The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-26
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Railroad Runs Into "a Freight Truin-rwo
Men Killed, Several Wounded aud Heavy
Loss of Pr0pertY.

Men Killed, Several Wounded and Heavy
LOSS of Property.
tFrom the Detroit Free Press July 2l.l
About three O'Clock yesterday morning, Just after
the engineer OF the Atlantic express train the
Michigan Central Rairond had blown his whistle
for Wayne station eighteen miles west OF this city
and while his traln was moving at the rate OF thirty
miles an hour, he discovered that the switch, which
there combines to form track on each side OF the
station, was set SO that he was running MS tram
right into the rear Of freight train standing
the side tracS which was also bound east, but
express. AS soon as the startling truth was evi-
dent the engineer sounded "dOwn brakesr
and the brasemen had them on In an instant, but
they could only sacken the great speed, a The dis
lance was not 300 feet, before the engine went Into
the caboose of the freight ran tearing into splin
tiers, destroying the next two freight then
turning itself the ground, with the forward trucks
resting IN the Kitchen Of the station agent which
large as man s body which stood in the Way, Was
cut clean or part of 1t also going into the house.
The freight tram mad been waiting for some tme
The body OF one. named Joseph Robarge OF this CITY,
was lished out OF the wreck without sign OF life,
but the other, named Van Alien, who resided near
Wayne Station lived few moments after being
taken up. Both were very badly bruised, seeming
leaves wife in Detroit but The other one was SIN
gle man.
No further damage was done to the freight train
but sad wreck was made Of the caboose and two
freight cars all OF them being piled up In great
| scattered up and down the track.
1t seems that the fireman the express train
jumped from the engine as soon as 1t was that
o collision was coming and he escaped with dtslo-
Gated shoulder and few body bruises. The en-
gneer, Isaac Kimbal, of this city, attempted TO
make his leap when the trains were almost together
but struck the water tank and fell back and seems
to have been hit by some OF the Tying umbers He
Is very badly injured, ana It Is feared that he has
was lying across the track when found, and spoke
few words on being carried into tho hotel, desiring
that they should carry him down and let him sec
how bad 'rhe old gal" was smashed up. The engine
WAS a very fine one, and is badly damaged.
When the collision occurred the baggage master
seated IN about the centre Of his car, aud he
states that he performed some wonderful leaping
and jumping, altogether nyoluntarily on his part,
and when he came to get settled he found both ends
or his car completely smashed, while there were q
few feet in the centre almost untouched by the
| shock. Several trunks were ground TO pieces, and
some OF the other light freight damaged. Had the
man stood few feet either end he could not
have escaped with his life. The passengers in the
| first coach were rudely aroused by the shock going
| under and over the seats and regular stampede
| occurred as soon as the car ceased to bump. In
one OF the front seats sat man and wife, and
| they held young Child between them The cor
and bolts flying in every direction, and yet neither
OF the three was In the slightest degree In
Jured. man sitting Just behind them was
lifted over two seats and LEFT In the aisle, but IL all
occurred SO gently that 1t several minutes be-
fore he was sufficiently awake TO understand that
lsion was not much felt further down the train,
and some OF the sleeping passengers hardly woke up
over IT,
The accident, which one can only wonder at as
not resulting in fearful loss OF life, was brought
about through the alleged negligence OF the switch
After letting the freight train In he is said to
have walked of, leaving the switch wide open and
| knowing that the fast train would soon be along
AS the collision occurred on the switch the main
track was not incunbered and no delay occurred
to othr trains.
| Quite singular coincidence 10 called to mind by
the death OF Kobarge. Many will remember that q
year or two ago fireman named Moses Rotarge,
| who was cousin OF Joseph, was killed at Huron
| station by the explosion OF locomotive boiler,
| Moses left widow whom Joseph, the latest victim
| subsequent ly married. and now the poor woman is
| a second time widowed by nearly the same terrible
agency which deprived her OF her first husband