The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-16
INCIDENTS OF the CATASTROPHE.

snat marks the history OF the Erie Railroad Is made
again 10 bear another burden OF human slaughter,
in the record of Of the most unmiiigatec rail-
road murders the public has heard Of for some time
Al midnight OF Wednesday over dozen human
beings were rushed headlorg into eter-
nifty through the awful living portals
oil IRE, at a place called Mast Hope,
twenty eight miles west Of Port JeTvs, on the Erie
Railroad by the downright carelessness OF the en-
qneer charge of freight train, against which the
mali express from New York at half past six p. NJ.
came in collision. The facts IN few sentences are
1hese:-The freight train backed a switch al Mast
hope depot to get out OF the way OF the passenger
raiD, bnt failed 10 get out fast enough or
far enough to avoid being struck by
The passenger train, for which the track
should have been always kept clear. The engineer
Of the freight train was OF course responsible. IL is
generally stated he was asleep at the time. ter
Tihc collision occurred, three or four cars were
burned and in the aconlc despatch OF the Associated
Press furnished by the railroad authorities, "some
emigranis in the smoking ear, some five or six IN
number, burned,n Such is the skeleton Of this
fearful tale. making even in its fantest recital the
blood of cold who know how
10 realize ever so vaguely the implanted horrors
OF railroad butchery. The battle field is mercy
Itself to such scene. The soldier sinks on the sod
with little TO indicate the agony OF death, hut the
poor victim OF a collision receives quarter, even
after tne soul has left the body. With his limbs
toID asunGer, and perhaps some little spark OF tor
Inred vitality stll remaining, the iatal stove
pours out its contribution TO the work OF
death and destruction and leaves no vestige
OF humanity behind save charred and blackened
bones. As usual, there little thought OF danger
or Of what lay in store for them some one hundred
InDes ahead, on the Erie track among the large and
lively load OF passengers that left the long dock, at
Jersey City, at quarter TO seven O'Clock Wednesday
evening. The tram was full one, consisting, with
locomotive and tender, OF mail and baggage car,
smoking car, TWO day anti four sleeping coaches
nine cars in all, carrying nearly 400 passengers.
Perhaps not one in all that large number OF
eo.d9eUrs required at the moment OF starting 10
CARTS Rock, Midtown, the gorge at Elnira or any Of
inis modern Gogotha Npt one to all appearances,
md least or all The amiable, learned and ever ge-
Mai gentleman, Rev. b. b. HallocS, OF 329 East Four
feeBth street. who in a few short hours thereafter
war transformed from flesh and consc business into
black and burnt mass OF lifeless bones In the for
ward part OF the smoking car over score OF emf
grants seated themselves In the later part OF the
evening, after most OF those gentlemen who bad
sleeping berths retired for the night and threw their
cigar stumps away. Several Of the emgrants in
Sulged themselves in short clay pipes while Others
threw themselves into an attitude OF sleep and
Others kept telling stories TO pass portion OF the
night away. The stay al Turner's station for supper
was no longer than usual. the swifch between TIE
IL.
passed by in safety, The conductor went up and
down few times, TO see that all was gIgnt, lg2W
The smoking car 10 tue rear end sleeping coach.
yle train was speeding on its course at the rate OF
from twenty to twenty-five miles an hour. With a
double track, wide, strong cars, new couplings a
powerful locomotive running at a steady, splendid
pace the passengers felt that there was nothing &c
apprehend but broken rail. Little reelection, how.
ever, was given TO that matter The sleepers in the
rear coaches turned around for a moment and fell
away to slumber again. Every berth was occupied.
