Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archive

San Francisco Chronicle from San Francisco, California • Page 1

Location:
San Francisco, California
Issue Date:
Page:
1
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Sj WgL MMmL loiTOUEim LMMmJMs jT 5 fnjx fi tjtj iVTm 771 1 ItmH Oakland Creek ft sjSSiSP5HP 5te Kift SS tea Sm im Mmor Ctasww teKS 5 SAST TKJtfCISCO CAL gATTTCDAY Sk 31 1S90 avejou tried The Drawbridge Open for a Vessel A flMF i M3Le roinf imsjf I jraies of ea pbicca JjeautijuVly put up skyour dealerfbr it JonTJmzercXres LeuisviLLCKy Thirteen Bodies Recovered From the Water Many Sia Franc scans kong Ike Win Perished Tha Calasiropte Das to tl Rcckbsgacss of the Eagiacet creek Away to the railroad line on the south which ieids down to the nar row gauge per there extends a clear expanse grass and swamp land the level of which is not broken ex it by a few old and deserted aeons falling apart upon the sands and an occa ional ttakepost or a not where a duck hunter may have waited for game From the first station above the pier where the line branches off toAiamefa lip to the Webster street drawbridge re toe accident occurred there Is a cluteij nothing except the grass and stalks of wild oats to obstruct the view The distance ie tween the two points is fullr half a mile The road comes up with a gentle curve to the north to reach the drawbridge and for about 200 vards runs along the Alameda county road ironi which it is separated by a board fence For about 150 ards before the bridge is reached there is a sight up grade which was made so as to properly reach the pier which runs out about fifty feet before the draw is reached The train had stopped as nsnal it be Erst station reyond the mole and was coming op to the draw ridge oter which it tunallr passed before atop pin at the second station at First street about 509 feet from the scene of the accident The bridge was open the va ht Jnamta having jmt passed through to tba east and Slowly the ponderous machinery was swinging the draw back into place The pier on which the nidge revolves was in about the middle of Statements of Eye Witnesses to the Horror HARVEST Hoed Ham iter i 4 4 Disaster WhlcH frill Long Cause Decoration Day of 1890 to Be Remembered not known Sotne bodies hate been recovered Others are jet deep In the mad and there will remain until given tip bythe waters The wreck was witnessed by a number of ptople and not a minat had ellpsed a ter the water closed over the engine before dozens of small boats appeared in the stream pulling toward the bridge their occupants hopinghoping to save some lives Their mission was not In vain for some who had succeeded in jumping into the water were picked up upon the creek and well cared far Others there were who were taken front the water with a small life pulsation but hardly had they been Ian ed than exhausted nature ire up the ghost and they were as those at the bottom ot tn estu ary A number of people who bad jumped into the water from the second car were also picked up by the boats and pat safely ashore Some thoughtful man hear the bridge as soon as he neard of the accident telephoned lor the pohce patrol wagon and anion lances which were speedily upon the scene Tbev were soon followed bv the Msrguewngon and a number of undertakers wagons As the news spread into Oakland it sent a thrill of horror through the cty and thousands hurried to the banks of the creefc Tne railroad men telephoned for a wrecking crew to the office at Oakland fnar and aa engine with a full supply ot hawsers chains and dtrn ks a immediately sent to be dranbndge Baker and others to a saloon at the cd of the bridge on the Oakland side and a dozen ready hands worked over her for half an hour As she had vomited shortly after being taken eut of the water hopes were entertained that her Hie tn ght be saved All ef forts however were without avail and it was found impossible to bring her to life Dr Woolsey goon afterward entered but life was extinct BESCUISO TtU DROWNIJfa from south to east The man in charge of the bridge John Bunlap had posted his red gnat Sags signifying danger st the end of the railroad pier and from all testimony had taken the the stream and the draw swung I As soon i the dead were taken out the Jjorgue wagon received them The wounded were taken to the receiving hospital and while gasping there upon the cots tour of the rescued died cauum uwrer tt irwin Officer Downey Telia How They Wer Saved Officer Thomas Downey ot the Oakland police for was an eye witness to the disaster I was standing on the Oakland side ot the estuary he said to a CUbosicxb reporter andsawtbeac citent I was not on duty and had been down en the water front tovinit a friend I sw the yacht Jnamta ap proachlhe draw and heard the horn blow for the draw to open The yacht tacked twice before coming up hnaily to go through It was opened just enoagh to let her pass There were three or four men on the draw as it swung around The train approached and I was horrified to see it continue toward the open draw and plunge into the water When the train went over I ran to the bridge out the draw climbed down by the order of their sitter MaryAloy sius a nun AT SUE MOKGCE Pitiful Scenes About the Bodies of the Dead The scen about the Morgue at the corner of Wa hington and Seventh streets were pitiful At sooh as the officers beitan bringing ln the bodies immense crpwds collected and tried to push their way tnsile Hall erased people who thought they had relatives and friends in the wreck trampled on each other in a Tain effort to gain admittance and new the corpses There were cries and shrieks and walls and there was great confusion Coroner Ever seemed incapable of grasping