The New York herald., 1869-03-04
TIE HUDSON RIVER RAILROAD SMASH UP.

Full Particulars Of the Disastcr--How the
Collision Occurred-The Damage Done
Only One Person Injured-Who was to
Blame.
TrvOLI, N. r., March 9, 1882
The age OF miracles over but the age Of wonders
has not yet passed away. The list OF well nigh
miraculous escapes from death by accident is long
and the narration OF the story OF hair breadth
escapes by and land is frequently proof positive
Of the OFT used proverb, ssTruth is stranger than
nction.n The accident which occurred on Tuesday
morning on the Hudson River Railroad affords an
other illustration OF this fact and by no means .
poor one The fact that . collision between
two trains could occur at all without fatal
results Is In itself extraordinary, but when II is
membered that a passenger car containing ninety
persons was smashed up, 1t Is . little short OF
miraculous that no human life was sacrificed. The
facis connected with the disaster a. collected upon
the spot full OF interest and worth detailing
On the morning in question the through freight
and emigrant train which left New York at 7:45 p
NJ, on Monday. had proceeded on its way a. far as
Barytown and having passed that station about
hafpast nve O'Clock on Tuesday morning, the
engine was discovered to have run short OF water.
The engineer endeavored to run his train on to
Tiv0li when he would be able to water up,
but having arrived at what Is known as the
Fly Bridge, about two miles from Tivol
Dust south OF Crooker's Island and north
OF the drawbridge he found that he could not draw
the cars to that depot, uncoupled his engine and
ran on leaving the train standing on the bridge.
some few minutes after the engine had left special
freight train, which was only ten minutes behind the
emigrant ut RhInebeck, was seen by the conductor
sent man TO meet the coming train provlved with
the red signal OF danger, but owing to the exceed
ngly slippery nature OF the rails he was unable
get near enough 70 cause the approaching
nearing the stationary cars the ' Conductor Of
the freight train endeavored to stop, but
owing TO the spperyaess S6 the rails u the brakes
like quick time. This Is not to be wondered at II
the statement s true that there was but one mile
and half between the two trains when the man
with the danger signal was sent hack to stop the
freight train.
THE COLLISION.
The consequence was OF course. that collision
took place. The engine struck the caboose OF the
stationary tram and smashed It up completely,
driving it into the rear passenger car and COM
plete.y stripping 1t also. SO great was the force
Of the collision that the engine and tender
| the tender being precpit ated down the embank-
| ment on the ice below. The forward car Also was
aidirectIons the track being sirewn with mlscei-
laneous collection OF merchandise. In the emgrant
car there were nine,ySne passenger and The wild
scarcely be imagined. The shock was great that
the unfortunate people were thrown from their seats
forward part Of the car many were Knocked down
| and trampled upon. At this time the car be-
s bers. shr,eSinr Women. breasins glass,
shouting officials snortng steam valves, crying chill
dren grating wheels all Joined ~ one terrible chorus
such win never be forgotten by those who heard
its fearful notes. Mothers expected that their little
ones were being trampled to death, strong men be-
gan TO think that their end was at hand womn bade
farewell 10 their husbands and sons and all expected
| the next moment TO be their last. But almost In
discovered that no one had been killed aud but lew
bruised to any very painful extent The only person
who was seriously injured was German Rabbi named
\ Tins man, who N connected with the Catharinc
street synagogue, was sitting near the rear OF the
/ on the head, innlcting slight cuts. His hat which
no doubt saved his head IL completely cut up In the
/ crown. Mr.. shinemsn was removed to the Dutchess
Hotel near the depot, where he was well taken care
OF, and Is now very much improved and rapidly re-
covering coansd GeImsn cons wos mno wss @ so,aswha,
4 so much hurt but that she could proceed ON her
journey without any medical assistance The
escaped injury BY jumping or their engine
| when they saw collision was inevitable.
ten minutes 70 seven A. M. on It's arrival al the
scene OF the disaster, took the passengers or the
smgrant tram and carried them on nsr westward
and lett Tivon at SIX minutes 70 three r. N.
The track at the scene OF the disaster presented on
4 OF the broken cars was scattered about on all
s.s about IL inc greatest Confusion ano efns Iss
| engine was completely stripped the smoke
| stack carried away, 'he front stove In, and
the rear also completely demolished by the freight
switch At the Tvoi depot IL presents an sntirelS ire
VIII 20 be expended upon it II can be used
again. The caboose n total wreck; the sides are
| smashed mp entirely, the axletree1of the front
wheels broken and the front platform carried away,
fhe only part which has anything OF the appearance
| Of car being the rear which, mysteri0usly was not
| much damaged. The passenger car is also
| total wreck; the brakes have been broken
| like glass, the rear platform completely carried
away, and all the seats, with the exception Of one
or two I'm the front, completely smashed up. Not q
pane Of glass 10 the windows remains whole and the
Interior IL llcd up with the broken sides and seats
Tho tender, ~ an early hour yesterday morning, re-
maned In the place 10 which A. was thrown, resting
| upon the Ice, and H. too, is very mucn broken up
| A large number OF workmen were scDt down on