The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-16
ANOTHER RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
Frightful Accident on the
Erie Railroad.
A Portion of a Train Thrown Down an
Embankment Fifty Feet.
-FOUR SLEEPING COACHES DEMOLISHED.
~->-.>~~~>-~~~~~~>~>-~~~~~
Fifteen Killed and Fifty
four Wounded.
~~~-~~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEVEN PASSENGERS BURNED TO DEATH
NAMES OF THE DEAD AND DYING.
-FOUR SLEEPING COACHES DEMOLISHED.
Fifteen Killed and Fifty.
four Wounded.
SEVEN PASSENGERS BURNED TO DEATH.
NAMES OF THE DEAD AND DYING.
STATEMENTS OF PASSENGERS.

STATEMENTS OF PASSENGERS.
The Erie Railroad disaster portion of the details
Of which were whipped over the telegraph wires in
few laconic syables neutrality-suspicious. about as
many as there were of dead and wounded-proves
to have been one Of the most fearful railroad saugh
tiers on record. foggy night punctuated at inter-
walls with the lonesome driZZe Of rain; human
holocaust Of three score and ten, all asleep; Jolt
and then roll Of one hundred feet or thereabouts
down a craggy and almost perpendicular embank-
ment during which two and half scores Of the
holocaust wake up and wonder what is the matter,
and perhaps, shrek little, while score or so are
shuflled into eternity 30 suddenly that 1t seems
only the shifting OF dream; heavy thud upon
tolerably level ground and cessation Of all rolling;
two and half scores waking up with bruised heads
broken arms, broken legs, broken bones generally,
or injuries which physicians term internal score
never waking up at all, but somewhat more fast
asleep than when the tumble began; bonfire Of the
de6rts Of cars and mutilated humanity all coled to-
gether in one inextricable quid; a shrieking Of
many, groaning Of many more o lmping away Of
some few, like spectres into the fog and mist Of the
night; writing of some amid flames, and lying
very still of some few more under the same circum
stances-these constitute the picture Of the
calamity which happened away amid the
crags that overhang the wooded Delaware just be-
You'd the little town Of Port Jervis, while New York
was sound asleep, having been to the theatre, as
usual discussed for the thousandth time the merits
of every actor who Is paid to her. and gotten
to bed properly muffled and nghtcapped. 1t is use
less to say write that New York was excited yes
terday upon being told what had happened the night
before though is the usual habit Of the sensation
dalies. New York was not excited not even rued Of
nerve; did not pause even to ask how the thing
happened; made no fuss about the matter; read
the account as an item of news-commented upon it
as matter Of news-went to the theatre having so
commented, as usual-sept just as soundy as though
nobody had been hurt-and that was the end of the
affair far as New York Is concerned, with the
exception that some few took to the business with
inky fingers, OF penning graphic descriptions to
amuse New York In the morning. New York Is &C
customed to sensations; wherefore, the nerves Of
New York are not easily shocked; and she will get
up this morning with the exception Of some few
who have gotten up for the last time and
attend to her business and breakfast as usual
and with as excellent o digestion having break
tasted on horrible details 80 often that they have
ceased, though most graphically cooked, to induce
the slightest symptom Of indigestion.
Last night, too train No. 12-railroad companies
crept along the cliff just 1t did the night before;
hung with another load ofsleeping passengers like
shadowy line along the face Of the grim old noun.
tain, and everything went as though nothing had
happened. True Port Jervis true Ross and Midwell,
true the foresters about Carr's Rock were q tribe
excited; but these are all provincial towns or
villages liable to be excited easily, not having been
fed on sensations until sensations have ceased to
stimulate, and having, in fact flew grains Of healthy
feeling about them.
Carr's Rock is sixteen miles from Port Jervis and
overhangs tributary Of the Delaware, the scenery
OF which in this neghborhood is almost Alps like
in abruptness Of outline The Cliff itself is from two
to three hundred feet in height beted about midway
with a narrow ledge or heightened table, upon
which the track is laid-the table being quite
too narrow for any sort Of possible safety
On case of accident. The rock Is Of the
craggy order which trap ridges usually assumes,
being, moreover exceedingly steep and PERCEPTIONS,
an diosyncracy SO peculiar TO the valley Of the Dea
in this region that 1t has developed into sort
OF proverb that one may live in the valley OF the
Delaware and only see the sun at noon. The bluff in
question overhangs the river so uttingy that only
very narrow bottom ntervenes at its base the rail-
road track winding around the mountain about one
hundred feet from its base, or possibly little less.
The train In connection with which the accident
occurred train No. 12 had left Bufao at twenty min
utes past two the afternoon Of Tuesday, and con-
sisted Of three sleeping cars two first class cars
second class car, postal Of the pattern used on
the road for the distribution Of mails baggage car
and the tender and engine in the of the order
in which they are mentioned. Conductor Judd and
Charles Douglass superintendent Of the division,
accompanied the train Mr.. Ames and Mr. Horton,
OF the Post ONCE Department in this city, being on
board the postal The train had proceeded time,
making the usual stoppages-so runs the official bull
ietin, though 1t Is alleged In some quar-
tiers that 1t was behind time. and was run.
ming at rapid rate to make up
and the passengers mad all nearly all retired for
the night 1t was now ten minutes Of three O'Clock
lin the night, and conductor Judd and the two Post
once officials were quietly conversing In the postal
car, when Of the offlcias observed the bell rope
sraighten suddenly as II with strong pull at the
further end and then fall loose again as II 1t had been
broken by the suddenness Of the jerk Conductor
Judd Immediately remarked that he had probably
lost the cars and the three to the platform
together, just in time to get sight Of the four rear
cars plunging headlong down the side OF the
bluh. tipping, topple for an infnitesi
NAL second on the edge OF the ledge, and
then, over, over, over, with overs enough for
a paragraph and made 30 rapidly that not even
could have reported them-rolled the
four together, striking the bottom land with dull,
heavy crash. out Of sight land from creatures out
OF sight up from the nky darkness came shrieks and
intermitting groans. over, over, over, and over |
for the distance OF one hundred feet, the four |
vehicles, freighted with seventy-fve human be- |
lngs, plunged and tumbled and jolted, until, |
In the interval Of about half q minute they |
landed upon the low bottom land by the river. |
The whole was work Of possibly ten seconds-not |
more-and as speedily as possible the engine was |
brought to stand and an examination Of the extent
of the accident was made. Down the bluf, having |
given the ALARM rushed conductor and assistants, |
while, In the meantime the rear car Of the four /
had taken IRE from the embers scattered from |