the awful details of the situation and rushed about in a dazed manner entrely unable to provide temporary resting places for the dead A cordon of police tried to keep back the swelling clamoring crowds and only partially succeeded and Shenfi Hale who stationed himself at the door performed the work of three men The Morgue Is located far in the rear ot the build ng with the undertakers parlors in the front to adequate pro vision was made foe the todies As fast as they arrived they were placed many of them on the floor with the first convenient object under the bead as a where The people seemed paralyzed The end of the car that was on the piid so it slowed down I was looking the central abutment and with prop There were only three slabs several other men worked to I and on these were one of the Hisses save those who were floundering in the water I grasped two girls and pulled rhem up on the piles and also saved two ladies I also assisted in help ng out several men One lady was lifted up en the draw and we worked over her with a barrel chafing her hands and limbs but to no avail as she did not recover consciousness IMPEOVEDf Jfor 6ioinf ISStOV It Is the Lightest Draft mm built Most EFcent Most Durable and 5 Does Better Work thad Any Uther Harvester or wis Pretent Day 3 rirerilars Tes linoa als eie on t4tatoti BEMCIA 1 IpuffiiraiWsJ BISNTCIA Cahiorrua SPECIAL NOTICE pina fat of lbs rijLirron i i All THLhT CO nforb esa aloSATW I tee a peMoasfrol11 onl wciw nvnrwftraaaa and nli 1 Miry nt ry Iom rales Cll Puperi Tr FOLDelJ BlIllS pr AND peimt FRirURE Ojirt a lar VTEBEK CO c4Uitaioico LXaeuuca Ml niif ail NTS AI UCOCK U0 ihrati Trout FUes and WaaJKhS 1 Hiniboo Uods 3 and upwaxit iisnias XacKla 01 rry ae3ipiM 1 1111 flC IW fTranetseOj aa i KitijitLkuM I rtietr rnnso It MaNUfACTCBER or crJ0THra a ipeci IjUat AUo a Uitse stoclt ot reWy el Eg on band 721 Uay st 3 lesiTiDs CES ronicle ling leately to the lOLD CHRONt Kearny ana The criminal negligence of an engi ter who haa escaped the death to nhich his hand consigned at least thirteen people caused one of the most frightful accidents known in California railroad history on the Oak land narrow gauge roid yesterday The local train consisting of an engine tender and three cars which connected with the narrow gauge boat that left this aty at 1 13 plunged into lOaklandcreek at the Webster street drawbridge drawing down to death an unknown number ot persons many of Vhoni were drowned even before they could appreciate the awful calamity which had overcome them Fortunately their sufferings were slight The heavy waters closed in around them and mercifully amotb ered their heartrend ng cries and groans of anguish with the pall of death But few escaped Of these tome died in the Oakland receiving hospital while ministering hands were endeavoring to revive in them the flame of life The staving of the sec Vtid far as it was toppling into Jthe iuddy atrearawMch held the third car firmly on the track was little short ot miraculous But of the engine and tender not a splint is to be sees and the first car is a forsaken wreck In the fallen car were probably twenty five people Thirteen bodies had been recovered last night alf of which have been identified Deep down in the slimy mudj which iorms at this point the bed of the sluggish creek may yet be crushed a cumber of loved ones for whom tear swollen eyes are now anxiously but Vainly watching Jo definite inform ktion of the number of tbo lost cui fee ascertained The engineer over whelmed by the enormity of the con sequences of his recklessness refuses to say anything The conductor can only guess how many were on the car Of those who ere sated from ihe wrecked coach no one can give more than an approximation of the number of people who made the awful fall Thirty however is the maxi mum number given for the passcn gers in the first car Among the water swollen bodies at ttieOatknd Morgue disfigured by the rani and 1 be terrible mnuner of their death are those of Mrs ltfyH OConnor of San Fran Cisco Robinson of an Francisco and Oaltlan 1 I ulgl Malatestar 20011 Dupont street San Franclaeo Atillio Afalatesta son of Lulgl Ualatesta Martin Kelly Assistant Chief harflncer San Francisco 31 Williams 48 Fourth street an Francisco II Anatln 230 Mission street San Frantlsco Mls Florence Austin San Fran cico 11 8 Auld Honolulu Irwin agent for Singers 1 sewing machine Thirteenth and Washington streeta Oakland Captain Dxryer of Sacramento Miss ellle Kearss of San Fran Cisco Miss Katla Kcaros of San Fran tco THE ACCIDENT TViih the Drawbridge Open the Train Falls The drawbridge open and the red danger gnal Pazs were flying Off that there is no doubt bye witnesses vi the affair assert it and the proof ties in the fat that the descending engine esrtied down to Jthe water with it the red bunting which rainiy fluttered in tse face of the foolhardy engineer Whose carelessness has nor oravrn fiown upon him a punuhmentlindcr which his conscience must crisp and burn The Sags floating on the tide wtrpfcW up afer the accident start distance iron the per The train was the regular oeal of three cars In charge of Conductor Ed ward JUratii Fngincer am Dunn tad his hand ujgu tie leTer and Chutes OBrien Mas nrtrctn The PtrraxT gauge ronte never run ss long a local train as ths broad gauge ex st of WHaud erJ Alameda raBnai lines thoalng JkcyUxe vhert Ihe accJdml oammd usual precautions to prevent accident Itaeema to bo andent mas sue engineer saw the dangar avgnalt and strw the bridge swinging back into place for he slowed up his train as it calculating that thecowcatcherof his engine would reach the end of the rails overhanging the water in time to connect wih the rails on the drawbridge