A TERRIBLE DEATH.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 976, 27 December 1882, Page 3

A TERRIBLE DEATH.

A freight train of the South Pacific Coast Railroad, consisting of six cars, was “ ditched-” one evening recently hy the sinking of the track which ran over the trestle-work between South San Leandro and High-street Station, Alameda. The locomotive was overturned and the cars piled on top of each other. By the first shock the engineer was thrown through the “cab” window and burled to the ground, with a broken nose and some bruises. The fireman died a horrible death. When Hie locomotive capsized he was held to‘ the ground by an iron bar across his breast, and one foot caught by another ; bo was fully conscious at the time of his death ; lie was held fast, and the tide of a fast-flowing river near the scene of the wreck was rising rapidly ; it was evident he would be drowned in a short time ; six men were on board and laboured to save him ; they’ wrapped sheets .about his body, and exerted their combined strength to pull him from bis position ; he cried piteously that they were killing him ; they tried again and again, with the same result. -A levee was built about his bead to keep down the rising tide. Buckets were brought, and by faithful bailing it was attempted to keep the water from reaching bis bead ; ho was lying under the cab, and a bole was cut through the cab,through which lie could put out bis head. They' raised his head above the water as much as possible ; he remained thus two hours, but at last the levee broke, and the men who were bailing out the water found that they could do no more ; they held his head above the water, which rose slowly about his body. The men found they must make.a final effort, so his head was lowered, and they ail caught bold and pulled desperately', but in vain—fh'-y could not move him. They raised his head,, but the water rose slowly, and reached his chin. A friend held his hand over bis mouth, but the water rose to his nostrils ) nothing more could be done, so he was drowned. The other man killed was a brakesman ; he was on the fourth car with the other brakesman and the conductor, and was instantly 7 killed. The force with which he was thrown broke his neck. The conductor had his legs slightly hurt, but the other brakesman was not hurt.