New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-23
NenTork Daily Gibm,re
ACCIDENT ON THE HARLEM RAILROAD
THREE MEN KILLED.
TWO OTHERS DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED


Between II and IL o'clock yesterday morning an
accident occurred to gravel train, on The Harlem
Railroad near Williams Bridge, that cost three men
their lives and it is feared will ut in the death OF
two others. From special reporters, who at once
repaired TO the scene of the disaster, gather the
subjoined account Of lie cause and results.
The Harlem gravel train composed Of 10 cars, with
30 or 40 laborers upon them, having discharged is
load was backing for the gravel pit turnou st VIII
Iams ridge, at a speed OF 10 or u miles an boar,
when about one third Of mile south Of the station,
on turning shsrp cnrve the iagman, who was Oh
the last car of the train observed an leap out Of
the tbicket by the roadside, and upon the trscs,
about a rod in advance Of the train. With the ut
most promptitude the alarm was communicated to
the engineer. who as speedily reversed his tngine
but bis efforts awaited nothing the train being apon
the animal almost soon as his hand
touched the engine. Several trucks dashed
over the OK, and of the track; and after run
ming short distance over the sleepers, three OF
cars were hurled down an embankment fifteen or
twenty feet high rolling over several times in their
descent, and breaking through stone wall at the bot
tom into the open field beyond. fourth ran off the
track about one hundred yards further, and then
shared the fate Of the others Five men sat upon the
foremost truck wheni ran over the OK some of them
had their legs terribly broken and confused by the
sudden amming together of the trucks, and all Of
them were dashed down the embsnkment with the
gravel trucks. Two Of them, james Burns and
Patrick Mullin in descending, struck on their heads
against the stone fence and then fell dead upon their
backs over into the grass lot The rest OF the train
was brought TO staad still, and the Engineer, Con-
ductor and aboiers fastened back to the spot 10 ss
sist the wounded and gather up the dead They found
four manned and mutlated mes lying about the spot
suffering the most intense agony from their wounds.
An empty car was run down from williams Bridge
and the men lifted in and taken back TO the village
whence by the next train they were sent 10 NewYok
and conveyed to the City Hospital.
The names Of the killed and wounded we subjoin:
KILLED.
James Burns laborer, unmarried, 25 years Of age;
residence in this City, His Injuries were mainly about
Patrick Mulip, laborer, 30 years cd. Decreased
was resident of this City, and had been married only
Jobn Callshsn, laborer, of this City, had both Of
his legs shattered to pieces and died last night the
City Hospital.
John Dooly laborer, both egs broken, and hip die
located.
places and the other thigh fractured.
These two cases ere deemed exceedingly dangerous;
last night the consulting Surgeons OF the City Hos
pa were sent for TO decide if amputation would save
their lives.
SLIGHTLY INJURED.
Lawrence GreeLe, the hagnan, was taken TO the
Civ Hospital. On examination IT was found thai he
had suffered severe contusons on the legs. de went
home last evening II proper to state lhai Is soon
10 attend upon the injured; and another, on Lis way
TO Albany left the train to tender his services 80 un
ostetatious were their minierstOns, boseyer that no.
body could tell us their names.
coRoSER's INQUEST.
NJ, W., TT Lawrence Coroner of Westcheeter
Comfy held an inquest at Williams Bridge upon roe
bodies of Burns and Muln, when the following tesu
John Keu nedy, sworn: am alaoorer III inc employ
of the Hsrem Railroad COmpanyi vas on the last car
az the gravel train this mOrDing with several Others
onr train was backed toward the gravel switch aud
we were going at about 70 miles an hour, when a. we
turned the curve third OF mile TO the south OF tns
yillsge / saw OK run from the bushes aud Set on
+he track in front Of the train shout rod aheal
the alarm was given, but before the tram could De
stopped il ran over the OK, and the trucks were
thrown down the bank; Burns and Mullin were Killed
and several men injured those WHO were Injured aUou'
the LEGS were sitting between ihe cars When lhe conls-
ION took place.
William Maher sworn--l'am conductor OF the gravel
train we were coming around the curve when saw
the men on the forward car give motion WIN theif
bands, making elgudls OF noe VH ~" 'e"NNi
of the engine and haooed to the engineer 10 reverse
The engine supposiug that something was wrong; be
reversed and stopped the engine within two rods az
the same NONE ut ! saw the end car raising on tne
track and the men on the train running to and fro IN
grest alarm; | Jumped off and found that three cars
lad been thrown down the bank, and one across the
track on the grass in the lot at the bottom OF the EN-
bankmept found the bodies of james Barns aud
Patrick Mullin: they were y ing their backs away
from the cars and appeared TO have been thrown
40 sinst the stone fence; none of their bones were
broken though they much cut about their heads
the train was running at speed OF ten or Twelve
miles an hour in its regular time two doctors came
and attended to the wounded men, who were su0se-
quently sent down to the City, had nsgman on
behind the train 10 give signal TO me IN case OF any
thing being on the track; every precaunon was taken
10 avoid accident, but this was unavoidable The oank
was about fifteen feet high.
John Shuts, the Engineer, testified mat he maize
every endeavor to stop the ain but could not do 20
soon enough TO prevent the accident.
The VERDICT.
The jury returned as their verdict that the deceased
Burns and Mullin, came TO their deaths by being
thrown from the gravel-train down the embenkment,
which cccicent was the result Of an OK running upon
the treek IN front of the train. They further tnd tha,
no blame is be attached the Engineer Conductor
or any Of the oficers of the Company.
After TIE inquest the bodies of the dead were sent
down 10 New York by the next train.
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