which he hoped would be there to meet him At about half speed the train went On The red flags still fluttered in the breeze but the engineer with the dsre devil feeling brought on by successful es apes from horrible disasters pur sued his Course with bis eyes upon the lindge which was slowly swinging to meet him He ws but a few yards from the end the pier The end of the draw coming around to the south in its tortuous circle was some twenty live feet away Tho engineer kept on Gradually hie engine approached nearer and nearer the end of the rails and still the heavy bridge as if enng ing from the disaster which was about to happen Inch by inch reared the place of junction Suddenly the engineer leit tne irons wheels ot his engine tremble He was on the brink fiercely he seized the whistle rope and wildly he pulled it for down breaks But it was loo lata One loud cry went up from the steam valve and then before the sec ond Sound of the signal could add to the crj for help its ning roice was drowued in the wave as the Engine plunged into the stream Down it went deep buried in the mud until not a spck gave notice of its presence in the water ith it the engine car ned the tender and the first car The second car was drawn half over the end of the pier and wag careening before its fatal plunge when wilh a jerk ti chains connecting it with the fallen car broie ana it was neia on tue track by the tf ird car which was fully and firmly upon the pier Just as the engine and car fell into the water the draw closedupon then and by the overhsnging car was prevented Ironi completing the juncture on winch the angireer had staked the lives of his passengers TO IHE KHSCUE tepl from i to dock Ja the morn Mevandatr 6oclocaitnrtrwrin Oaklaqdtrs who work in this dty are goiriji home to nner At ether times ny three oars are run and as most ot the tr el 0 Oaltand it by the broad Kange the three narro tauge cars Seldom ce rv lhr full cicasitr Those who nave traveled on the iad and Vnln Attemp a to T0 the Pas sengers The crashing timber tie heartrending cnes of the people in the falling car the loud hissing of the engine as is pjpngea into the tide the cr of horror from the nuen on tne oriuge ana me tremendous jolt yen the train as its fern erd sett on parted front it roused the people in ihe second and third cars to tremendous excitement For them itwasbutthevork of an instant to jump scramble smash and push themselves into the outer sir and salvation from a horrible death But fo the passengers in the first car there was no such hope of escape Hardly ha I they in theirterror jumped to their feet Jtharj they were in ihe water the windows and doors closed and the weight of the engine and tender drawing them down from death by drowning to the worse fate of strJocation in tco aiimy creec ootwra Kome iumned to the windows smashed 1 ttnu with their fists and tried to crawl through the ape tore Others flung thcmstlvss at tie door in an endeavor to reach the platform with the hope of having at least a chance for life by floating to the surface Few however escape i Thot in the vundows were drowned as they were crawling out and their bod es were released only by the wash iag waters which threw them upon tthe bark or floated them timber down the stream Tboir rushing to the doors were trampled down by the wildly eager ones behind theuiTu ell thrs who tiro pone la Oakland br we old rerr route know that pemnea upon wnat semext iaa torn the banks ol toat estuary ttbruLold of salfatlon the bay known as Oakland Uownuny wsnt down ia the wreck Henry Austin and his daughter Miss Florence MrFnileywho had a very narrow escape was attended toat the hospital As soon as the wrecking crew arrived attempts were made to pull the first car out of the water A heavy hawser was led from an engine upon ihe track near the bridge to the im mersed car Four times as the engine pulled the hawser broke and finally the stfmpt was given up as the car was fast in the mud It is tying upon its side half of the windows ot one side exposed othmg was ob tained ironi it by the searchers for the dead except a little toy tin horse which some child had had in fiis hand as he went to death or whch some fond parent was talcing as a present to some successful school pupil Alt the afternoon the banks of the creek were crowded and in the stream were boatmen Innumerable dragging for bodies Up to a late hour last night however only thirteen had been recovered of which twelve were iden tified The signal man in the tower on the north side of the creek east of the drawbridge stated to a Cueosicxb re porter that as the train approached be heard three whistles the signal to put on the brakes Later when the reporter returned to the tower ths tame 018081 denied that he had made the statement He alto refused to give any information as to whether he had signaled the train to stop or go ahead It is now thought no children were lost in tbo wreck at least no bodies 1 have been recovered and up to a late hour no children were reported miss lnK KUCOVERING THE BODIES Sad Scenes After the Great Accident Among the first to reach the draw br dge was a CnaotictE reporter At that time men boats were rescuing those who were swimming in the water and clinging to the les fceveral men In a vawl were beside the end ot the car which projected above the sur fsce breaking In the root witn axes No one alive was afterward taken from the cr As tne roof was dashed to splinters under the blows of the axes and an aperture suf ficiently large had been made boat hooks were put down and the bodies were one after the other drawn out placed in boats and rowed to the Oakland shore Mr Austins remains were the first taken out nnckly followed by those of Mrs 