Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1888 — Out to Sea in a Caboose. [ARTICLE]

Out to Sea in a Caboose.

San Diego Bee. ’ At 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon a startling and thrilling accident occurred on the California Bouthem road about ten miles beyond Oceanside, in a place where the track runs alongside the sea. Engine 16, with five freight cars and a caboose attached, was making good time towards Oceanside, when, without warning, the whole train, with the exception of the engine, jumped the track and went wheeling and rolling down the embankment into six feet of water. The accident was caused by the spreading of the rails. Its suddeness gave none of the train hands time to escape, and they all, along with the cars, plunged headlong into the water. Conductor J. Dunn and a brakeman were at the time in the caboose, and as it struck the water the trucks left it and it floated seaward. As soon as they collected their scattered senses sufficiently to realize what had occurred they concluded to continue their voyage to sea in the caboose and await developments. Their condition did not improve, however, as the wind and tide rapidly carried them away from land. Immediately after the wreck occurred the engineer, seeing how matters stood, continued on his way tt( Ocean Beach for assistance and for the wrecking train Both w&re soon secured, and the rescue party started. When they arrived at the scene of the disaster the caboose was seen in the dim distance, and the figures of two men standing in the doorway were clearly defined in the gathering gloom. A boat was immediately put off, and soon reached and rescued the bringing them safety to land. The caboose is still at sea, and when last seen was headed towards the Sandwich Islands.