Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-09


The disaster on the HUDSON River railroad, on
Monday night, combined all the horrors which
separately make such calamties the most fear
fu of modern life The collision, the flames
from the bursting oi'-tanks, the crashing down
of the overloaded bridge, the plunge of the
wrecked cars into the lev waters-either of them
had elements of terror and destruction enough,
and altogether they presented a scene whose
horrors can hardly be paralleled The New York
papers are fu ] of shocking details of the Incl
dents Of those terrible moments when the
splintering cars, the fierce flames, the falling
timbers, and the freeing waters, were
all doing their work of death; the
horrible appearance of the charred and
mahatel bodies of the victims, and We
trust exaggerated accounts of the hidvous
brutality of the railroad employees. As facts
and rumors Of the disaster were received, fresh
dispatches arriving every few minutes, at NV
York and Albany, most painful excitement
pervaded both cities. Many persons had friends
or acquaintance who had taken or intended t.
take passage on the train which was wrecked.
Several members OF the legislature now IN SEES
sion, were among these, and for time were
supposed 10 be among the killed. The anxiety
and suspense in the legislature were 50 great
that it was found impossible tn 70 on with the
business, and both houses adjourned at an
early hour.
The original cause of the accident perhaps no
prudence could have foreseen, and no precau-
tons in ordinary use could have prevented. The
breaking of an axle on the oil train let the car
down upon the track; in this disabled conditiOu
the train moved on for some distance, the
broken end Of the axle tore through the ties, and
at last the disabled car fell over upon the other
track, and all the cars behind it were piled upon
it, mass of wreck. Just then came the express
from New York, charging at full speed INTO the
ruins of the oil train. Both trains were at once
mingled in a common wreck, there was a tre-
mendous explosion from the bursting of an oil
tank, the flames of the ignited oil enVeloped the
whole in a mantle of fire, the bridge gave way,
and, amid broken masses of wood and iron,
amid fire, water and ice, the work of death was
finished.
The inquest on the bodies of the victims will
probably develope how much of truth there is
in each of the conflicting stories of the distance
passed over by the oil train after the axle gave
way; Of the absence or neglect of the brakeman,
who should have given the warning and caused
the stoppage of the train before it was thrown
from the track; of the times and means for
signalling the danger to the express train in
season to check its progress and avert the awful
catastrophe. Some witnesses say that there was
On site time enough for this, but others declare
ueei u f. collision followed almost Immediately
en-, except in a n of The freight train. How
as slightly altered Inether the raro
A Vermont corresDoL enc~
rites; with little sht
)u wonder we are groN -'sie eeeuls
hat little woman who &c shockingly indif.
oout the divergence of thctacle of death aud sui.
vor of New England, woul,,f rho enrv;vors The
lould come to Vermont. HI tAte s"' ''NiS' lux
,pothesis will keep her e. did nothing for the
nber to write on in her cheele dead or the comfort
rta5e deuslon is better far as they were useful
AK Of tho town with iney gave their attention al
lie winds. The Starring the bridge and clearing the
nadtE, as if they were concerned only with the
damage to property, and not at all with the
fearful sacrifice of life.
One account says:
"Many who were saved complain bitterly of
the brutality OF the employees and of the people
who were employed in getting out the bodies
Tacre did not appear to be any one in authority,
a1d the trunks We're broken open and pilla red
by wholesale. One Of the unteeling brutes got
a book OF written sermons, probably beion ring
to the unfortunate Fowler, which ne read aloud
amid the ieers and laughter of the unfeelnl
crowd. Articles Of female apparel would 3,
pulled out OF the trunks and held up to view il
sport, and the bodies themselves were rou rhl,
hshed OUT, as if they were 50 much carrion, aut
then 4 rope WAS passed round theui and the,
were dragged over the rough ice to Il car, which
was some distance off, tue rough edges of tht
ice cutting into their flesh and marking thi
track with blood, which will account in part fol
tie mutiated condition vi the DO hes. From al
accounts the railroad people did nothing excep
commence the work of repairing the bridge anC
suTyeyin- the Passengers, wlO were Lett 70 car,
for the nselyes as best they mil iit."
Another reporter says:
sit was especially noticeable that the villa -ers
Of New hamDurs alone sought the bodies o
the dead, ana thai the railroad officials seemed
~ be wholly absorbed ia repairing the bridge
through watch the cars fell into the creek be
low. TINS strange Conduct On the part of tn.
railway officials universally commented
on az New Hamburg last nj sht, and made tn,
occasion OF many bitter remarks by ibe chi
ze0s. On the arrival Of the 1 o'clock train frolr
New York Yesterday, which slowly wound foun
the lower part Of Wappin ger S creek at G: q
O'Clock, the railway com any provided not Ia
slightest means lor the passengers to get TO Ne
half mile on the creek itself in danger
breaking their neeks by falling on the ice even
moment.
Last night the scenes in the vicinity Of IL
sickening disaster were dismal in the extrem
There was the yawning gulf which had e.
veloped the dead, over IL was a frame Of cbarrt
timbers, and half hundred meu carrying ligh
were moving about above the wreck. I'll
sound Of the axe, saw, and BANNER Of Il
workmen repairing the bridge was heard. Iv
locomotives drawing trains bad approached Il
Drink, one on each side, and stood with the
great lights glaring down into the abyss. I'll
nisnt was dark, and the scores of people on Il
nele u lce surrounding the wreck could lust
~ me ICE and IN the water as long as the lig
81 Gay lasted, and were nearly frozen. To Ike
Ioul perlshlng many Of them had resorted
spntuous liquor, and in the evening they we
bali intoxicated. In carrying the nassenoe
rom the trains around the wreck on the L