0 Connor By this time a score ot rowbolts were hovering about the cart and the crowd on the bridge anxiously watched the movements of the volun leers who to bravely worked to aate whom they could ln the mean time the news ot the disaster had spread through Oakland and thousands hurried through the streets to the bridge lining the wharf on the Oakland tide As the Jtodies were recovered they were placed side by side on the narrow beach near the Oakland approach to th bridge They werethea gathered opT and as thy were placed in the undrtakrswagons for removal to the Morgue women sobbed and moaned while several fainted and we carried out of the crowd The entire police force of the city under Captain Wilson were ordered out and after repeated efforts the crowd was finally driven off the bridge Iiela tivet and friends of those who were drowned arrtred andVwith tears stealing down their faces inquired the fate of their loved ones Too a raise cannot be siren those who vsre active in the rescue Men wc rkel with ail their strength several jumping overboard and swim rir about the car In hopes of raising 40me to the surface Kearns Mr Robinson and LmgiMahv testa At the feet ot Miss Keirns was her sister lying on the floor her head supported by a wooden box Mrs 0 Connor Was next Matateste reposing on a board placed on two stools On the floor his head on a broken cigar box Jay Captain Duryea and a short distance from him at his leet was his daughter who was drowned with hlm TTurther to her left was a group of three all on the floor Mr Ault Miss Austin and Mr Irwin the sewing machine agent Still further to the left ii this group was Martin Kelly the Assistant Chief Wharfinger and near him and in front of Mrs OConnors remains was the body of an unidentified man The corpse strewn floor the blanched faces of the terrified crowding people and the great contusion that existed presented a ghastly picture that will life long in the nunds of lose who were unfortunate enough to see it The work of identification progressed slowly nd as soon as the features of one were recognu ed a placard bearing the me was placed on the breast of the deceased Father OConnor the Roman Catholic priest of Oakland was early on the scene and did much to comfort the afrncted and he It was who first identified positively the remains of Mrs OConnor William Engl sh chairman of the State Board of Harbor Commissioners and chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee appeared at the Morgue during the afternoon and identified the body of Martin Kelly He at once took charge of Jthe remains and telegraphed the friends of the de ceased politician of the accident IIThe Coroner summoned the follow ugiury which viewed the remains at Aa near as I could tell the train was GoclocavG 8 Nesworth 463 Mnth runninir at its usual rate of speed at street McChemey 136 Frank coming around the curre and as it ibia point irora thVecktOftona of the Toung ladies who was brought ont of the water to the bridge I took a necklace composed of Mexican coins linked together with a larger coin in the center as a pendant hhe also wore a scapula about herjoeck The necklace belongs to Miss Katie Kearns 630 Eddy street San Francisco BODIES KKJIOVED Excitement About tho Oakland Motgne The excitement in Oakland was not abated at a laMliour last night The scenes at th Morgue before which fullv 5000 people surged in an eager attempt to view the remains of the victims were most Impressive At 5 clock the work of preparing the corpses for burial was begun by three of Coroner Evers deputies and it was three hours before their ghastly task was accomplished The bod es were ranged in two rows in the rear room and covered with sheets leaving only the marblciike faces exposed At 8 oclock Coroner Evers threw open the doors to the public and for one or two hours a constant stream Of men and women passed through the room and newed the victims Of the disaster Women cned aloud and men Uly concealed their grief at the sight that met their gaze A great number of the spectators were girls who had come to satisfy a morbd curiosity It is estimated that fully 3000 people viewed the remains before the doors were doed at 10 oclock Eightpohce men under charge ot Captain Fletcher and Sheriff Hale with four deputies experienced great dlfScultydn keeping the ever increasing crowd in order A man who did not give his name gave In structions at 8 clock fo hsre the body ot uigi Malatesta removed to his late home at 2001 Dupont street 8sn Francisco to day He viewed the body of the unidentified young man and pronounced himtobeAtiliio Mala tin A Uexon corner J3eventti and Broadway Robinson 868 Grove David Butherford SU Thirteenth John Schumacher 1117 Myrtle Lyons 801 Twelfth An inquest will be he to day AN EXK TflTNKSe STORY A Chronicle Reporter Saw the Accident Among the passengers on the second car of the ill fated tram was Edward Mendelson a Cnaostcxx re porter lie waa an eye witness of the wild plunger tne engine and the tern ble scenes that followed It seems imposs ble to give an ade quate description ol the catastrophe whose dreadful details will neverfade from the memory of those who witnessed it The cries of the imprisoned and drowning people the utter inability to render them assistance and the sight of the unhappy wretches in the water produced an effect on those on the spot that will not easily dis appear The train left the Alameda mole about 1 10 oclock There were three cars with about forty tieonle in each The seats were ail occupied and men stood on the platform Ten minutes after starting the car gave a quiTering jolting sound as if Off the track Then the train slowed down and stopped but only for an Instant It moved forward