Train wreck of 1883

Provided.

Maria De Jesus Jacinta Guirado.

Many stories have been shared about the great train wreck of Jan. 19 or 20, depending on whose research you want to believe in 1883. The tragedy of that night has played out many times and the stories and different accounts that are told will never truly be answered as the records of that event leave a lot open to speculation for the remoteness of Tehachapi in the 1880s, and the lack of eyewitnesses, not to mention the passage of time makes it very hard to find credible stories of that event.

The story of the event leading up to the runaway and the derailment I will leave up to others to speculate on how that occurred and played out but I was drawn to sharing a different aspect that has had me on a quest for many years and that is the sad story of Maria De Jesus Jacinta Guirado, or better known for this story as the first lady and wife of California Governor John Gately Downey.

One day many years ago, I was in the presence of the gown in the Tehachapi Museum of Mrs. Downey. As I stood there it kind of spoke to me about this lady and the story that surrounded her last days, and the aftermath of the tragedy. Wanting to know more over time I researched her history and ended up going down many rabbit holes trying to find out more about this beloved woman.

Several years later, while looking at old documents that I had uncovered, a new passion was lit and I reached out to my friend Dayle Debry, a local historian and manager at Lancaster cemetery, to see if we could find out more about Maria and the mysteries surrounding her death and final resting place.

Dayle, an expert at tracking down obscure newspaper articles, ended up with so many from all over the state of California and the country. A real story could be formed from just the newspaper writings of the day.

The story goes that after the accident, the bodies of those killed and left in the wreckage numbered from 15 to 21 souls. The burning of the sleeper car was so severe that identifying the bodies was a real challenge and rescue crews were tasked with trying to match remains to their designated assigned location in the sleeper compartments. One newspaper clipping from the Middle Town Transcript in Middleton, Delaware on Jan. 26 gave this account of the recovery effort, "A search for the dead soon showed that 21 persons had perished. Eleven were burned beyond recognition and only headless bodies and charred limbs were found. One of the killed was Mrs. Downey, wife of ex-governor Downey. Mr. Downey was badly hurt but will recover. Of the body of Mrs. Downey only the head and bust remained which were recognized by her jewelry. All the bodies were placed in coffins. The wounded were removed to the baggage car and on arrival of the relief train were taken to Los Angeles."

As grisly as the scene must have been, other aspects of the recover pointed to just how daunting a task they had with little knowledge and tools of the day to identify the victims. Titled, "Thrilling Discovery" this Los Angeles Herald article from Jan. 23 shed some more light on why I believe the death toll went from 21 to 15.

"Of the seven coffins in which were placed what was supposed to been human remains contained animal charred and cooked flesh either of beef or mutton, after close inspection he concluded that six of the boxes positively contained non-human remains and even later stated that all seven boxes did not contain the remains of men or women."

At this point, part of this article goes on to make more statements about the recovery.

"A duplicate chart of the passengers in the sleeper cars shows that everyone was accounted for. The bodies of Mr. Chas R.Person Wright the porter and the other men killed Fredianado Brumford, and Thomas Keegan ex-soldiers were killed without any disfiguring mutilation and hence easily identified. The remains of Col. C.H. Larrbo have also been positively Identified."

It was also stated that the women killed had also been identified, including Mrs. Downey.

After the remains had been shipped to the different locations things started to unravel . "A Heart Bending Doubt," a follow up article in that same Los Angeles Herald, shared the news of a difficult outcome.

"As to the identity of the remains that were brought to the city, as those of Mrs. Downey arose at an early hour Sunday morning. The doubt was created when the appearance of the teeth of the corpse. The dentist of one Mrs. Cassell in San Francisco was once telegraphed and a detailed description of her teeth was received yesterday morning which when compared with the women in their care matched. This established beyond a shadow of a doubt the mistake that had been made. The remains of Mrs. Cassell were sent north last evening. Those of poor Mrs. Downey were sent south to LA."

Or were they?

I must leave you hanging for the next part of this story, as part two cannot be told in a Readers Digest manner. I want to make sure I give the life of Maria Downey the respect it deserves as we continue to follow her troubled path after her demise.

See you next time as the follow up to this tragic story is revealed in a future issue of The Loop newspaper.

Peace my friends. Bob Alvis.