Alameda, California
Train Wreck
November 14, 1869
Railroad Collision.
SAN FRANCISCO, November 14. --- A few
minutes past nine this morning the eastward
bound train on the Western Pacific railroad,
eight cars, including one sleeping car, collided
with the Alameda ferry train going at the rate
of twenty miles an hour. The engines are a
perfect wreck. The cars were smashed and driven
through one another. The Western Pacific train
left on prompt time, but the morning was so
foggy the engineer with difficulty could see any
distance ahead. Upon arriving at the switch
where the Western Pacific connects with the
Alameda road, the train slowed, and the switch
tender was questioned whether the Alameda train
had passed. He answered, “All right --- go
ahead.” Soon after the trains came together with
a terrific crash. The first passenger car of the
Western Pacific was driven through the smoking
car and the other cars badly damaged. The killed
and wounded are variously estimated at ten to
fifteen, and thirty to fifty. It is impossible
to obtain the correct number at present.
The following is a list of the known killed and
wounded. Killed ---
ALEX W. BALDWIN, United States
district judge of Nevada, of Virginia City;
EDWARD ANDERSON, engineer of the
Western Pacific;
McDONALD, road master of the
California Pacific railroad;
WM. BOULET,
principal of the young ladies seminary at
Oakland; CHARLES
MARTIN, fireman of the Alameda train;
GEO. L. THOMPSON, fireman of the
Western Pacific train;
DAVID WARD, merchant of San
Francisco; JAMES
CONNELLY, of Corrall Station;
MAX EHOMAN,
merchant of San Jose;
B. H. FOX, as supposed from papers
found on the body.
Wounded --- J. J.
PERKINS, railroad employe [sic],
badly bruised; J. P.
LOWELL, of Sacramento, both legs
badly jammed; J. L.
BEARD, mission of San Jose, slightly;
JUDGE WM. CAMPBELL, U.S. District
attorney of Nevada, left leg broken;
S. M. B. HALEY,
of San Francisco, leg twisted;
PATRICK MAHON, of Oakland, both legs
broken; J. C. KNAPP,
of Pleasanton, right leg smashed and otherwise
injured. Three men were killed along side of
KNAPP. J. P. HELER,
of San Francisco, was badly bruised;
NOEL LAMBERT,
carpenter of the Western Pacific, both
legs broken; W. L.
TAYLOR, of Chicago, bruised across
the stomach; SETH
BROMLEY, of Sacramento, one leg
broken and the other badly jammed;
GEORGE CADWALLADER,
of Sacramento, badly bruised;
THOMAS McNULTY,
of San Francisco, right leg broken and
foot bruised; BANLOS,
leg badly smashed; two Chinamen badly hurt. The
killed and wounded were mostly on the Western
Pacific train. When the cars telescoped the
passengers were driven together and crushed
among the ruins, and with great difficulty many
could be extricated. The sleeping car with the
unhurt passengers and badly wounded was sent to
Alameda. Great excitement prevailed during the
day. The catastrophe cast a gloom over the
entire people of the city.
Rocky Mountain News Colorado 1869-11-15
Submitted & transcribed by Stu
Beitler Thank you,
Stu!
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