San Quentin, CA Train Wreck, Sept 1908

TRAIN CRASHES THROUGH BRIDGE

TRESTLE WAS ON A DISUSED BRANCH LINE

PANIC STRICKEN PASSENGERS MANAGE TO ESCAPE

San Rafael, September 23, - Running on a disused trestle at San Quentin point, a branch terminus of the California Northwester railroad, the morning passenger train to San Quentin from San Rafael crashed through the rotten timbers the engine and smoking care precipitated into the water of the bay.

The sound of rending timbers was followed by the hiss of escaping steam from the broken pipes and then the big engine turned over on its side and nearly sank out of sight in the soft mud and water. Behind the submerged engine lay the combined baggage and smoking car, also on its side, the water lapping half way up the splintered body of the coach.

PASSENGERS ESCAPE
In the car were a dozen panic stricken passengers, who, after a frantic struggle, succeeded in working themselves out of the car.
When the engine turned over Engineer Sam Louis and his fireman, V. Brooks, were thrown from their seats into the water. Louis was struck on the head as he fell and sank. Brooks, on coming to the surface, missed Louis and immediately dived for him. After a few seconds of delay he managed to find him, half suffocating, and with great effort pulled him out of the mud to a breathing place on the engine. Louis was treated at the prison hospital by Dr. Stone.

POSSIBLE FRACTURE
His injuries consisted of bruises, lacerations and a possible fracture at the base of the skull. Brooks, in company with H. W. Griggs, an employe (sic) of the company at Ukiah, and Harold Carter, a newsboy, who were also slightly injured, were taken to San Rafael and attended by Dr. Wickham.

The Evening News, San Jose, CA 23 Sep 1908
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Transcribed by Jenni Lanham.