again with a ar and jolt and then stopped entirely Suddenty the platform on which the reporter ood rose high ia tne air almost throwing him off MrMendelton jumped on the trestle and running forward climbed on the drawbridge which had been par trailv closed here I saw the cause of the stoppage in all iti horrors says the re porter The enrine had run over the open draw and in its terrible plunge had engine was about two feet from the water and the passengers shrieking and fighting began to appear at the door and windows Tbev shoved their heads and shoulders out but as If fearing to trust themselves to the water or through inability to get out remained where they were Others struggled out of the submerged ear and yelled to those on the bridge to help them Onemanfonghthiawsyio the top of the carnage with a child in his arms I saw him put the baby over the car and draw himself up afterward Ha arose on his knees and raising the child in his arms yell i to the people Save my boy For Gods sake save him to bis mother That was Kavanaugh who with 1ms child was rescued Two or three boats were on the spot at once and the occupants rowed hither and thither picking up the floating people and taking others from the car Lying on the pier with his bands streaming blood arid with a cut in his forehead wis an Old man holding by the arms a young lady whose feet were in the water Here for Heavens sake help me or shell go down he cried Bstween us we pulled her on to the pier and the old man fell back exhausted A great crowd gatheredon the pier they ran about on the bridge women wringing their hands and weeping and I men doing no hing words of encouragement were shouted to the unforto Lnaies on the car but words saved tew lives Suddenly the crowd parted and a earn ge came out of itr a man jumped from it ran to the bridge and getting on the submerged car leaped into the water and did noble work in hfe saving His name is Clark Brakeman Hutchinson was on the second car when the accident occurred He tried to put on the handbrakes but the engine took the deadly plunge before the wheels had taken three revolutions Leaving the plat form he ran forward and when the entombed train had settled in the creek be jumped upon the roof of the forward Car and assisted in palling the passengers np to his place of safety Few of those who were thus taken from the windows escaped without injury the water was discolored with their blood drawn by wounds received in the struggle to get out of the windows Among the list of injured many names appear in some cases the wounds are triSing and for a time in the dreadful excitement of the moment they were not noticed cuts in the hand and face and neck threw blood everywhere I saw one man die in terrible agony He had been wounded by the fail of the car but by a superhuman effort got out of a window His face was covered with blood which was washed away as he dropped into the water The current earned him down the creek before he reappeared As he came to the surface he threw up his arms but those In the boats did not notice him I shouted and pointed in his direction but everybody seemed to be calling for aid The drowning man went down again and when his lace was seen on the surface one more it was expressive of terrible agony but he never raised his voice Two powerful rowers propelieda small boat to his assistance As friendly hands were stretched out to save him he disappeared and was seen no more Sbortlv another vain straggler passed over the place where he bad gone dawn I did what could be done to ass st the unfortunates borne man one made for emegen cies such as this had taken the axes and wrecking tools from the second and third cars and the crashing of timbers was heard over the shrieks of the untortunate Forceful blows were opening a pas age war througn the roof of the front car Men went inf the hole but they fouid only the dead those who had perished instantly as the car filled with water and drowned them where they sat bomebody asced where the engineer and fireman were They were held responsible for the awful accident and the questions as to their whereabouts were not of a kindly nature I found the fireman Oltrien but ha anew nothing he averred whether he saw the draw was open or not hetiould not state How did you escape I asked Te nothing to sav hothing to say in some cases is an admission more eloquent than confession tor the engine to atop as it is accustomed to do when the bridge Is optned a few feet distant from the end ot the bridge but was some what astonished to see It going right ahead with the bridge still open The next aight1 saw fairly chilled the blood in nay veins tho engine waa toppling over into the chasm It was af rightful sceneTl can tell you for as 1 watched the iron horse tumble into the water witrl si terrific splash Xsaw that it was pulling ope of the coaches in with It I was fairly dazed for a few seconds at the sight before me but when the cries of agony and distress came to my ears from the passengers in the ill fated caa I seemed to realize the whole dreadful affair in an instant Koturthsr warning was necessary I assure you Seeing the mass ot struggling humanity in the water I called upon my whole crew to lower boats and within the course of a Try short time rfr boats manned by strong armed sailors were at the spot where the car went down I had taken a boat too myself and as I neared the end of the bridge my eyes fellpon a pretty straw hat Boating in the water above whicn at every few intervals two feminine arms arose as if clutchjhig for some means of support 1 wavat te I sideoi the woman in an instant ana with few strong pulls landed ner safely in my boat She bad not been in the water long and I