A TERRIBLE DEATH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3567, 14 December 1882, Page 4

A TERRIBLE DEATH.

A freight train of the South Pacific Coast Bailroad, consisting of six cars, was "ditched" recently by the sinking of the track which ran over the trestle-work between South San Leandro and • High-street Station, Alauieda. The locomotive was overturned and the cars piled on top of each other. By the first shock the engineer, named Simons, was thrown through the " cab " window and hurled to the ground, with a broken nose and some bruises. The fireman, Dan Driscoll, died a horrible death. When the locomotive capsized he was held to the ground by an iron bar across his breast, amd one foot was caiight by another. He was fully conscious at the time of his death. He was held fast and the tide 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 his position. He cried piteously that they were killing him. They tried again and again with the same result, A levee was built about his head to keep down the rising tide. Buckets were brought, and by faithful bailing it was attempted to keep the water from reaching his head. Hβ was lying under the cab, and a hole was cut through the cab, through which he could put his head. They raised his head above the wate 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 tbey could do no more. They held his head above the water, which rose slowly about his body. The men fox;nd they must make a final effort. Then bis head was lowered and they all caugbt hold and pulled desperately. It was in vain. They could not move him. They raised his head again. The water rose slowly but surely. It reached his chin. A friend held his hand over the drowning man's mouth. The water, rose to bis nostrils.. Nothing more could be done, and he was drowned. The other man killod was a brakesman named Daly. He was on the fourth car with the other brakesman and tho conductor. Daly was instantly killed. Tho force witli which he was thrown broke his neck. Tho conductor, Langden, had his legs slightly hurt. The other brakesman was not hurt. Driscoll lived in Alameda, and had been in the company's employ for four or five years. He was unmarried. Daly was recently employed, and was only slightly known by the train men. It is believed he lived in Alameda and was unmarried.