The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-09


Of the city OF Newark. another terrible so-called
railroad accident took place yesterday in conse
quence, 1t IL said, OF the neglect OF the inevitable
swiCchman, who like all swltchnlen under similar
circumstances Is declared by the company to have
been of the most trusty and competent servants
in their employ. II was about eight O'Clock
when the switchman in question, William
Thompson by name, opened the switch.
which connects the grand track with tho down
track to New York The gravel train passed through
all right and switchman Thompson, for some pur-
pose not yet known, left the switch open and re-
tired cump of shady to the right OF the rail
road It was still open, when presently came along
THEY'VE minutes past eight passenger train bound FOR
New York. This train consisted OF four passenger
and the engine and tender. The conduc tor
was Edward Elverson ana the engineer Francis
Herman. Along the train came at a sweeping rate.
Just before reaching the switch the engineer oh
served that 1t was open and at once wbistied
N~ DOWN BRAKES.
The noise attracted Thompson who made dash
for his post He had just moved the switch about
half way back to its proper place when the nanges
or the locomotive struck the corner OF the rail and
bounded of to the left and ground les way over the
ties. Meanwhile speeding along in the opposite di
recfiOn came the up train which left New York ut
quarter to eight. This train consisted of the loco
motive Aurora, teDuer and four passenger cars.
Inc maine Ol the oInef locomotive was Tue fidiH-
field. The Aurora train was In charge OF Charles
Gibson, conductor, George Hill being the engineer.
Forward 1t dashed, and forward from the opposite
direction dashed the Plalnleid train. still bounding
over the ties in an oblique direction toward the mp
track In the twnkllng of an eye, almost
BOTH LOCOMOTIVES BUTTED
each other. The scene that followed this terrible
COLLISION can only be imagined. TO describe IL Is
scarcely possible.
The Aurora and tender hurried down
the embankment towards the ditch. the fires from
the engine setting In flames the tender and the
latter in turn setting fire to the passenger cars,
which were crushed together so that the two first
cars were completely closed up, with all their pre-
Hous living freight. Under the engine was
BURIED AND ROASTED ALIVE
George Hill, the engineer. His body, or rather his
trunk, rescued after hours Of arduoIfs toll! and
was then uprecOgnizaole. AZ last accounts one OF
his legs still remained under the locomotive His
fireman, John ROcKafeow, who had only gone
the road yesterday morning from the Central, was
also crushed and roasted alive. The passengers
hada
DESPERATE BATTLE FOR LIFE.
In the effort TO escape from the burning They
did 30 without loss OF life, though with less
serious injury to body aud limb. the engine was
wrecked beyond the possibility OF being turned to
any use and all the were completely burned up
nothing remaining but clnders To return TO
THE OTHER TRAIN.
The ''swOrd' was driven IN an almo at horizontal
position between the two tracks upsetting the red
hot Goals into the tender and setting it
on fire. The baggage car was ''tee-
scoped" into the nrst passenger
This train was crowded with passengers hurrying
20 business In the metropolis. The engineer, Fran
cis Herman, was terribly mangled, so that he died
before eleven O'Clock, despite the most skfu efforts
OF pair Of surgeons. on the authority OF Colonel
Kicker "FranK' was one OF the finest boys on the
road. Mr. John B. Jonah. who was AZ the scene
soon after the disaster heard him say.
'Well Pm glad I didn't Jump or as
I might have done. ] did my best to save
she passengers and the company's property"
Daniel White, brakeman, was killed instantly
through being crushed on the front platform OF the
hrst car. The passengers OF this train, as well az
those OF the other train exricsted by the help
OF some workmen employed in the vicinity.
THE KILLED.
George HUI, engineer. killed.
Francis Herman, engineer. killed.
Daniel White, brakeman killed.
John Rockafellow, fireman. killed.
George Banks, fireman, dying.
Samuel Taylor, wiper, dying.
THE WOUNDED.
David Anderson, ex-President OF the Newark
Police Commission, seriously bat not fatal; william
Holman, brakeman on up train slightly; Conductor
EMERSON slightly John Il. Russell, slightly: Minnie
Clarity. slightly: Samuel A. Dickinson. stephen
Young. George Terhune John p. lube, frank
Adams II. Fuhrhaus. Daniel Lettor, OF New York;
A. G. viet, Of Newark: C. W. Juhuke, r. Burke.
Charles Scheller and his son. None Of these are
very seriously hurt.
BAIRBREADTH ESCAPES.
ExCommissioner David Anderson had an ex-
tremely narrow escape for his liie He was seated
IN one corner Of the front Of the first Of The
down tram, and was wedged between the debris OF
the the stove. The fender OF the latter gave
way, and saved him from being crushed TO death.
As 1t H. he sustained several very severe bruises
and Is confined 10 his room. Hls injuries are no.
dangerous
Warren L. Fish. son OF Dr. Fish. the Newark Bap-
fist clergyman, also had narrow escape. He was
In the second car ana had taken seat next to the
door, when he thought he would change &c for
one next "A window further back, and accordingly
did so. When the collision occurred aud the iirst
car telescoped It passed directly through the seat
Mr.. Fish had vacated. gentleman who had sat in
1t ran back. but says lis companion was injured,
the blood spattcred on his newspaper. Henry Fish,
son OF DR.. Fish, had his right arm bruised.
Another gentleman who was I'm the front car wac
feeling In his pocket for some papers when he foupd
q cigar, and left the car TO smoke IT, ami thus pa
capped probable injury.
Charles Beers, young man residing at "a West
Kinney street, was in the the locomotive of
the Newark train, and mlraculously escaped with
only q slight injury to hls chest In reply to the
question how he got out he stated he did not know.
but found himself upon the bank, with mouth ana
shoes full OF sand. After recovering from the
fright and stun he lent helping hand IN rescuing
others.
Charles scheler and his son, a lad ten years old,
were the front "
severely injured. scheler was thrown out OF the
car, and says he dragged his boy out and ran, They
came back to the city In a wagon and went at once
TO their house, corner Morton and est streets Mr.
scheller has injuries upon the head and the lad on
the head and hip