saw she was more frightened than hurt Ilumedlr taking her ashore I re turned in my boat to rescue a middle aged man who seemed to be making a desperate struggle to save niaiseu but without much effect It was some time before I could get my boat In position to catch hold of him but after a few dexterous turns I succeeded in grasping him by the seat of the trowsers and in that manner hauled hira into the boat My strength was pretty much tried by the exerton needed to land my unlucky friend but I knew there ware yet many more lives to save and I did not stop long to consider my own feelings The last the schooner Eedwood which took them to the wharf when they were pulled up on terra Anna The only Injuries sustained were a sprained ankie by Miss Jennie and several bruises by the Captain caused oy the smaBness of the rope used in hoisting him on the dock The car almost immediately tank after the escape of Captain Roberts and his relatives COSDTJCTOR BEBATH Ha Says Tw anty Sr Women and Children Perished Conductor Edward Kerath who had charge ot the train when interviewed last night said The car which feu througn tne open draw was what ia known as a combination car I had passed through it before we reached the bridge and I bel eve ft contained about twenty five women and children The full capacity of the car Is forty eight people hen the accident happened was at the rear endof the tram but I hastened forward as culckly as I could and looted down into the glp where I noticed a number ot men swimming away from the wreck but I did not see anv women or children All ot the i passengers in the coaches which niained weretti a terriDie state or ex ctsSient and I tried to quiet them as much as possible I do not think I knew anr of ihe people In the wrecked car As far as I can remember they were all strangers and there were no regular passengers among them THE BRIDGE OPEX The FactSottced by a lasseagerln the First Car Frank Finley a clerk for the San Francisco Lumber Company who re des at 782 Sutter street was a passenger on the train and occupied a rent seat in the car which went over board when the accident happened He told his story as follows I was sitting so as to face the engine and when we approached the drawbridge crossing San Antonio creek 1 looked up and it seemed to me that the bridge was open I watched on with my arms noti rescued by boat At the water began comW in to the car the scene within was md ecribablev The screams and meatus Were heartrending AS the lover end of the car became submerged the one ceased There was no chance for es cape and they died like rats in a trap The car was two thirds full of pa tengers and I should judge that thera were over thirty people in It The speed ot the train wu not rapid am uninjured but sustained a seres nervous shock CAPTADT JOHV HACKETT with much anxiety and in a few mo object of my life saving efforts was aal ments my fears were proved to have His Bands Were ut Breaking Window Among those who were ia the first cauras Captam John Uackett Councilman from the Fifth ward Oakland Captain Hackett had a veiy narrow escape and was severely injured A CHKoaiCLK reporter caned at Mr Hacketf i house at Thirteenth and Harnson streets Captain Hicketf was tn bed and suffering intensely from the shock and nervous prostration Hi right band was terribly cut and lacerated and his body was badly bruised I was in the forward car said Captairr Hackett painfully to the reporter talking with Mr Howard All of a audden 1 felt the car sink gradually and I experienced that peculiar sensation of going down The water rushed the car with great rapidity and the Utmost confusion prevailed I crossed to the other end of the car and broke a window and erawled ont into the Wnter grasping the rim of the upper edge of the car I then heard Mis Boberts call fot help and caught her wrist and pulled her through the window We were then both in the water a few feet from the central abutment of th bridge I struck out for this holding Miss Boberts when I reached the abutment I was exhausted but several hands were extended to Miss Roberta and myself and Wewere pulled up safely to the bridge Of course we had no intimation of the disaster it Corning wuh frightful suddenness The car filled rapidly with water WIIXIAU DAVIS He and A torjujn tte mortuary room THE DANGER SIGVAt3 Flags Placed at the End of the Bridge When tipencd Perhaps the mct noteworthy witness to the entire acadejnt was Captain Henry Mclntire ot the yacht Casco owned by Dr Merntt of Oakland The yacht had been out for a cruise dunng the morninc and about noon struck anchor just to the west side of the drawbridge not more than 100 feet distant and near the south shore of the bay Captain Mclntire had seated himself in the bow of ths lfe Scene of JA te dntl ct iht TFI frr frrf drew bridge tests He said that Mala testa was accompanied by a son but no railroad ticket was found on his person or any other clew that might lead to bit identification Manager Powers of OConnor Mof fatt Co had the body of Mrs OCon nor removed to her late home in San Francisco last erentnc The body of Martin Kelly was also brought to the city ontbell train under the direction of William Eng lish and Captain Martin Corcoran The bodies of the Kearns sisters were The remains I removed to McATOy Gallaghers of Mist Kearns were carried by 1 undertaking rooms late in the tT Wt carried the first car witn it The car on which 1 had been waa saved by the brakes It hung half way over inclining toward the first car which rested on the engine The scene was a ti ibe ens A number of people who had been on the platform jumped Into the creek and their yells a they rose and sunk in the troubled water were heartrending I tali