The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-02-14
The Hudson River Railroad Horror.

late Mr.. CovOdc OF pennsylvania.
The Hudson River Railroad Horror.
The fuller details of the appalling acct
dent at New Hamburg on the Hudson
River Railroad explain the mystery
which must have occurred to every one
on reading the telegraphic despatche S.
that is, how could it be possible that a
car could be so wholly and instantaneous
ly wrapped in flames that not a soul
should escape from it. 1t appears that
the wrecked train was going north, hav-
ing left New York at s o'clock 1t was
composed Of an engine, baggage car, an
express car, five sleeping cars and an or
binary passenger car. 1t reached New
Hamburg about ten o'clock. As 1t was
approaching that place a freight train
was observed moving toward it at the
usual speed and in order But when the
trains were within, perhaps, half mile
Of each other, the axle of one Of the oil
cars broke several of the cars were
thrown across the track upon which the
express train was moving at speed of
forty miles an hour, and, in an instant,
the oil ignitcd and enveloped the entire
freight train in flames At this moment,
the express train dashed into the broken
and burning mass. The collision &C..
Cured upon bridge, and the engine,
with the baggage cars and the first sleep
ing Car, were thrown over the bridge to
the ice bclow-a distance of about six
feet. AS they fell, an oil car toppled
over upon them, the oil, inundating the
sleeping car, Immediately ignited, and in
a moment, it was completely enveloped
the flames lcaping up seemingly hun
bred feet in the air.
So sudden was the disaster, and so in
simultaneously did the fire do its work
literally filling the car in Il moment
that, when the tunult of the crash had
subsidized, not sound was heard proceed.
ing from the furnace Of death. In ter
minutes every particle Of the wood WORK
was consumed, and all the passengers
were dead and crisped by the flames
All the other cars kept upon the track
but the front of the second sleeping cal
received some Of the burning fluid and
took fire also. Those occupying the from
berths were in imminent danger, bu
were extricated in their night clothes
and all the passengers in this car escapet
without injury, by the rear door before
the flames had made any serious Roadway
The passengers in the other cars also es
capped, with only such slight bruises a
resulted from the shock Of the collision
The passengers and employees, in tn
remainder of the train, Immediately OF
feeling the shock ran out, and the seen
which met their eyes was Of the mos
terrible description. The ice was com
pletely covered with sheet of fame, an,
in its midst almost entirely envelopes
lay the baggage and sleeping car. TIL
blazing oil had flowed along the ice, an
where the ice was broken on the surfac
of the water, to where several sloops an
fishing boats lay frozen in, and set fire
them, but the inhabitants of the vicinit
extinguished the flames.
Three ofthe sleeping cars were burned
two taking fire after the passengers es
capped. They were all new ears, nc
having before been ON the road. As 500
as possible the remaining sleeping cal
and passenger coach were detached an
taken out of danger. When the colisio
t was seen to be inevitable by the enginet
: and fireman Of the Express train, ii
c latter urged the engineer to jump wit
!. him from the engine. The fireman d
f Jump and escaped with his life, but IL
r engineer, Mr.. Simmons, refused, remarl
!. ing that he "wonld 60 through or {
/ down at his post" The noble fello
went down. He must have been burnt
}. to death, as he was precipitated in Il
0 midst of the burning oil. A gentlem;
r and lady who occupied state room (
n the forward part of the second sleepil
e car, had very narrow escape, the fam
&c having already communicated to it b
{. fore they were fully aroused to sen
d of the danger. A gentleman occupyil
10 berth in the centre Of the second slice
T. ing car, on being aroused, waited un
Of he had completely dressed himself,
m every particular, even hunting up
IF overshoes and putting them on befo
ne leaving, by which time the forward end
of the car was in flames The sight folio
ing the catastrophe were terrible in the {
It. IRENE.
rk On the ice near the wreck, body v
or found with the entrais torn out and I
Is. head and legs crushed. 1t has not be
ng identified. One body, supposed to
a. that of Vosburgh, the conductor, v
he pulled from the remains Of the sleepi
A car, and presented sickening appe
of ance, one leg being consumed, and
er rest of the body so blackened and char
"A | 10 10 he uncomfortable