New-York tribune., 1874-03-30
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
FATAL RAILWAY COLLISION.


| FATAL RAILWAY COLLISION
| TWO MEN KILLED ON THx PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
AND OTHERS SERIOUSLY rSJURED--A TKLEGR,p
OPERATORS BLUNDER-CONFLICr BETWEEN
| CORONER AND COUNTY PHYSICIAN. tr.r
Through the mistake or the carelessness q,
a telegraph operator collision occurred at D. m
Saturday between two Pennsylvania Railroad freight
trains, resulting In the death OF two employees IN.
injury OF two Others AMI the wreckng OF bos
trains Tho accident took place the Horsimus Cove
freight branch OF the road At the eastern terminus Of
| the Bergen Cur, or what Is known tho Point o,
Rocks" in Jersey CITY. this branch dverges from ,hs
main lDe and makes abrupt curve toward the north
| east, and at tho end OF this curve Is
signal station. The operator in attendance a,
| this place has full view OF the curve
and also OF that portion OF the track lying between h
station and Prospeotst., near The AbattOir. When
tram starts from tho Abstor fer the West this operator
is sinaled and 1t IA his duty to instruct the operation
who Is stationed in Bergen cut at tho intersection OF
track and the branch hold the trains bound
eastward the branch which has only single track
between the main line and the signal station at the east
ern end Of the curce though 1t is doubercked from
thence TO the Cove.
On Saturday afternoon freight train drawn by engine
No. 321 left Harsimus Cove, aud the operator in
sructed to hold 1t at his station until the freight trsiu
drawn by engine No. 9l. which was eastward bound
tor in the cut that the track was clear
and No. sn allowed to proceed easterly. At ths
time 10 appears that he signaled NO. 59i 20
the manner and this train passed on toward the
West As the former tain emerging from tho cat
and the latter had passed from tho reste work ani
reached tho western extremity Of tho curve they como
with tromenduous forco, both the engineers
being thrown to the ground. william Day. the fireman
Of crushed between tho locomotive and tender
and instantly killed. The body when found was lying
beneath the engine and badly scaded. Both OF his
legs were also fractured. Charles Sratford brake
man. thrown from the top Of freight car to plat
form and thence to the ground sustaining fracture
OF the skull which resulted iD instant death. Robert
Keyes the conductor OF toe eastward train. and Char
Metz the engineer OF 9, both badly scaded and
were taken the City Hospital. Tue Injuries Of the
conductor very serious
The bodies OF the killed removed to Brady's
Morgue, in Jersey-ave. Newarkave., Jersey CITY
and the County Physician was notified. Coroner Pars
low OF Hoboken Immediately ordered to hold an IN
quest large force OF men at onco pscof at work
the Debris and before morning the track was
cleared and repaired IL thought that tho engines are
ruined Several Of the freight cars were also badly
smashed. The loss Will be heavy, but cannot yo Dc lc
cnrately estimated James 5. Mcclellan. the
aPd the asthor Of the msfotune gavs himself
mp to the police Saturday night, and was lodged
by the police that hc was compelled 10 do 80 to slvo
himself from violence at the hands OF the employees on
tho trains, who disposed ucaI IN
mary manner. Yesterday hc was committed 10 tho
Hudson County jail await the action Of the Coroner
Despite the fact that County Physician Buck had or.
dered Coroner Parslow hold inquest. Coroner ia
cob Renhard impaneled jury. viewed the bodies at
tho morgue yesterday morning aud announced tast ho
would hold an inquest Thursday nient Inc Coroner
who Is also undertaken, was accompanied Dy an as
sisnt and stated that they had been requested Dy MIS-
Day to Ifepare her husbands body for burial and
to remove IL ito her residence in Tonnele,aye he
was TO execute this order when County Physician
Buck arrived and ordered that the bodies remain In the
Morgue until further notice. Coroner kncnard insisted
hfa fha haI Al ll-
quest, and high words ensued between him ana the
County Physician which resulted IN the latter causing
the Morgue to be locked and informing the coroner
would be held responsible for the violation of his orders
The Coroner, however, obtained another key TO tue
Morgue and effected entrance through side door.
possession OF Days body and placed t IN Ills wagon
which was then driven of. DIR. Buck. anticipating
these not having arrived. he jumped into his earrings
and impressng into service the first officer
he could lind drove rapidly after tne
wagon, which he overlook and ordered the
driver return to the MOrgue This was done the body
once more placed where it belonged and the building
put in charge Of the pohee Az p; M, YESTERDAY,
Coroner ParsOw and jury viewed the bodies. and the
inquest will be held by them tomorrow night Tue
bodies OF deceased then placed IN charge OF an
Company who will pay all expenses or burial Mrs.
Day widow OF the deceased fireman, on learning OF ths
fact the order gwen TO Renhard to act
as the undertaken 1t ia expected that litigation between
COrponer Renhard and County Physician Buck Will foi-
low Coroner Reinhard claimed the right TO hold N
inquest the ground that he was the first to appear on
tbe scene of disaster The County Physician claims tho
right designate the coroner 10 take charge OF any
inquest which he may order.
About the authority To hold nquests IN
Hudson County, which had previously vested WITH
coroners justices OF the peace by special ac OF
authorized to view the bodies OF all persons who had
suffered violent sudden deaths. and II ne deemed u
hold inquest then to instruct one OF toa
three coroners IN his county to do So