Serious Railroad Accident--The First on the Oregon Division--Two Men Killed and Several Others Injured.
ANDERSON, April 10th.--The first accident that has occurred on this division befell the passenger train last night at China Gulch on its up trip. The gulch, or creek, over which a bridge about 60 feet long is constructed about five miles above here, was swollen very suddenly by a cloudburst, it is supposed, happening during the heaviest thunder and rain-storm that has been experienced in this section for years, during which the bridge was displaced, and was the cause of the accident. The locomotive, tender and express car had passed over the spot, but were drawn into the creek by the baggage car, which dropped first, followed by the entire train, with the exception of the coach, the rear part of which remained on the track. The accident occurred at 10:10 o'clock, and the engineer, George B. Smith, and the fireman, Frank Rogers, were killed. The messenger of Wells, Fargo & Co., R. J. Johnston, had his leg broken, and was otherwise injured. Ben. Kuhn, a commercial traveler, had his head badly injured. Ben. Laws and J. A. Richardson, also drummers, were slightly hurt. Conductor Welch was cut about the face. The others on the train, among the number about nine passengerd, were slightly injured. The body of Smith was recovered and sent to Sacramento this morning; also the express agent and Kuhn. Rogers has not been found. A wrecking train left Sacramento at 3 A.M. and reached the scene at 9:30. A construction train is laying over at this place to begin work in the morning, it being impossible to clear the debris to-night. The accident created much sensation all along the line.
The Daily Record-Union
Sacramento, California
Monday, 11 April 1881
page 2, column 4
THE LAST RITES.
Funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith
at Sacramento on Tuesday Last.
The funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith, the locomotive engineer who was killed at the recent accident on the California and Oregon Railroad, took place Tuesday last from the Masonic Hall in Sacramento. It was conducted under the auspices of Union Lodge No. 58. F. and A. M., John McArthur, W. M., presiding. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the Capital city, almost the entire force of railroad workmen and mechanics in and about Sacramento being in the procession. The body lay in the larger of the Masonic halls, and that hall and the adjoining one was packed with the friends of the dead engineer, and large numbers were unable to gain admission to the building. The floral decorations were exceedingly profuse and very beautiful, and spoke of many a tender friendship, loving heart and manly sympathy. There were
IN ATTENDANCE FROM ABROAD,
As mourners, Benjamin Smith, of Alameda, Superintendent of Locomotives, C. P. R. R., brother to the deceased. He was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter; T. B. [T. R.] Smith, locomotive engineer, of this city, and brother to the deceased, who was accompanied by his wife; George Welch, also of this city, Division Master Mechanic, C. P. R. R.; C. A. Grow, San Francisco, of Auditor's Department, C. P. R. R., and David Rutherford of South Vallejo. The attendance of Freemasons was the largest seen at any funeral in Sacramento for a long time. The body was conveyed to the City Cemetery and interred in the Masonic plot with the honors of the Order. The pall-bearers were Stephen Uren, W. F. Peterson, Wm. Eddy, T. W. Clark, W. W. Fuller and C. J. Walquist.
THE DECEASED ENGINEER,
Was born in Putney, Vermont, and was forty-one years of age. At the first call for volunteers in the rebellion he enlisted in the Union army. At the end of his term he came to California and entered upon his trade, that of locomotive engineer. He ran first on the old San Jose road, next on the Napa Valley road, then on the California Pacific Railroad, He then acted for three years as Superintendent of the machine shop of the Central Pacific Railroad at Rocklin, and then took an engine on the road and held the place to the day of his death. He never had an accident to any machinery under his care, and in the thousands of miles he drove locomotives, never had a mishap until the giving way of the trestle which resulted in his sudden death. He was noted as one of the most trustworthy of drivers, and as being punctuality itself. Just beyond where the locomotive plunged into the gulch, carrying Smith with it, was the whistling post few rods further on. Smith's train was due at the station at 10:13 P. M. His battered watch, taken from his body, showed it stopped at 10 o'clock 12 minutes plus. By the death of deceased, the railroad company has lost a faithful, intelligent and careful mechanic; his acquaintances lose a true and valued friend, and his relatives a beloved brother.
The Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California
Saturday, 16 April 1881
page 3, column 3
ANDERSON, April 10th.--The first accident that has occurred on this division befell the passenger train last night at China Gulch on its up trip. The gulch, or creek, over which a bridge about 60 feet long is constructed about five miles above here, was swollen very suddenly by a cloudburst, it is supposed, happening during the heaviest thunder and rain-storm that has been experienced in this section for years, during which the bridge was displaced, and was the cause of the accident. The locomotive, tender and express car had passed over the spot, but were drawn into the creek by the baggage car, which dropped first, followed by the entire train, with the exception of the coach, the rear part of which remained on the track. The accident occurred at 10:10 o'clock, and the engineer, George B. Smith, and the fireman, Frank Rogers, were killed. The messenger of Wells, Fargo & Co., R. J. Johnston, had his leg broken, and was otherwise injured. Ben. Kuhn, a commercial traveler, had his head badly injured. Ben. Laws and J. A. Richardson, also drummers, were slightly hurt. Conductor Welch was cut about the face. The others on the train, among the number about nine passengerd, were slightly injured. The body of Smith was recovered and sent to Sacramento this morning; also the express agent and Kuhn. Rogers has not been found. A wrecking train left Sacramento at 3 A.M. and reached the scene at 9:30. A construction train is laying over at this place to begin work in the morning, it being impossible to clear the debris to-night. The accident created much sensation all along the line.
The Daily Record-Union
Sacramento, California
Monday, 11 April 1881
page 2, column 4
THE LAST RITES.
Funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith
at Sacramento on Tuesday Last.
The funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith, the locomotive engineer who was killed at the recent accident on the California and Oregon Railroad, took place Tuesday last from the Masonic Hall in Sacramento. It was conducted under the auspices of Union Lodge No. 58. F. and A. M., John McArthur, W. M., presiding. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the Capital city, almost the entire force of railroad workmen and mechanics in and about Sacramento being in the procession. The body lay in the larger of the Masonic halls, and that hall and the adjoining one was packed with the friends of the dead engineer, and large numbers were unable to gain admission to the building. The floral decorations were exceedingly profuse and very beautiful, and spoke of many a tender friendship, loving heart and manly sympathy. There were
IN ATTENDANCE FROM ABROAD,
As mourners, Benjamin Smith, of Alameda, Superintendent of Locomotives, C. P. R. R., brother to the deceased. He was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter; T. B. [T. R.] Smith, locomotive engineer, of this city, and brother to the deceased, who was accompanied by his wife; George Welch, also of this city, Division Master Mechanic, C. P. R. R.; C. A. Grow, San Francisco, of Auditor's Department, C. P. R. R., and David Rutherford of South Vallejo. The attendance of Freemasons was the largest seen at any funeral in Sacramento for a long time. The body was conveyed to the City Cemetery and interred in the Masonic plot with the honors of the Order. The pall-bearers were Stephen Uren, W. F. Peterson, Wm. Eddy, T. W. Clark, W. W. Fuller and C. J. Walquist.
THE DECEASED ENGINEER,
Was born in Putney, Vermont, and was forty-one years of age. At the first call for volunteers in the rebellion he enlisted in the Union army. At the end of his term he came to California and entered upon his trade, that of locomotive engineer. He ran first on the old San Jose road, next on the Napa Valley road, then on the California Pacific Railroad, He then acted for three years as Superintendent of the machine shop of the Central Pacific Railroad at Rocklin, and then took an engine on the road and held the place to the day of his death. He never had an accident to any machinery under his care, and in the thousands of miles he drove locomotives, never had a mishap until the giving way of the trestle which resulted in his sudden death. He was noted as one of the most trustworthy of drivers, and as being punctuality itself. Just beyond where the locomotive plunged into the gulch, carrying Smith with it, was the whistling post few rods further on. Smith's train was due at the station at 10:13 P. M. His battered watch, taken from his body, showed it stopped at 10 o'clock 12 minutes plus. By the death of deceased, the railroad company has lost a faithful, intelligent and careful mechanic; his acquaintances lose a true and valued friend, and his relatives a beloved brother.
The Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California
Saturday, 16 April 1881
page 3, column 3
Serious Railroad Accident--The First on the Oregon Division--Two Men Killed and Several Others Injured.
ANDERSON, April 10th.--The first accident that has occurred on this division befell the passenger train last night at China Gulch on its up trip. The gulch, or creek, over which a bridge about 60 feet long is constructed about five miles above here, was swollen very suddenly by a cloudburst, it is supposed, happening during the heaviest thunder and rain-storm that has been experienced in this section for years, during which the bridge was displaced, and was the cause of the accident. The locomotive, tender and express car had passed over the spot, but were drawn into the creek by the baggage car, which dropped first, followed by the entire train, with the exception of the coach, the rear part of which remained on the track. The accident occurred at 10:10 o'clock, and the engineer, George B. Smith, and the fireman, Frank Rogers, were killed. The messenger of Wells, Fargo & Co., R. J. Johnston, had his leg broken, and was otherwise injured. Ben. Kuhn, a commercial traveler, had his head badly injured. Ben. Laws and J. A. Richardson, also drummers, were slightly hurt. Conductor Welch was cut about the face. The others on the train, among the number about nine passengerd, were slightly injured. The body of Smith was recovered and sent to Sacramento this morning; also the express agent and Kuhn. Rogers has not been found. A wrecking train left Sacramento at 3 A.M. and reached the scene at 9:30. A construction train is laying over at this place to begin work in the morning, it being impossible to clear the debris to-night. The accident created much sensation all along the line.
The Daily Record-Union
Sacramento, California
Monday, 11 April 1881
page 2, column 4
THE LAST RITES.
Funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith
at Sacramento on Tuesday Last.
The funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith, the locomotive engineer who was killed at the recent accident on the California and Oregon Railroad, took place Tuesday last from the Masonic Hall in Sacramento. It was conducted under the auspices of Union Lodge No. 58. F. and A. M., John McArthur, W. M., presiding. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the Capital city, almost the entire force of railroad workmen and mechanics in and about Sacramento being in the procession. The body lay in the larger of the Masonic halls, and that hall and the adjoining one was packed with the friends of the dead engineer, and large numbers were unable to gain admission to the building. The floral decorations were exceedingly profuse and very beautiful, and spoke of many a tender friendship, loving heart and manly sympathy. There were
IN ATTENDANCE FROM ABROAD,
As mourners, Benjamin Smith, of Alameda, Superintendent of Locomotives, C. P. R. R., brother to the deceased. He was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter; T. B. [T. R.] Smith, locomotive engineer, of this city, and brother to the deceased, who was accompanied by his wife; George Welch, also of this city, Division Master Mechanic, C. P. R. R.; C. A. Grow, San Francisco, of Auditor's Department, C. P. R. R., and David Rutherford of South Vallejo. The attendance of Freemasons was the largest seen at any funeral in Sacramento for a long time. The body was conveyed to the City Cemetery and interred in the Masonic plot with the honors of the Order. The pall-bearers were Stephen Uren, W. F. Peterson, Wm. Eddy, T. W. Clark, W. W. Fuller and C. J. Walquist.
THE DECEASED ENGINEER,
Was born in Putney, Vermont, and was forty-one years of age. At the first call for volunteers in the rebellion he enlisted in the Union army. At the end of his term he came to California and entered upon his trade, that of locomotive engineer. He ran first on the old San Jose road, next on the Napa Valley road, then on the California Pacific Railroad, He then acted for three years as Superintendent of the machine shop of the Central Pacific Railroad at Rocklin, and then took an engine on the road and held the place to the day of his death. He never had an accident to any machinery under his care, and in the thousands of miles he drove locomotives, never had a mishap until the giving way of the trestle which resulted in his sudden death. He was noted as one of the most trustworthy of drivers, and as being punctuality itself. Just beyond where the locomotive plunged into the gulch, carrying Smith with it, was the whistling post few rods further on. Smith's train was due at the station at 10:13 P. M. His battered watch, taken from his body, showed it stopped at 10 o'clock 12 minutes plus. By the death of deceased, the railroad company has lost a faithful, intelligent and careful mechanic; his acquaintances lose a true and valued friend, and his relatives a beloved brother.
The Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California
Saturday, 16 April 1881
page 3, column 3
ANDERSON, April 10th.--The first accident that has occurred on this division befell the passenger train last night at China Gulch on its up trip. The gulch, or creek, over which a bridge about 60 feet long is constructed about five miles above here, was swollen very suddenly by a cloudburst, it is supposed, happening during the heaviest thunder and rain-storm that has been experienced in this section for years, during which the bridge was displaced, and was the cause of the accident. The locomotive, tender and express car had passed over the spot, but were drawn into the creek by the baggage car, which dropped first, followed by the entire train, with the exception of the coach, the rear part of which remained on the track. The accident occurred at 10:10 o'clock, and the engineer, George B. Smith, and the fireman, Frank Rogers, were killed. The messenger of Wells, Fargo & Co., R. J. Johnston, had his leg broken, and was otherwise injured. Ben. Kuhn, a commercial traveler, had his head badly injured. Ben. Laws and J. A. Richardson, also drummers, were slightly hurt. Conductor Welch was cut about the face. The others on the train, among the number about nine passengerd, were slightly injured. The body of Smith was recovered and sent to Sacramento this morning; also the express agent and Kuhn. Rogers has not been found. A wrecking train left Sacramento at 3 A.M. and reached the scene at 9:30. A construction train is laying over at this place to begin work in the morning, it being impossible to clear the debris to-night. The accident created much sensation all along the line.
The Daily Record-Union
Sacramento, California
Monday, 11 April 1881
page 2, column 4
THE LAST RITES.
Funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith
at Sacramento on Tuesday Last.
The funeral of George Bordman [sic] Smith, the locomotive engineer who was killed at the recent accident on the California and Oregon Railroad, took place Tuesday last from the Masonic Hall in Sacramento. It was conducted under the auspices of Union Lodge No. 58. F. and A. M., John McArthur, W. M., presiding. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the Capital city, almost the entire force of railroad workmen and mechanics in and about Sacramento being in the procession. The body lay in the larger of the Masonic halls, and that hall and the adjoining one was packed with the friends of the dead engineer, and large numbers were unable to gain admission to the building. The floral decorations were exceedingly profuse and very beautiful, and spoke of many a tender friendship, loving heart and manly sympathy. There were
IN ATTENDANCE FROM ABROAD,
As mourners, Benjamin Smith, of Alameda, Superintendent of Locomotives, C. P. R. R., brother to the deceased. He was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter; T. B. [T. R.] Smith, locomotive engineer, of this city, and brother to the deceased, who was accompanied by his wife; George Welch, also of this city, Division Master Mechanic, C. P. R. R.; C. A. Grow, San Francisco, of Auditor's Department, C. P. R. R., and David Rutherford of South Vallejo. The attendance of Freemasons was the largest seen at any funeral in Sacramento for a long time. The body was conveyed to the City Cemetery and interred in the Masonic plot with the honors of the Order. The pall-bearers were Stephen Uren, W. F. Peterson, Wm. Eddy, T. W. Clark, W. W. Fuller and C. J. Walquist.
THE DECEASED ENGINEER,
Was born in Putney, Vermont, and was forty-one years of age. At the first call for volunteers in the rebellion he enlisted in the Union army. At the end of his term he came to California and entered upon his trade, that of locomotive engineer. He ran first on the old San Jose road, next on the Napa Valley road, then on the California Pacific Railroad, He then acted for three years as Superintendent of the machine shop of the Central Pacific Railroad at Rocklin, and then took an engine on the road and held the place to the day of his death. He never had an accident to any machinery under his care, and in the thousands of miles he drove locomotives, never had a mishap until the giving way of the trestle which resulted in his sudden death. He was noted as one of the most trustworthy of drivers, and as being punctuality itself. Just beyond where the locomotive plunged into the gulch, carrying Smith with it, was the whistling post few rods further on. Smith's train was due at the station at 10:13 P. M. His battered watch, taken from his body, showed it stopped at 10 o'clock 12 minutes plus. By the death of deceased, the railroad company has lost a faithful, intelligent and careful mechanic; his acquaintances lose a true and valued friend, and his relatives a beloved brother.
The Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California
Saturday, 16 April 1881
page 3, column 3
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