The New York herald., 1871-02-10
CLEARING AWAY THE WRECK.
-~~>o~o~>~>~~~~~~~>~>~
The Car Drawn Out---NO More
Bodies Found.
The Charge of Robbing the
Corpses Explained.
~~N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Damaging Testimony at the
Inquest.
How the Accident Could be
Avoided.
The Wildcat" Conductor Lets Several Cats
Out Of the Bag.
How Trains Are Rum Without
Signalling Bell Cords.


Signalling Bell Cords.
PoU0HKEErsIE, Feb. 0, 1871.
The "horror OF the drawbridge," by which 80
many souls were instantaneOusly hurried before the
bar OF God and 80 many hearthstones made desc.
late still exercises the residents or the beautiful
towns ana hamlets along the line Of the Hud-
son river The accident Ia on everybody's
lips. and the causes which led to the
appalling catastrophe IS freely canvassed by 'the
masses OF the Teope. who are not accustomed to
familiarity with such horrors.
New, that o portion OF the evidence has been
taken by the Coroner, c. H. Andrus, who seems to
be anxious to elicit all the facts Caicu.
lated 70 throw light upon the accident,
the great majority OF the people deem
TO attach censure to the employees OF the CON-
pany In not giving proper signals from the oil train;
and the dead engineer even comos IN for criticism
for not applying the patent brakes In time 60 bring
the train to halt before the collision occurred.
THB wRECKERs OF THE RIVER.
This morning spent several hours at the scene OF
the catastrophe, watched with attention the ef-
forts OF the wreckers TO further evidences OF
the extent Of the loss OF life. Early In the morning
gang OF men set 10 work TO draw out the
car, which proved sepulchre for SO many persons.
Provided with blocks and tackle, line was nitched
TO the remnant OF the car. and by many pieces OF
scantling under the OF it, after several hours
OF labOrious toll the burned and schattered "sleep
er' was drawn up far that the Interior
OF 1t came above the water. Immediately
the report spread among the hundreds OF spectators
scattered about the ice that three more bodies had
been found. Your correspondent at once, by
wADIEG THROUGH WATER
eight or ten feet Deep succeeded in getting upon the
car ana at once discovered the cause OF the report
FOUR UPPER BBRTHs
Of the car, locked as they IN the day time when
mattresses and blankets are stored away within. it
was discovered. had escaped the tongue OF the
devouring flame, and their appearance gave rise TO
the report that they were statcrooms locked MP.
Workmen OF the company eptered the wrecked
car with axes, and in a few minutes they were
forced open, displaying to the idle gaze OF the COL
lc~ted rustics not additional bodies but blankets
mattresses, sheets aud Ilows. just as they mad
been slowed away by the porter when he last made
up the beds after Their vacation by the occupants.
QUESTION SETTLED.
The raising OF the car therefore, establishes be-
yond doubt an important point that at least
four berths in the Car had not been made
up; and gives rise to the theory that
it was filed to It's utmost capacity pro contra
1t has been settled beyond doubt by the statements
of Mr.. Johnston, a clerk OF the Legislature, and
Others who applied that all the berths IN the car
were taken. The explanation, probably, is that
the occupants OF these four berths had gone into
another car or were sitting up awaiting the prepara-
THE FIERY BAPTISM
fell upon them SO suddenly that they were unable
to give an alarm and avert the horrible fate that
nows RAPIDLY, and 1t is more than surmise taat after
the car had been burned, some OF The charred
currents Of the Hudson were carried seward. the
exact number lost, believe, can never be ascer-
tanned until the waters give up their dead, but is
safe to say tnat 1t Is not In OF the number
that the Buffalo car is capable Of accommodating
COsIiENTS ON THE ICE
While the workmen were engaged In drawing ont
the car, mingled with the crowd, which seemed
TO be composed largely OF farmers and their wives
AFTER VANDERBILT.
Close by me at one time were three well-dressed
% men, who appeared to be residents Of the village.
There are more bodies IN there. Ill betn said
one, with a bun coat
assist in graphing for them ?" asked another. sAre
they waiting for vanderbt's orders ~
fellow. who looked Ike one who might steal the
orelde sleeve buttons from a corpse. "His lay is
money. What do you think ne cares for burned
corpseSY He wants all his men TO work the
bridge and make the recovery OF the bodies inpos-
sible, he won't have to come down In damages.n
Here the man with the bun coat spoke up. ''iou
make mistake, sir. Nearly all these men at work
there driving out the car are employees OF the COM
pany. There tpomtlngl Is the paymaster's car with
man. nor do ! care for his road; but don't
paint the devil backer than he Is. He can't be here
boots experimenting the work. He's Toucey,
superintendent Of the road, who mas been
indefatgably; and that other fellow, up
there on the track. IS Flood, the division
superintendent or something OF that sort. who has
been in the employ OF the company twenty years
as Vanderbilts agents, both doing oil they can
torecover the bodies and put the road In repair.'
moved off ana mingled with the crowd near the
THE CHARGE OF ROBBERY.
Ducut
charge made by OF the papers that the corpses
were subjected TO the rapacous touch OF thieves.
learn tnat constable from this place. acting under
the orders OF the Coroner, repaired to the
wreck, and, showing badge, which some sup
scores OF New York thieves took possession OF tho
effects OF the dead. Some reporters jumped TO the
conclusion that he was thief, and this all the
foundation can find Tor the report Of robberies OF
the dead.
The Inquest.
Thomas Mcmahon, sworn-I was sitting az the
New Hamburg depot on the night that the oil train
passed; Carroll, the nagman, was with me. and he
cried ont, "There s accident on that tram wenl
out and saw the axel and wheel dragging along and
heard 1t; Mr.. Caerol saw 1t first; I ran
after the train bawing for them to stop; far
as the drawbridge; H. was going faster than could
run; l however managed to keep up with the back
car; man on the train put his head out the back
car; they heard holler and all did their best to
stop the train; 1 saw lights flying at every
hand along the track by the side of the
train; people were swinging lights when
got to the BRIDGE the accident had not occurred but
the oil on the bridge ana th train was at q
dead stand; don't know what kind Of car 1t was
/ was excited; the express train was coming;
hadn't been there two minutes hen the train was
coming; saw men "naging" It when first got 70
the bridge, but l did not then see the
train; red lights were out; when / saw
the express train coming; she was too near me;
was standing on the up track on the bridge: was