The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-08

Railroad have been obtained from IN eye
witness in this city: The freight train
which caused the accident consisted OF
about % cars, most OF which carried tanks
filled with oil. Before leaving. Albany
every car was carefully Inspected by the
wOrkmen, and no defect was discovered
When the train reached the wooden
bridge over Wappinger creek, New Ham
burg, about eight miles below Poughkeep-
sie,a sudden shock passed through the en-
tire train, almost throwing 1t from the
track. Upon examination It was found
that the axle Of the 10th car had broken,
The cur had then broken on one side,
struck against the frame work OF the
bridge and lay total wreck upon the
bridge Almost at the same mOment,and
bel0rca signal or note OF warning could
be raised, the express train, which had
left this city at s o'clock, came rushing
along ut the rate OF 30 miles an hour; the
engine struck the wrecked car with ter
rible force, setting fire to the oil, scatter
ing the intlammable materials and burn
Ing fragments of the car In all directions.
The force of the collision instantly threw
the engine over the bridge into the creek.
The ice was very thick at the time, but
unable to bear the weight ot the locomo-
tive, which broke throHgh and sank; the
tender also fell into the creek. Imme.
diatcly behind the engine were two
baggage cars, whichwere followed by
sleeping cur full of passengers. The
tlamcs from the oil tank soon set
fire to these cars, which after
striking the wreck fell over into the creek
IL burning mass. ltis said TINT some plls-
sengers in the sleeping car succeeded in
leaping from the car in time to save them
selves IRON death, but the rest were car
ried with the car over the bridge, and
were either drowned or burned 10 death.
The body otP. II. VOsburgh, conductor
OF the sleeping car, was Afterwards found
with the lower cXtrcmities away, As
soon us particulars Of the disaster reached
the city Superintendent. NJ. TOucy start
ed for the scene, and has since been cn'
gagged with n large body Of men in search
ing for the bodies Of the unfortunate pms.
sengers. This morning tho wreck was
cleared away from the sleeping
car us it lay upon tho ice, A vigorous
search was made for the bodies of those
passengers who might be crushed in the
wreck, or those burned to death. In one
corner,of the car heap Of Charred and
blackened bodies were found, but so dis
figured that Identification was impossible.
From the appearance oftlle bodies, itwas
evident thai the passengers at the time OF
the accident had rushed in despair TO the
rear door OF the chr, and had there miser-
ably perished. Three bodies, apparently
those ofa mother and her two children,
OF which the arms yet remained, were
discovered closely embracing each other,
and it is surmisc1 that finding cgrcss i'm
possible, they had resolved ut least TO die
together.
Behind this car, which was from Buila-
10, were two other sleeping cars, which
were also totally destroyed by fire. The
passengers, however, many OF whom were
but partly dressed, succeeded in Swing
thcirlives. Many cars Of the freight train,
together with the baggage they contained,
were also burned. Lawrence Mooney,
u brakeman, who was among the killed,
WIS NllSIHulH HCu lloNl tuS AVAh AOh"
ago, and rcinstated to his position about
two weeks since at tho request oi his
mother. The noise occasionCd by the cx-
plosion of an oil lamp was heard fora
great distance, md tho flames Of the
wrecked cars and. burned bridges could
be seen many miles. The bridge over
the Wappingcr creek, modern 'struc
turc, OF about 200 feet in length, was de-
stroyed. Many persons from Poughkecpsie
and New Hamburg, as soon rs the news
OF the accident reached those places, hur-
ricd 10 the scene, and by their efforts sue.
ceedcd in giving relief to many passengers
who wero injured. This morning II bag.
gage car was turned into q temporary
morguc, and us fast us the mutilated bodies
were removed from the wreck they were
carefully transferred TO the car and Il
guard placed over them. Many ol the
Oldest conductors and engineers on the
Hudson River Railroad unite in saying
that the scene presented ut the place of
the disaster this morning was the most
terrible they had ever witnessed.