Show CORONERS INQUEST Evidence That Point of the Switch h hRail Rail Was Broken Off Santa Barbara Cal May 12 Coroner Ruiz began the Inquest this afternoon on the tho bodies of the victims of yesterdays wreck Joel H Prescott of or Buffalo was the first witness Ho Ito testified that the train was running at a high rate of speed at the time of f the tho accident In answer to questions of or the district attorney Pros Pres Prescott cott said that the relief train from Santa Barbara Barbar reached the wreck shortly after afler 5 The accident occurred at The TIle relief train started back at clocy and did not reach Santa Barbara Until 1311 a m in or six siz and a half hours after leaving lea ing the wreck taking that long to cover a n distance of or miles The relief train was held on a siding about fourteen miles north of ot Santa Barbara for about two hours with Its freight of ot dead Prescott said he examined the he ground in the Vicinity of the switch and discovered that the point of a switch rail was broken off evidently by the train The piece of broken rail was wasP produced This Tiis T ls caused the tho tr lh to leave leac the track and cars were thrown in every direction An examination of oC the switch showed that It was not closed The Inquest will be continued at 5 2 tomorrow after afternoon aft afternoon r noon Water Close at Hand HandAn An eye s states that the loss of life Ufe would have been much greater but for the fact that a L carload of water stood upon a sidetrack within a few feet of oC the wreck The overturned cars Immediately took fire and amI but for the presence of this water ater would have hae burned from end to end Loud praise is bestowed upon a flag mans wife whose house hou e stood near nEmr the scene scent of the disaster for tor the noble nobl work she did ire Irr preparing and serving se coffee to the wounded She made trips with cans of coffee and other food William H IL Doherty a member of the board of ot police pollee commissioners of 0 Buffalo and a prominent Ih r of tem tern temple temple pie gave gaTe a won word picture of ot his experiences and the hardships har that followed the thc smashup Victims Vi tims All Au in Two Cars CarsI I was in one of the rear coaches of the train when the engine jumped the truck track ck be said and Id to this fact tact I undoubtedly owe my m life Ufe for everyone killed was eith either either er In the diner or the next coach We 0 were traveling along at a good rate of ot speed but not an nn excessive one when the tho crash came and before anyone realized r what had happened the cars were piled up and all alt were thrown violently from their tbell seats Those These of us who could got Jot clear of the wreckage of seats and win windows windows windows dows and rushed outside to help the un unfortunates unfortunates Unfortunates who were under the forward cars Fortunately for the injured there were five doctors doctora among the surviving on the th train and by the time the Santa Barbara relief train had reached reach d the scene the more seriously wounded had re received received surgical attention and had been sent on to San Luis Obispo |