The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
TheOregonExpress
Runs Into Train
on Sidetrack.
DUE TO NEGLECT
Switch Is Left Open
and Disaster
Follows.
BLAME NOT FIXED
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SUISUN. Dec. 31.-A train wreck oc-
Cured here this morning about .
O'Clock in which Herman L. Peters, an
engineer, lost his life. Several other
persons narrowly escaped a like fate.
Two engines, mail car. baggage car
and three fiat cars were smashed into
! heap of scrap iron and splinters.
The wreck was caused by No. II
train, the Oregon Express. running into
an open switch and crashing into the
engine of a gravel train which was
standing on a side track waiting for
the passenger train to pass.
The gravel train had backed on the
siding about a half hour before, and j.
N Sheridan, the brakeman who had
charge of the switch, says he closed II
after the train had reached the siding.
Conductor w. G. Brown Of the same
train also says that the switch was
closed after his train went upon the
siding, but it was open few minutes
afterward when the Inflated train ap-
preached it.
Herbert Schroeder, fireman on the
passenger train, says he discovered the
open switch when his train was within
two or three car lengths of 1t. He told
the engineer and then jumped from the
cab, escaping with sprained wrist.
Engineer Peters Immediately applied
the emergency brakes and jumped
through the cab window. Before he
could get out of the way the crash
came and he was caught under the
wreckage of the mail and baggage car
His body was crushed to a pulp and
both arms and both legs were frac-
tured. He lived but few minutes, be-
| ing partly conscious up to the last and
| spoke of his wife and baby. who reside
at 941 Willow street, Oakland.
H. B. Charles, express messenger, and
L. c. Atchinson, mail clerk, were in the
combination mail and express car
which was completely telescoped, but
escaped with slight injuries.
The coaches remained on the track
and the passengers were treated to q
severe shaking up, but none OF them
received any injuries save a few
scratches and slight bruises.
H. E. Littlejohn, engineer of the
gravel train, together with ]. N. Sheri-
dan and w. N. Maher, brakeman of the
same train, were In the engine when
they saw the approaching train turn
into the siding about 200 feet away.
They made their escape by jumping.
One of the fiat cars was driven
through the wall of the cannery build
ing near the track. Traffic on the main
line was not blocked, the wreckage be-
ing on the siding. A wrecking crew
and train arrived from Oakland this
afternoon to clear up the debris. The
engines are almost a total wreck.
An inquest was held here this after
noon by Justice of the Peace E. F.
Biggs of Benicia, acting Coroner, to
investigate the cause of, and fix the re-
sponsibility if possible, for the death OF
Engineer Peters. Brakeman Sheridan
testified that he had closed the switch
after the gravel train had passed
through it and he was corroborated by
Conductor Brown. The verdict of the
jury was that Peters came to his death
in a railroad collision caused by an
open switch. and while the accident was
caused by the gross negligence of some
one, the jury could not from the evil
dence fix the blame upon any particu-
lar person.
Engineer Peters was 3S years Of age
and a native of Kentucky.