The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-20
DEFECTIVE SIGNALS.
A Passenger Train Collides with a Coal
Train on the New York Central.
Three Persons Killed Outright
Several Fatally Injured.
A HEAR1RENDnG SCENE OF DESTRUCTION.

One OF tho most appalling and Notwithstanding
railroad catastrophies ever witnessed in this vicn-
ity occurred this forenoon at about 10 80 O'Clock,
ABOUT three-quarters OF mile east OF Pittsford, by
the collision OF the Baltimore passenger train going
east and coal train. Pittsford s the first station
seven miles east of Rochester on the Auburn or Old
road division OF the New York Central Railroad.
Baltimore trains run on tie New York Central road
as far as Canandaigua and there take the Northern
Central track south.
THE PASSENGER TRAIN
left Rochester as usual at ten minutes past ten
A. NJ, arriving at Pittsford on time, at halfpast
ten O'Clock. Here they were to be met by the
coal train coming West, but that not having
arrived, and as 1t is always expected to keep out
OF the way OF passenger trains, 1t was supposed
that. being behind time, they had stopped at
Fisher, the next station east
WHERE THERE rs NO TELEGRAPH OFFICE.
The passenger tram left Piifsford two minutes
late. The coal train was long and heavily loaded,
and when about mile and half from
where the collision occurred broke,
ana after havings been delayed In
coupling together. started on. The scene Of this
sad accident is situated in about the centre of
very long and quite abrupt curve. Not far dis
tant on the inner side in each direction rises
Of ground, which
COMPLETELY HIDE ANY TRAIN
which may be approaching from either direction
around the curve. But few rods of the track Is
visible to o train rounding 1t, and these trains
could not have been over four rods apart when the
situation became known to the engineers. In
stantly the rods were reversed and brakes put
down. but too late
WITH A FEARFUL CRASH,
which was heard a mile away, the trains came to-
gether crushing the fixtures OF the ponderous
locomotives into one mass OF ruins. The
coal engine was driven over the top
of the passenger car, the smoke stack standing up
at a great height. The passenger train consisted
of a baggage car next smoking car then COM
mon passenger coach, and in The rear Pullman
palace Car. The baggage Car and
THE SMOKING CAR TELEscoPED,
and so closely they fitted together that it Ia
marvellous any human being escaped alive from
either OF them. The other cars were uniniured and
were their occupants except some slight bruises
received from being thrown forward. The en-
ginecr and frcmen OF the coal train both
JUMPED BEFORE THE TRAINS COLLIDED,
and received some INJURIES which are not serious.
The passenger train engineer jumped also and re-
Ceived q spraned foot and some slight cuts. The
fireman remained on the tender, and, though
that is complete wreck. he escaped with
q broken wrist and other slight injuries.
The loss OF life ia confined to the smoking car, in
which were fourteen or fifteen persons. Tho bot
tom Of the baggage car entered but few inches
from the floor and p!oughed along to within four or
five feet of the opposite end, where 1t raised few
feet. The scene presented beggars description.
Some of the inmates OF the car, though not scri-
ousy injured, were fastened and were
BEGGING AND PLEADING FOR HELP
in way which was sickening to hear. One man
had his head out of the window, where, without
hurting him much II was wedged so that he was
unable to get out. Expecting every moment
the upper car would sink and he be instantly
crushed he earnestly besought those around to ex-
tricate him. The residence OF Mr.. D. L. Guernsey
Is situated but few rods distant, and from thence
tools were brought. and the work Of extricating
the inmates OF the car commenced. Holes were
chopped with axes and the sufferers removed as
fast as possible and conveyed to Mr.. Guernsey's,
where everything was done for them that was
possible.
THREE DEAD BODIES WE'RE TAKEN OUT,
two men and woman. One Of the men killed is e.
Burnham Smith, Of the firm of T. b. Smith & Co.,
wholesale booksellers ll6 and 11s woodward
avenue, Detroit, Mich He Is wealthy,
is o business man OF high standing and Is
well known throughout the country. The other
man has not been identified but from telegram
found on his person he Is supposed to be Jeremiah
stats, q billiard table manufacturer, OF Buffalo
AS his countenance is that OF German and the
name indicates that nationality, 1t seems quite
probable. The woman was Mrs. Niles Cutting,
lately from England.
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Mrs. Miles Cutting Railroad Mills, Killed.
f. Burnham Smith, Detroit. Mich, killed.
An unknown man, supposed to be J. Stats OF
Buffalo, killed.
fractured, cuts about the face seriously injured,
though telegram says better tonight.
r. II. Harris, court stenographer, Canandaigua,
leg broken hip probably fractured, abdomen in
jured and other bad injuries; recovery doubtful.
John stocker, Buffalo, severity hurt in side, nose
broken; dangerously injured.
John Hoffman, saloon keeper, Rochester, cut
around head: not dangerously.
John Stevens (coloretD, sleeping car porter. head
cut and limb bruised.
Frank A. Hahn, saloon keeper, Rochester, iniu.
ries slight
John II. Barker. fireman, wrist broken
John Barker, engineer, several bruises, but not
dangerously injured.
Miles Cutting. husband Of lady Killed; CIT about
head, but not seriously injured.
ia. Mulheron, of Canandagua; leg Injured and
bruises on head.
Frank SCnOeIei, enSinecri thign piuscuj nct
serious.
George II. Trnax, Rochester; ANGLE spraincd.
TIE CORPSE or THE UNKNOWN NAN
Ia tnat OF weil-dressed quite large man, Of about
forty years OF age hair, beard and moustache are
let black and quito long. The outer clothing con-
s.sts of blue coat, linen vest and light brooches
has full face. In his pocket were found two circulars
of Brockport Normal School and a. many OF the
Commonwealth Life Insurance Company. Il Is
thought he Is a German, as piece OF a German
letter was found In his pocket, together with a
telegram from Titusyilc, Pa addressed ~. Stats,
Buffalo,"
John q. Van vechten was the conductor of tho
passenger train. He escaped uninJured.
BRUTAL NEGRO OUTRAGE.