his
prompt action in notifying them of the
wreck There was no station within less
than five miles of the wreck and no one
was competent to tan the wire. He walked
and ran the five miles over the track in
record time and sent the first message of
the accident.
Fortunately for the injured passengers
there We're three physicians on train No
9. DR., Morrison of the Santa Fe was
known Eastern physician. and DR.. Hern-
don of Ashland. Or. These medical gen
tlemen did everything in their power to
succor the injured.