New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-10
ANOTHER RAILROAD HORROR

ACCIDENT ON lHE NEWARK AND NETWORK
RAILROAD.
MISPLACED SWITCH AND WHAT CAME OF IT
FIVE KILLED AND 20 INJURED-CoRONER's
MQUEsT-vERDICT AGAINST THE SWITCH
TENDER.
The community was startled on Satur-
day by tidings Of a terrible accident on the
Newark and New-YOrk Railroad, under crcum-
stances which indicate criminal caressness on
The part of inexperienced employee OF the company.
The scene Of the slaughter is known Br's Farm,
about miles east Of the Ferry Station Newark The
railroad atthis point extends low marshy meadow
land bordering on the PaSsaiC River, and is built on
dykes, with bitches 20 feet wide. filed with water
each side An extension Of the railroad Elizabeth is
now constructing and portion of the track is
already laid connecting by switch with the main road
The switch Is seldom used and the rails are generally
spiked down that they cannot he moved but Sat
urday morning il shifted as TO allow gravel
tram TO pass into the gravel pit and the swtchman vii
liam Thompson, had neglected TO readus the switch,
having the main track from Newark open. AT SOS am
the train from Newark consisting OF four passenger
cars the locomotive Planhed, and tender came sweep
ing along the track speed of 80 miles hour. When
within 100 yards Of the point danger the engineer,
Frank Herman. saw that the signal target was
turned with the danger side toward him. ana
sounded the whistle several times for "down
brakes" The switchman made dash for his
post. and had moved 1.-THE switch about half way
ner OF the rail- and ground its way the ties TO the
other track At the instant speeding along in the
opposite direction the other track came the New
York trau consisting of the locomotive Aurora, tender
and four passenger cars which had left NewYoTk at 75
A. m The locomotives met with a terrible crash the
Pianed striking the Aurora the side. The first two
cars in rear of the Painfed with such force that the
second was "telescOped," and one completely
destroyed The front OF the third also broken in
about feet hut the remaining uniniured, not
even breaking its couplings The Aurora and tender
were hurled down the embankment, and three of the
took fire from the engine and burned cnders
The train from Newark crowded with passengers
and the comparatively small loss Of life is under the
circumstances almost miraculous. hit all escaped with
slight Commissions and injuries Many the passengers
in the frstcar unable for time TO eXricate them
selves from the broken tmbers and to add TO the horror
OF the moment, the caught fire and was partially
consumed. The engineer, Frank Herman. hurled
from the locomotive terribly scaded about the head
and body and thrown between the mbers Of the first
He did not die however. until 2. hours after the
accident Daniel White, breakman of the same train,
who standing the platform of the first was
instantly killed. and his body horribly mutlated. sam
uel g Taylor engine Waterman at the locomotive
house in Newark, who riding with Herman on
the Planhed. also badly burned by the
escaping steam, and died Saturday evening.
The New York train carried only IL passengers, and
these being the car escaped without serious in
locomotive, the burning Goals falling his lower eX-
trcmetes and burning him TO a crisp, while the trunk
horribly scalded by steam. His death must have
been instantaneous John Rockaellow, his fireman,
special duty in the place of the regular fireman. who
was attending the funeral of of his children He,
too must have been killed nsaDtaneously. Judging from
the appearance Of his body. George Banks fireman
Planed scalded badly, and severely cut about
the head He still alive last evening, but no hope
entertained OF his recovery The fatal casualties were
thus I'VE number aud were confined TO the employees
of the Company.
The passengers, in their anxiety To escape stumbled
over the backs Of the seats and broke open the windows
With their heels There waite: in the bitches and
aen The fire burst out the fire alarm communicated
20 Newark and % engine and hose we're at once placed
~ oatform cafs aa taken to the scene OF the accident
The cars below the eInoailSment WERE however CON
pletely destroyed. large oree OF laooleIs 9"1 nf
ats from Elizabethport brought to the scene aud
few hours had removed th6 rtns of the two trains
seven physicians were sumiu0ned RON newark, and
rendered prompt surgical assistance such as required
it, large number of citizens visited the seene u uc
sG teen dqRS Zee fRe toes OF the unfortunate
EHpoy9s Who had Sustained fatal injuries were Ifotte
10 the Morgue al Newark Coroner SpAsci curing tHC
afternoon empaneed The following Jury W n smith
E-geu p Daring Benjamin HeatoD, John Osborn John Russell l.
Tie Coroner issued warrant for the arrest OF Vim.
Thompson, the eWchman on charge Of nals.aughter'
and adjourned the inquest until YESTERDAY thompson
was taken to Newark and lodged in the City Prison.
The following is a complete list Of the casualties |
-Kiilod-FIank Herman age 80, OF No 10 haniltOh-s'
Newark engincef; George Hill, age 20 OF LlDerI-.t' |
Newark esgeer John R3ck4eLG5T Wte axe 1 Of
New Haven, Conn, nrakeman Samuel = laylor OF |
Observation-Disclosures Hoffman Of New-York and John |
r. Russell brakemen, were injured about the head ste
phen a. Dickinson, David Anderson, ex-Polce Commits
ssioncr M.nic GarIity, Irish gin who vas seeking
cInployment in York. Frank Adams OF NO ~ Ferry
VIII oil of Newark and many others were slightly IN
iuycd Charles A. scheller and son. age 10 were Dauy
;se Ceroners inquest resumed Yesterday morning
in ny @ H9g.S Ns%s sJ! Ias lSi - !ssseSly
Cop fa1'e. Gibson testified reside IL Newark Am railroad
conuotor e employ Of The Newark snd NV lain rem Sesars
and : 8 tss1 from re- tss W VAN % N hdnirgo
Sai rs 5e tt g m Fis srde and Bh station
S mi. wa engineer John Rsckeos sreman
h q two oIs rs ear; ~, e' E w WIN a ssS my r The
frst kuew eBt the collision whistle SOUNDED zoe
SsfTsa se"S s s Sa @ WITH the sos train from s
the crash the fr.t thing DID vas to see ne sS e
Son Of the escaping steam then looked ei,ei @ s
b The engine Wa destroyed Of train CONSUMED
,4 Mat beard hos tb5 trains together heard nat the
switch ws rom & ~ the accident think my engSs lad u1 passed
u, and struck by the geo 'rs9 from H~ii fs
mol generally been dsy until sie7; 1t bas been opened oI
ea, mere .Ses he switch bad been used fort
three veek there va no ,SleSh ,sa9 should
uotkn low hin saw him. H.
,spy car, were huruei1 A. Two could see 'Rta"aTl about S
trains switch; when Nn are
an time ron switch or A't the engheeI nag
1b0u wears ago. u 10 me lu Z"
a. ~ none - ihe can mac lS,eu e
exhibited and e11ueI Ia the ul h@4
lehiu number would have htemSie-
EdEard Eve,on testified: Tive at No Jeaeno1-sl. Nt"sA an
,Soco On ne Newark anu RewNCk Railroads ruh 90 me sV'
uau saturday t N"s AZ - o-
happened 81 Brs switch; vas c"hsoh
signal; con ~ Ni iI
IL nom The switch nsde the heard the signal o
cell how amer signal the cos'n
r,f n uss very tme forward part OF stcsnd OF
afer heard