Governor Walker, OF Virginia, and his wife had a
siateroOm, both bound for Binghamton. While all
wrapped in sleep, or IN light, uneasy slumber,
en- board the tram, the emlgrants In the smoking
car even ceasing TO talk, and the doors
duct0r or some restless member OF the baggage
corps to pass through, and While the Train was dash
ing along Win that speed OF motion which leaves
the sensation on the ear OF the Passenger that the
wheels dance with derious revolution on tne rail,
The nicSerng light at the depot OF Masthope hove In
sight around a long and'easy curve ana on a heavy
grade. The engineer had ms pfactised eye Oh the
alert at this particular point OF the road. not
that 10 is IN anywise as dangerous as
0tuer portions, but with an instructive dread
OF that horrible apparitIon-a freight traln-he felt
more apprehension ON the curve than Is lie had 81
cross a shaky trestle bridge a 100 feet high. The
second look he cast through the bulls window,
instant or two after he entered on the curve,
revealed the terrible fact to him that something
huge, black and ungainly was almostjin MS imme
date 'front.', and that his tram was running
with lightning pace upon II. Another moment and
the headlight OF his locomotive illuminated
The of the train ahead. while his ear caught the
sound OF The rattle ana Jolt OF long. loose freight
tram. Cody he whlstled down the brakes, wnllt
AT the same instant piercing scream went up frou
hose who knew TOO well what that appalling token
meant. The precautlon was In vain. The Great
heavy painting locomotive Of the passenger train,
tearing forward in its course at The speed OF over
i"e yreirm train as it sSSnled ia MIH' on %
oUlique switch towards the depot and, literally
yearDg up IN nif like a mighty hon in his rage
sTasged tnFodah the loreWos! iron wall Of opposition
ana ihen careened over on The track as though be
'f6ft 81 further strength. The tender Jumped upon
s s n0Sah s e9 %ess of 5 sfR s oasgass
against the express the smoking vi
ia" gse atss G y fearful ,Ss anIn m a9q " les
blaze Of Gre The shock was terrific. II reached C
The uttefmost end OF the train IN all Its intensity
siontest hearted men that heard IT, No Spe At n
awful moment Tor the poor people In the smokint
car Trucks We're Knocked from under bag
gage and express cars and stood locke,
In combat. as II were, upon the track
Tue body OF the baggage car lay at one side, th
express AZ the other, a passenger coach on top
while thrown IN commission between them all, tossed
torn and blazing irom'oor. TO roof was the baggage
car, with It's living lrelghtfaught IN the stern ant
heiy Jaws Of death. Jets oi fearful nalne sprap,
upwards from the wreck, or rushed hissini
like steam nom an escape pipe alon.
Inc tracE and through the passenger coaches /
was beartrending and awlully impressive specta
cie 10 see the big column OF red and roaring gam'
tearing through the woodwork and melting away
dozen human forms without a soul under HEAVIER
beng capable OF stretching 'orth an arm
10 the rescue. Death, however, did NJ
chef share Of havoc before applying IN
torch TO finish Ms ghasty work but horrO
al hOrrOrs What a late was lllat reserved Tor poo
DIR. Hallock. Not a scratch married him when tn
collision occurred. He was in the foremost seepnJ
coach, and was violently pitched forward into IN
tangled mass OF broken woodwork, but received M
injury. Worse than injury, however, he found MIN
seii, IN all his strength and sensiDy, locked up u
The heavy beams that made the noor frames OF tn
,IsmaDued cars. The dreadful IRE from beneat
Jared up suddenly around him. Mel
with blanched and beWldered faces stood upon tn
track rushed franpGaiIy TO and fro, crying, 81
there no help for Or. HsloCk ~ The fire shot on
WIN me intensity OF furnace and triumphant
debed any man 10 approach ana rescue the victim
within ITS grasp. Above The cracking roar the 1rr
and intrepid voice Of the doctor In the midst OF hi
remarkable agony, was heard 10 exclaIm to tn
men around The scene, 81 am not injured; but
cannot escape.r
who focked TO the depot TO give assistance failed
the Inflated DOCTOR but II is at least consoin
TO know he went down TO his appalling doom wit
ALI the lofty fortltude and resignation Of Christian
Bnt the doctor was not alone IN this calamity.