The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-03

NEAR PRINCETON, NJ.
Two Persons Killed and Twenty
or Thirty Wounded.
NC. Nc. &c.

At about quarter past eight o'clock, yesterday
morning, as the early tram from Philadelphia 10
this city had reached GAINESVILLE, about two mile,
the other side of Princeton, a terrible accident &C.
Cured, which has, ere this, carried mourning int
many families. The facts, as near as our reporter
could learn them, on the spot, were these =
At the place where the accident occurred. there
is turnout, leading to the bank of the Delaware
| and Rantan Canal For the purpose of making
this turnout available there is of course, a SWITCH
which, when turned in the proper direction, will
not interfere with the direct progress of the ears,
but which, when occasion requires, will lead thu
car cars off from the direct track and conduct
them, of necessity, to the brink of the canal To
guard this switch and to prevent accidents, the
company employ man, who, with his family, live
near the spot and whose sole business i, to see
that the switch is kept in proper direction. Az
the cars were passing this spot, yesterday morning,
the engineer perceived, when too late to avoid
the accident, that the switch was turned the wrong
way, and that the cars were fast making their
way tor the canal. The engine was Immediately
Reversed but the impetus great-ths speed be-
ing some thirty miles per hourto prevent disaster
shocking to relate, the engine plunged headong int
the canal dragging after 1t the platform ear which
was the freight and baggage crates. A tremen dous
conclusion of course, ensued and the first second
passenger cars came in violent contact To the
preston Of witness to the tsrridc scene they were
dovetailed together.
The scene horror that ensued may be but
cannot be definitely described. Both were filed
with passengers and the bodies those passengers OF
course interposed between the cracking and breaking
parts Of the cars The engineer leaped from his peri
lous position and escaped unhurt the forward brake
man remained At his post until the very last moment
when seeing that he could nothing to avert the ca
tastrephe, he also lesYed OF, and injured but
slightly.
When the oonsusson had taken place. and abe mas
sepgers had time to recover their breath their ears
afaed by the most pitsous cries distress and
mplored aid. The conductors Of the train and the
passengers Immediately set about the work Of release
and rtEcue when shocking picture presented itself to
Their view. Here mangled corpse there q wound
ed and wrihing man, and again q helpless woman,
shrielipg with agony and covered with blood met
their view The work Of destruction having had It's
sway, the work Of mercy commenced and in a sompa-
raivsy short time, all the surviving victims to this
fortunate accident released from their position
the ears and removed to places where their wants
might be attended to- and their wounds properly dress
sed. On casting about, 1t found that Mir. william
Conovr Of Trenton, of repairs on the
canal, WAS killed, also unknown man, appa-
rsnty an lrishman, who had taken passage In the I'd
class cars These tho only two persons who were
sssertsined to have been killed outright There
rumor Of infant having been crushed but cur re-
him fact.
We give, also, the names Of the wounded
Jas. Hongsworth, Of Philadelphia, not greatly in
jur.d
jured and her life Is considered in great jeopardy
fact viii not probably recover Their infant child
saved almokt upburt.
Matthew North, OF fAilsdslphia.
W.
jursd, but l. doing we'll
Thomas Gisssop Of Frankfort, Pa, vas thoesht W
be seriously injured but he recovered in the afternoon
and was doing well when the afternoon train Of
came through
joseph GiAssop, son Of the above, was considerably
injured about the head; he brought 10 jersey city
Barbara House, Of Philadelphia.
Mary Ann 0astsn, OF Philadelphia, solorsd
Mrs. Eliza Hand offhilAdelphia, ana her mother.
" n. Wst.rs Of fo.t,vlll. Pa, {. compound f,....,s
Simon Gri.Sold, Of New York
Charles Mousley, Of Philadelphia.
Martin Merritt, Of Philadelphia.
Vim. hnkmap, Of Philadslphia.
Patrick hsekpers, Of Williamsburg.
These are all the persons whose wounds Of such
character as to make IL necessary TO mention them
mere There were quite nunesr OF persons Who we're
Bartine, Dunn and schenck, In attendance,
and rendered ell possible aid TO the suisrsrs And
the passengers Who bad escaped unhurt, also s
sient in ofses Of kndnsss.
1t is believed BY many tina. tn. switch was turned
VIII. II the man whose office X is 70 sttsnd to Il states
po,itivcly that she the switch s o'clock In the
morninS ana thst ~ That time ~ was turned In The
right direction. But the matter will no doubt be
fully and fairly Investigated, We win nothing about
he iumors eevssl rumors In the form OF Letters ana
cards nave reached us but rs the fects which We give
are from the personal OF our reporter and
tm the Information given TO him BY eye witnesses on
the krouna AT the time No shall not give them. An
incident occurred ut the time OF the accident,
when ~ nov told 20 every one who listens w the
story OF the lamehtabe affair at Prinoeton, Vas -
Follows -As the ears approached the canal and when
the catastrophe Wa beyond all doubt unavoidable, o.
mother VINO had been seen fondlfng beautiful infant,
aarted from her seat and In instant had tossed the