The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-26

street, Wflliamsburgh, near the terminus of the
South Side Railroad, to the foot OF Roosevelt street
on this side of the river the reporter fell In with
number OF the passengers who had just arrived by
THE UNFORTUNATE TRAIN,
and who were on their way TO New York.
Some looked pale and weak az II from
wounds, some as II from fright. They all
looked mighty serious. The reporter took
seat opposite Q tall, handsome, gentlemanly
looking man, who was pale like the Others, but
who smiled pleasantly-not at all "a sort OF sckly
smile''-at some observations made by CON-
panion sitting beside him. Presently he drew up
one leg Of his pantaloons and shQweda
- PEEP CLEAN cur,
extending half way round the kpee.pan, and q
long, ugly cash, extending from the inside Of the
knee7oint to the ankle. An old gentleman and
young one were seated beside the reporter. The
old man said, "Ohl there's another OF the unfor-
tunate ones; didn't notice him before.n
"That looks, SIR" remarked the reporter, "as II
an accident had just occurred somewhere,
YES" replied the old gentleman, 'quite sad
accident, assure you; but not 80 serious, thank
God, as 1t might have BEEN"
WAS It railroad ACCIDENT am q reporter,
sir, and will feel thankful If you tell me what you
know about It,"
''With pleasure, sir" said the old gentleman.
''You saw that train that just came in as you ap-
preached the ferry houses Well that is the second
morning express train from Patch0gue. 1t comes
right on, pretty rapidly, and does not stop at the
small places. We were on that train. When we
reached . place midway, as think, between Baby
Ion and Freeport, I felt
RI" "a ~ 4 SUDDEN SHOCK "h eT
that made me think somethina unpleasant must
have happened, and the idea was confirmed by the
sudden stopping Of the train and its subsequent
backing considerable distance. have often
heard people expatiate on the comparative dsad-
vantages OF being in q forward car in Q railroad
accident. The theory may. hold good on other
road we have just travelled over, the precautions
usually observed by travellers are only 1l19
DIFFUSION AND A SNARE,
was 10 forward car on this occasion, and to
that fortunate fact believe owe the possession
Of whole sldn at present. When the train ceased
three last cars had become detached and we're dp-
set beside the small embanKment on which the
the engine and Jour cars had just passed Certain
spot, when Q rail sprung up and struck the third
car counting iromthe rear: the car leaped several
feet high and rolled over the Aem6ankment, carry
ing the two other cars with 1t. $50 FsW 'nW -
THE RAIL THAT DID THE MISCHIEF
was 1ent ~ INTO the shape Of horseshoe: when
cars. the sight that met our eyes was one to
shake the stoutest among those who beheld It,
was not wholly justified by the result Those three
cars were occupied by about nifty or sixty persons,
slew Of whom were men and the remainder women
ana Chudren. The gentlemen had already Crawlod
out when We saw them. They were all more or
less cut but they were engaged In assisting to re-
were apparently unhurt; but many, especially the
III = -. CRUELTY DASHED mtd
and cut, mostly by the broken glass, and were
covered with blood. quite number Of the ladies',
some wounded more or less severely and some
us SH 5 ~ 10 az sSc
shock; others OF them swooned on after being re-
leased, on looking back at the danger they had 81
males on whom the shock had not produced results
OF the swoontng character were the mothers OF the
wounded Children, over whom-seeing only the
blood and not knowing the comparatively light ma
ture Of the injuries the little Earrings had sus-
'a'nsd--'hs RR SSHi CRIED AND noAsrD
In manner to make One's heart bleed for them.
One fine little child, however, regret could not
ascertain its name for you-was so dreadfully cut
like to very much) that 1t will recover. When we
had rescued the occupants from those three cars
which n had 50 nearly become ,t their temporary
Oncals Of tRe railroad company zealousiy exerted
Tins. It Is but fair to say that Of them. l wish
they were only bali as careful before .e
"You seem to think, Sir, that the company Ia to
blame to some extentS''
''seem to think SO : DO think it.; know It.
they are not half so much to blame as the laws and
the lawmakers that allow them, and such as they,
do. The company does not Keep the road In re-
pair. Repairl What am talking Of ? The road
was never constructed in manner ut to have
r0ad-bridges, entertainments &c.-are and always
have been In ricketty and crumbling condltion.
have examined the road nearly all the way, be-
cause intended buying some property down that
way; but guess won't The
RAILS ARE Absolutely WORTHLESS;
not 1T to trundle well-laden wheel-barrow over
them. The sleepers are 80 rotten that not one In
ten of them would hold o nail-we have seen that
o. mad M that
under q shower, as they have often done. Yet,
over this road the company runs long and heavy
trains Win engines wgaing I n1fy tons escn' Inc
to be sure; everybody knows that. They do not
own those cars-they are hired-and. OF course,
you cannot expect that company that cannot
buy their own cars are able 20 construct o SUBJ
stantal road, or keep it in reliable repair If 1t was
%hs would Il BE- to n me t the Company
are poor, II my two little grand children"-here
the old gentleman shuddered bit--"were with
mol In my opinion the fact Of the company being
poor IL about one Of the strongest OF oil reasons
Ts s Ge es soua MT pe So % w Ta
hundreds Of precious hum an lives.
Oh, THOSE POOR CHILDREN
much worse it might easily have BEEN III It had
been in the winter tine, with the burning stoves
to set fire to the cars what holocaust we should
given way and those cars had been dragged seYs
era feet on their sides, with the heads and limbs
OF the passengers jainmed through the broken
glass on the undormost side All, those poor
chIldren-those poor little children ~ And the
tender.hearted old gentleman hid his face in his
hands and 30 remained In silence during the
short remainder OF the voyage from Williamsburg
to the New York abutment OF the Brooklyn Bridge.