to a man Arent there any ropes on the train He looked at me with dart log eves and white scared face bu could not utter a wort at wu umTrj vessel for a rest after luncheon and was directlyfacmg the bridge at the time of the catastrophe He was teen after the accident by a Caeosicli re porter was quietly seated in the bow of ot the yacht1 said he when I heard the bell rung on the bridge as a signal for it to open The ridge then swung around and the yacht Jualuta was allowed to pass througn The danger flags had teen placed at thsLendt of the bridge when it wu openedvand 1 noticed them flying at the time Ts the bridge began to twine slowly back ItoitiPlaoe itf uajjensextxala old man I should think fully 0 years otage I could see his white hair in the water though I was at least 100 feet away from him Near him In the water floated his hat and as 1 watched bis whitehead bobbing up and down I saw him clutch wildly at the headgear as if to save hunse I pullet as hard as my arms would aliqw me to the side of the drowning maubnt before I could reach him he had gone under twice Whan my boat was within a rod ot him his body came to the top once more and with a mighty pull i brought the boat up very near to him And juttin time too As I turned it around to gain an advantage for a grab at him he began to sink for the last time But I caught him thank God and by almost superhuman strength held his head above the water un 11 1 could steady myself Jor the final struggle to land him in the boat It seemed at first as it I could not accomplish the feat and for a few seconds feared that I too might have to fall with my burden into the fatal bar It seems now ss if I leaned oror that boat fully Ave minutes trying to hold the old mans head out ot the watr and at the same time regain my strength How I finally managed to get the body into the boat I do not know but I did It Once in the boat I ininied ately tet about to roll a little lie Into the old man It was a difficult task for I could see by his face that life was neiriy extract But 1 continued to work with him and was finally rewarded for my efforts by seeing ths first signs of resuscitation coming to his face With that I pulled to the shore with my burden and turned it orer to torn ot the officers for I thought medical assistance at that point was most needed By the time I had landed my last load all the other bodies had been recovered and I thought it wss then about time for me to return to my yacht But it seems that I had one more thing to save from the wreck and that was the danger signal which had been knocked off its pedestal on the bridge by the engine Attached to a broken flagstaff I found it floating in the water and pulled it in How it could be possible for the engineer to run his tram into an opening in plain view 1 cannot conceive How nearly closed wss the bridge at the time tbo tram fell over waa asked should think it was about half closed It seemed to me as if tfe first rail of the track on the drawbridge had just about came up to the outside rail of the track leading from the main bridge when the accident occurred STED FROM DEATH Experience of Captain Roberta and His Relatives Captain Boberts bis niece Mrs a Robert and her twodauglf terv Effie aged 8 years and Jennie aged 16 were among the tared from the first car The Captain and his relatives occupied the end scats next to the tender in the first car and when the accident occurred were the first to be submerged As the car went off the bri ige it parted from the train and on striking the bottom of the bay the coupling connecting it with the tender of the locomotive broke allowing that end to come to the surface The entire occurrence happened so quickly that the first thing the Captain realized war that he was floating under the car ventilators with Miss Effie clinging to his neck and Mrs Boberts and her elder daughter Strug glinginthe water Realizing Ms danger he called to the others to follow and immediately dure through the car door which was submerged On coming to the surface he found a rotten skiff to which lie and the two ladies huna until ths arrival ot a boat front been well grounded and a crash fol lowed by a homble crushing of timber were the first indications 1 had of ouf cars frightful fate I saw a man leap from the engine and the next thing remember ws were in the water I groped blindly for the door and when I reached ft I worked my way from the platform ia Hi roof which at that end of the car ixm out ot the water Out of the twenty five or thirty people Which I estimated the car contained quite a number escaped In the ssme manner asldid Mr Fullers shoulder is bruised and he hat sever cuts on the head but his injuries are alt Ota slight nature He was taken to the receiving hospit 1 in Oakland here his bru ses were at tended to and he then went home John DIVE FOR LIFE Of HI Ilowird Tells Narrow Eaeapa John Howard manager of the Oregon Improvement Company was also in the forward car talking with Mr Uawley when it wen off the abut ment I was in the center on the right hand side of the car laid Mr How ari to Chboiicm reporter with Mr Uawiey I tettthe shock as the wheels left the rails for that awful moment before we went into the water Then the car plunged into the water The water rushed in splinters and pieces Of glass were flying and the shrieks of the possengers especially the women were siniplr agonizing I threw open the window and taking a long breath dived through the water coming up all right on the surface It was a didicult job for the water was oiling the car th fearful rapidity and everything was done so quickly that I hardly realized it alL While swimming about I saw Captain Hackett on the car roof pulling Miss Boberts