FIRST RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1207, 8 February 1870, Page 3

FIRST RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA.

■ ♦> (From the Alta California) About 9 o'clock on the morning of 14th November, the regular passenger train of the Western Pacific Railroad, bound east, came in collision with the train from Hay ward' s near Damon station, about four miles from Alameda. The locomotives of both trains were totally destroyed, as were four cars of the Western Pacific Railroad, and several of the Hayward train. It is said both trains were behind time, and running beyond their usual speed. The train bound east consisted of eight cars. The news of the accident, which reached the city about 10 o'clock, created the greatest excitement, the most exaggerated rumors being in circulation. Accounts brought by W. H. Yates, a passenger on the eastern bound train, say that the accident occurred four miles beyond San Antonio, and that the eastern train was running at about 25 miles an hour at the time of the collision, destroying both locomotives, and more or less injuring the cars on both trains. The third car of the W.P. train was telescoped, into the fourth car, running through it to within six feet of the end. In that six feet were the only ones who survived uninjured. Mr Yates and some others at once commenced cutting into the telescoped cars in order to get at the mangled mass of dead and dying within, using such implements as were at hand. The scene, beggared all description, the wounded groaning and crying, and the cars being crowded with the debris of the wreck and bodies of passengers. Among the killed are reported—Alex. A. Baldwin, United States Circuit Judge of Nevada; Mr Pope, conductor of the Alameda train ; and the engineer and firemen of the W. Pacific train — names unknown. The highest number given is fifteen, killed and twentyfive wounded. Mr George B. Cadwallader, of Sacramento, who was on the Western Pacific train at the time of the accident, furnishes the following statement : — The train left at the regular hour, so far as I can judge It consisted of six cars. I was in the fourth car, and was seated three seats from the front when the collision occurred. I was thrown completely to the rear of the car amid a pile of seats. All the persons who were killed on our train were in the same car with myself. The smoking car was shot into our car so far as to confine all the killed and wounded in a small space in the rear. Judge Baldwin, who was killed, was in the water-closet, at the rear of the car. I found myself after the collision on top of a pile of dead and wounded — I cannot tell exactly how many were in the car, but I should judge about thirty. There were no ladies in the car with us. It Was nearly an hour after the accident before assistance was procured. The near end of the car was torn out with the aid of ropes. Two Chinamen adopted the best plan by opening the front of the car, removing ths debris r and gaining access in that way. I

crawled out through that end myself. 1 cannot tell the number or names of those killed or wounded; everything wai in confusion. Know that Judge Baldwin was killed, Mr liowell of Sacramento,. Blightly injured, and Judge Campbell had one le^ broken. After some time, the physicians arrived and took charge of the wounded. I procured a carriage, and reached the city by way of Oakland. An immense congregation of persons of both sexes are assembled at the scene of the disaster, and the roads leading thereto are filled with vehicles conveying people to the spot. At least 5000 men and women are now on the spot. As this is the first railroad accident • in California — and attended as it is with such terrible carnage — the excitement is at fever pitch. The aspect of the wreck beggars all powers of description. In the case o£ one poor fellow, it was necessary to cut off his legs with an axe, so as to get his body out and allow another passenger who was not killed to be extricated. There were some verv remarkable escapes, and strikingly so with theladv passengers. There Were two ladies seated directly in front of Mr Bolet, and though he was killed they did not ev*n tow** a scratch.