The New York herald., 1871-02-09
VANDERBILT,S VERSION.
What the Vice President Thinks and Says
About the Occurrence.

What the Vice President Thinks and Says
About the Occurrence.
The public mind is at present so deeply absorbed
with the dreadful collision and connagration upon
the Hudson River Railroad on Monday night that
any additional light that may be thrown upon 1t win
doubtless be most welcome to the readers OF the
HERALD.
HERALD reporter called yesterday evening on
Mr. William II. Vanderbilt the Vice President OF the
road, and upon whom at present devolves its
management This gentleman readily complied
with HIS wish for further Information. Mr. Wander
bllt gave frank and very straightforward account
OF the whole affair as he knew 10, and did not
attempt to evade any Of the reporters questions.
IL appears from his statement that the engine
coming In collision with the oil car, was knocked
OF the track, and consequently ran or the side Of
the bridge. The baggage car followed Immediately
after, resting on the top OF the engine and draw
ing the passenger car along with IT, Thus
the space below was filed up, and only
part OF the passenger car was submerged
IN the water. The coupling between the first and
seconi passenger car broke, which left the other
cars on the track. The two passenger cars became
enyeloped In flames and were burnt. The remain
Ing we're saved by the eXertions OF the passen.
gers, who uncoupled them and pushed them down
the track, out or the way Of the fire. The breaking
OF an axle
CAN HARDLY Be PREVENTED
In winter time, when iron is so excessively brittle
by any ordinary exerlon OF care or foresight. The
bridge was not an Old structure, and the statements
OF several pape s to The contrary are entirely I'M
iounded neither did il break down until the timber
was weakened by the fames All the bridges are
tested from time to tme and as soon as the manage
ment think that the wooden bridges are not sutli-
GENTLY strong to bear the strain or the traffic they
are replaced by iron structures of the best manuac-
ture. Within the last year several bridges have
thus been built and others are IN the course of con-
structtOn.
The rails along the entire length OF the road with
the exception Of about fifteen miles on the upper
DIVISION are made of STEEL The axies OF the trucks
are made OF wrought iron, and are subjected to two
or three hammerngs. 1t is not improbable that the
oil Car with the broken axle, which caused the ac-
cident belonged to
SOME OTHER RAILROAD
which connected with the Hudson River Railroad.
One Of the officials stated to the HERALD reporter
that nearly all the ordinary accidents on this road
resulting from broken axies or broken wheels nap.
pened on tho cars OF other companies.
On all those places where fagInen were formerly
stationed at intervals along the line 1t for the
purpose OF opening and closing draws. but at the
vices. There was probably
NO FLAGMAN NEAR THE BRIDGE,
but even II he was there he could not have avered
the accident, as the engineer of the oil train who
was nearest to the express train, gave the signal
but without avail.
Mr.. Vanderbilt stated that ali cars on the road
have the brake which Is the best In use; train going
AT the rate OF forty miles an hour can be stopped in
According to the following list, made out by Mr.
Chambers auditor ofthe company, the number OF
the victims is lwenyone. and 1t Is believed that no
more have pershed. A sleeping car. he says, has
accommodation for TWENTY-FIVE passengers, but
generally 1t does not carry more than fourteen or
fifteen. Twenty passengers are considered %
large number for one sleeping Car.
THE LOSS TO me COMPANY,
Mr, s:o Nahderpllt says, VIII PROBABLY amount TO
last night, ana trains win run to-day heretofore.
Parties have been to the scene OF disaster and
have removed most Of the bodies to their homes.
The remainder will De brought TO the city tins
ing for iuterment Every care he says, has been
dered by tt officers OF the company TO facilitate the
identification OF the killed and TO the wants OF the
other passengers. lie also states that the stories
gardfug tile depredatlons OF marauders have foun.
dation. The baggage Is either under water Oh
burned