but through the window 1 assisted him until they were safe on the abutment The men In small boats did grand service in rescuing those who were floundering about in the water and struggling through the windows The shrieks aod piteous cries for help were heartrending These soon became smothered as the car filled I saw Captain Dwyer Mr Hawley Mr Cuumngbam land Mr Austin arid daugher in the car CHARLES HAWlisr Bis Son Were la the Second Car William Dans of 410 Cypress street Oakland and his soultenie were in theseeond ear Mr Davis was one of the first to get out He stated that they felt a shock and heard a crash and he knew that an accident had happened There was a mad rush toward the door men and women struggling to gat ont and fighting desperately oneL however were hurt beyond a few bm ises WJlbtm Wilkinson of 1212 Polk street was also in the second car and escaped with aTew bruises His story was substantially the same at Mr Dans MISS MAX ATJSTiy She Is 8avd but Hev Father and Ber Stater Perish Miss May Anstindaughter of Henry 8 Austin of Austin Phelps was tared She and her sister Florence and her father were in the lower end ot the first car She was ttred and taken to the residence ot 5Irs Sawyer a friend of Ihe fauiilyat 1303 Madison street Oakland When a Chbomcls reporter called there Mis Austin was In bed suider medical attendance It waa learned that she and her lister ilorence were together when the car reached the water and in the lower end They Struggled throngh the water toward the upper end but Florin was orer come with exhaustion and Mary atone reached the upper end near the open windows At this time the end was projecting above the water There the struggled to tne ut per end of the car and waa pulled through a window ted carried to the central abutment and afterward carried upon the bridge When this was reached sne cried to the men to save her tlitet and father but it waa tea late A THU1LL1Q E3CAFE A Cavanaugh and Bis Little Bey Saved A Cavanaugh a clerk at Tourth and Town send streets and his hitia three year old boy Uobart had a thrilling escape Mr Cavanaugh was seen at Dr Woolsers hospital where he hsd been taken to have a wounded hand dressed The water rushed into the car so quickly said Mf Cavanaugh to the reporter that we were alt paralyzed with terror My tint thought was far my boy and I cried out for them to tsve him He waa shoved through a window and grasped by somebody tn a tout I then crawled out of the window into the water and was picked up by a boat My boy was taken to on tide ot the etutry and I to the other but I recovered him all rght I belitver there were about thirty people in the car fully that number Everything was so sudden that I can searcel realize that I and my child are safe COMNGBA3T Be Eaeapes harrowly bnt Without Serious Injury Charles Hawey the Market street hardware merchant was in the forward car He was tor tunately one ot those who escaped witn only a drenching To a Cebosicie reporter Mr Hawley a 1 was going home early to attend the memorial exercises I noticed at th per thif the second ca wu filled and went into the for ward car taking my seat in the for wart part of the car on the right tide I noticed Mr Austin and bu two daughter enter the car and take seats near the lower end There were hut three cart on the train and I remember that 1 thought the number very small considering the day Captain Hackett and Mr Howard occupied teat just below me The first intimation I had of trouble was the rocking of the car from side to tide and the jolting motion of the wheels grating orer the ties I then felt the car sin into the water and It surged about my jeet I sprang up and tried brsskthe window at my tide I failed Then I sprang to the other tide where there was an open window through which a gentleman wat trnggiing 1 followed forcing my way out ol the window The car was then half full of water I became wedged In the window frame and with difficulty extricated myself When 1 got through finally crawl i to th Inn af sax holdla He Alto Crwid Oat at Window of the Car Charles Cunningham With Neville Co 33 California street when teen by a Cubosicle reporter in hi home in Oakland shortly after the disaster was lying propped up in bed his hands swathed in cotton and band ages I was in the center ot the forward car said Mr Cunningham wlt Captain Hackett Captain Jlobcrt and Mr Howard near I was nn th right side of the car when I felt the wheels bump orer the ties Then we went dom just glided into iht water with slight noise The water was knee deep In an Instant The greatest confusion prevailed and the Inmates of the car seeded beside themselves with fear The car first settled on my tide and I pushed my way through the water to the other tide It wu then to aiereCwithmy armpits I smashed a window with my hands cutting tntra sererely and reaching the Water swam away from the wreck returning to the fop of the car Captain Boberts I taw on the pUtorm with a lady but both were saTtd by the boats Thelady forehead was cut and the bood wu streaming down hex face I hard a man whom I supposo Wf I A Cavanaugh cfy out for Gods sakerto tare his baby boy jbotue man caught the child and it was tared Cavanaugh wu afterward pulled out all right Jfow that I ant out ot dan ger it strikes me atranty that so few seemed to think of makin their escape by the windows although thenar failed so rapidly that everybody wu demorallMd and rir stricken The pawners taaoy it them teemed stricken dutah with fear and were smother by ths water 1 kept iny wiubnt w4 to this foot 1 jM iLxlk tmnxA.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

About San Francisco Chronicle Archive

Pages Available:
307,400
Years Available:
1865-1923