The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-10-17
The Accident on the Harlem Railroad.
BROOKLYN, Oct 10, 1864.

JAMES 0ORDoS BEcNnT, ESQ:
shall feel extremely obliged you will insert In your
valuable journal fuller statement OF this accident than
that which able to give you this rnipg in the
hurry ~ the moment. and 10 lay the blame where
Justly due.
Tho hafpast four O'Clock train for New York and Bos
ton KIN Albany n I'VE O'Clock and afler separating u
Chatham Four Corners the New York train, consisting
Of engine baggage wagon and three passenger carr with
from leo 70 $50 persons board proceeded PLEASANTLY
III way. Al one Of the way stations empty passen
ger hitched on to train everything went
wei until passing through the Pleasantvllle station,
there jerk smash and from the ladies,
and We were or the track; our car tipped over to an
anglo Of 4b degrees and rested against embankment
On aghtDe the cars we perceived the fortunate
and almost miraculous escape which had had from
track smhS Ss and
among the ruins badly cut but not seriously injured AMI
the balance Of the train partly turned over. but saved
from destruction BY steep embankment against which
Now, SIR to the which led TO this accident
believe Is his name-let the station the last train
nom New York, and had gone TO Whiilockvlle, 70 Al
youth Of about Seventeen years q age in charge Of tse
signal lamp and telling some person ON board freight
TAIN, which was standing on siding, waiting for the
New ork train to pass to be sure and shut the switch
after him. But the switch WAS not shut, aud the boy,
knowing Of the safety of the line than the man
In the moon, out HOSTS his sign lamp that all
right and train, coming the rate Of twenty Ave
miles an hour adyan through the station, and OF
course turned on By the open s~itch and smasn up
is the coDss queDce
Now, sir Is II to be tolerated. that a station m,ser
shall quit bis posi- and leave hts dats to be per.
formed by IN ignorrns boyf And !, IL - be submit
ted 10, that signal lamp OF safety shall be hoist
ed, inviting the advance Of an express train, when
trap 10 IN us path which may deal death and destruc-
lion around No haDks are due, STR TO the conf
their agents that wh0esale sacrce Of human ic dill
not occur Had been but fifty yards fAther-hsd the
last but been whore the engine wss-you would
undoubtedly had to record q terrible catastrophe.
On questioning the boy Who held up the lump, he said
he had nothing 70 do with the switchcs; he had only
hoist tho lamp, And questioning the swttchmau be
said that when be ehut the switch his duty. and
wht he did not shut 1t it not his duty
aDothtr person who also had 10 shut IL.
have no further comments TO make, but leave the
subject before % enlghtened community. who win
IA TO plsoe the blame here II properly bel pgs.
cannot c'cse his letter without bearing testimony
(which with be endorsed by oil the passengers boArd)
to the noble herosm OF the engineer and fireman. VIII
stood anuiy 70 their duty slipping the engine and
the other giving the signal to break up, and holding
70 their posts till they buried Of their
engine. Nor can iorbear TO mention the courage ani
oTttude OF the ladies' board, who during the
OF Danger and through cold and cherries night
for instant showed the least fear made the least
complaint OF The dlscomorts they had TO ure.