The New York herald., 1865-07-02
One Passenger Killed and Several
Severely injured.
NAMES OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
THE CoR0NER's INVESTIGATION.
The Disaster the Result of
Gross Carelessness.
Collision ON the Harlem and New
Haven Railroad.
SEVERAL PERSONS SEVERELY INJURED,
&C., &C., &c.

&C., &C., &c.
We have to add another Of those fearful railroad dsas.
ers which for the have been Of such frequent
occurrence as 10 call loudly for some at the hands
OF the proper authorities The facts, nearly could
be ascertained follows A passenger train the
Hudson River Railroad left Peekskll ut three N yes
to-day and arriving at Irvington at hafpsst three
O'Clock, the engineer discovered that the switch was
turned Off so as to throw the train down the embank
ment He at once with great presence of mind, sounded
the alarm bell aud had the engine reversed and the
breaks applied with oil possible Dispatch but before the
train could be stopped the engine tender baggage car
and one car containing number of passengers, were
precipitated down the embankment into the river.
There several returned soldiers who had braved
the dangers Of four years campaign and three OF them
were wounded very severely and one of them is sup
posed TO be fatally injured One man, supposed to be
German from papers that found upon his person,
was instantly killed. and other passengers danger
ously wounded besides large number who were slightly
injured and who proceeded their journey by
steamboat As soon as the accident occurred the
passengers removed the killed and injured to the
hotel at tho depot and everything done to render
the sufferers comfortable possible. The engineer
and fireman. to whose daring bravery the safety Of the
other passengers mainly due, precptatod over
the bank under the locomotive but fortunately not
seriously injured and rescued from their perilous
position by boatman. The place where the accident
occurred about three hundred feet from the depot and
the switchman, whose duty it to be at his post
absent attending to other duties at the depot
The residents the neighborhood speak in the highest
of his fidelity and carcfuness during the past ten
years and the inference is that the real of the
calamity is the nggardly economy Of the company in
forcing to do the duty Of three. However this
10 thott
negligenc, has been committed by person who
should be made to suffer severely for such reckless
trihng with human life
Shortly after the accident coroners jury
pannecd and ON inquest was being held the body Of
the gentleman who was killed His name was Mr.. Otto
August Hoffman, German, who was employed as gar
dener by Dr. Underhl, of Croon Point, and ON his
way to New York spend the Fourth Of July.
The engineer the first witness examined He tes-
titled that the train going a the rate of about twen
y-eght miles hour when the accident occurred; that
the switchman displayed the white flag which the
usual signal given TO trains that the track was clear
that he almost Instantly by the position OF the lever
that the switch not in its proper place. he inne.
datey sounded the alarm bell put on the brakes and
shut of seam in moment afterwards he and the loco
motive were in the river.
The fireman testified TO nearly the facts the
engineer he the signal and put his hands down TO
adjust the brakes when the locomotive struck the edge
of the bank turning a complete somersault, throwing
him into the river was the regular swchmsn he had
seen for some years and he knew him TO be very n-
dustrious and careful man.
Several citizens who were present stated that the
switchman was employed at salary Of thirty five dol
lars per month, and that he wns compelled to perform
the duty Of another man. checking baggage and doing
other work about the depot, instead Of giving his und
vded attention to The important duty Of protecting the
lives OF the passengers The investigation was sn pro-
gressing last evening and will DO continued to-day The
following are the names, az far as known, OF the killed
otto Aug, st Hoffman, killed He was terribly mutt.
lated about the head and throat and one OF his legs VAS
mashed into jelly.
Mr. Murphy, residence unknown; both legs terribly
mutlatcd; not expected to recover
others more or less seriously injured besides large
number who escaped with slight bruises.
The people in the vicinity Of Irvington unanimous in
Their condemnation OF the for exacting the work
OF two more men from the switchman for the sake
Of saving the wages OF aborer to attend to the routine
duties at the depot and the jury will no doubt bring In
O verdict in accordance with the facts in the
II Ia high time that an example should bo made OF
regard Of the lives Of hoke who compelled to travel
by railroad
Collision ON the New Haven and Har-
lem Railroad-severaI Persons severc-
ly Injured.
AT nine O'Clock yesterday morning the New Haven
ira n which going North at high rate Of speed
in collision with Harlem train which left Rawlings at
six A. NJ, and several passengers niured-some
ute seriously
The accident occurred the high trese work bridge,
near Yorkville, and It s almost miraculous that
both OF the trains not precpItacd into the gulf that
yawned beneath them There two tracks AZ this part
the road and the only that be assigned for
the accident is that the immense weight OF both trains
upon point of the bridge caused the struc
SETTLE and the tracks very close together
the vibration caused by the high rate OF speed at which
both trains going brought the together with
sufficient force to shater the windows and light wood
work OF the Harlem
One gentleman, NJ DE Witt, Of this city, had his
very badly injured and several others severely cut
aud bruised with broken glass and spIinte OF wood In
fact nearly every person in the Harlem car
less injured
Why the companies allow their engineers TO run at
such high rate Of speed such dangerous structure
o. this, is q question which they should be compelled to
in heavy damages, aud should also be punished
crminaly for such rccklessncss As long as coroners
and jurcs pass culoges the officers Of railroad
panies and hold them entirely blameess for such butche
rcs these accidents will continue 10 increase until the
travelling public will be compelled 70 90 back 70 the old
stage coach of half century ago