The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-17

rear cars: while above all the circumstances OF the
wreck so far as can be ascertained tend to confirm
this popular theory 1t L. obvious that the rear car
was first whisked while the train was rounding the
curve, and testimony ia to the effect that It was
dragged at least hundred yards before the CLIMAX
OF the catastrophe supervened The joIting
was first felt in this rear sleeping car. and most Of
the passengers were awake and wondering what
was the matter before the tumble began. TINS car,
moreover, seems TO have been the first 70 topple
over the Cliff, carrying with 1t the three directly
ahead and taking the In the terrific descent. and
from the line OF the track is obvious from the
position OF the wreck which little diagonal
induce the conclusion that the accident was caused
by criminal rate OF speed in rounding the curve,
which speed was sufficient from mere centrifugal
force to whsk of the rear car, the three others fol-
lowing IN ne course OF from SIX to ten seconds Tho
l. The dispositions statements of the passengers
that the tram was running at rapid rate to make
up time cononed TO the further fact that 1t proved
g. The fact that the rear car was first Off az IA
proved by the statements.
g. The fact that line OF the debris is at an acute
angle with the line OF the track, the car lying
furthest OF.
nothing and has been, in fact urged by the rail-
rOaA officials; but, though this is true OF the single
circumstance taken alone, when taken In connection
value OF the evidence and this Is the theory most
likely to be fxed upon by the Coroner unless rebuff
ting OF ess bars and ess saG 10 @
theory Of this second Angola disaster with some few
additional horrors added.
1t is but just In this connection however: to print
the informal statement OF tho engineer, though II
throws additional light upon the cause OF the acci
dent. The following Ii the account OF engineer
Green:-
The accident occurred on the Delaware division OF
the Erie Railroad fourteen miles west OF Port Jer-
Wis to the train due at this place at 3:17 a. M The
scene of the accident IL named Carr's Point ana Is
rugged blum, along the side OF which. one hundred
and fifty feet above the Delaware, the track was ex
cavated. The theory is that rail broke about four
hundred feet west OF CARTS Point. The engine and
he ar ea sa so orr e
coupling parting. This car followed by the
remaining three. went on a distance OF
with some obstacle 1t was thrown down the
precipce, dragging the Others with 1t to the rivers
edge. The train at the time was going at the rate Of
from twenty to twenty-five miles per hour The
which escaped were three passenger cars, one postal
car and one freight car. Those thrown over the
clid were all passenger cars three OF them sleeping
cars IL intensely dark at the time. On reach
ing the foot of the bluff two cars were found TO be
in the river, and one. the last car, on fire. Several
persons were eXtricated from the burning car but
1t is believed that al least six or seven pcrishe and,
as there were over two hundred persons In tho
seven cars this Is a low estimate it Is feared The
passengers saved did all they could to rescue the
wounded
This account Is too vague to prove anything,
though the engineer may be accounted the most
competent uf not The most disnerestedl Judge OF
the speed at which the train was running at the
time The number OF the dead fOOts up trihe be-
yond the estimate of yesterday, which was twenty.
Six burned bOdies-Durned beyond possible identi
fcation-have been added to the list since last
! night making an aggregate OF twenty-one, which
is probably all. or the fifteen at the depot last night
fourteen have been identified, and one, handsome
youth OF fifteen years old or Whereabouts Judging
from appearances) has not as yet been claimed The
unidentified was, 1t seems, the only one VINO mes
death by being drowned In the river The body IL
but little mutilated bruised. AS the matter stands
now il appears that several were bruised to death,
some thirteen sufficiently burned to cause I'm
mediate death and one only was drowned by the de-
scent of one Of the cars into the river.
II seems now that the defective rail theory has
been abandoned, Notwithstanding the late warning
of the superintendent of the Erie Railroad TO the effect
that the track been for long time in an exceed
ingly bad condition The following paragraph rom
that genemans report Is offered in sort or evidence
in mitigation Of the accident and by way OF impugn-
ing the theory OF a too high rate OF speed
We passed through months of unusually
weather and moved than average winter tom
oasd IN snow and ice SO that has been impossible
much in the way OF repairs The IRON rails have broken
rails between Jersey CITY an% 81 Ss
train speed and portions Of the road rso can
BE s. an iss sy o % the and
rotten OF the rails Broken wheels aIes engines
last months caused mostly by defective
rails Fully Loo hrosn I Ess snoy s
count of Elimination, crushing or wearing out was much
February will show still than January The
condition the present such give
cannot and do not attempt make with
trains nearly all lose from two to ave hours IN passing over
caution we have been able thus far to escape serious acc
| dent
The inquest of tomorrow will be likely to deter
mine these points; and, meantime the public must
wait patiently for solution OF the mystery, which
will be solved unless the evidence shall be all fum
gated away. Quite as important Investigations have
been put out In their own smoke; though the public
mind Is aroused and II Ia to be hoped that this
one will not end In the same manner. Tomorrow
will tell.