The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-02
FTTE MEN KILLED BY an EXPLO-
SION IN NEW JERSEY.
A Construction Train Utterly Demolished in
the Twinkiina OF an Eye-Ovrr n Score Of
RaiIrond Laborcrs seriously Injured.

place at which 1t was to take in load OF gravel,
instead OF stopping 1t ran about quarter ~
mile further, and switched on the main line to a
side track to allow the passen ger train to pass.
About quarter OF an hour after II had started
from Bound Brook, a loud explosion was dis
unctly heard by several persons In the vllsge,
and twas supposed that blasting operations were
10 progress In tho vicinity. Very soon, how
ever, Intelligence arrived that the Centralia's
boiler had burst entailine terrible loss 81 life.
Many persons, Including Coroner Bush. started
for the scene. The dist ancc was about three
mes, and the road soon thronged with
vehicles aud pedestrians, all pressing on TO
South Somervle where the wrecke train
was lying. Here everything was In apparently
incNtricAble confusion. The two construction
were almost wholly destroyed. and there
was little left Of the locomotive beside the
wheels and portions Of the boiler. OF the forty
eight laborcrs only eight had escaped unlniured,
and men scalded 10y steam or thy nying frag-
ments of iron and wood were living among the
debris. Three dead bodies, .calded and manned
almost beyond recognition. Law near the track
The boiler was torn asunder from the Ore box TO
the tubes. and the largest portion. as Il few
from the locomotive, tore away the front. side,
and part OF the roof OF the forward car. II
struck tho earth nifty feet from the wreck.
making a hole 1v0 feet deep, and, rehounding,
was thrown nuy feet further. The truck of the
engine was cast nearly hundred yards.
THE WORK or DEATH.
A quarter OF an hour after the explosion the
passenger train from Eiston arrived, and carried
the dead ami wounded to Bound Brook. where
Dr. Fields received them. few minutes after
their arrival one OF the injured men died, and II
was evident that Col thompson. the foreman,
had only few houis TO live. When the acct
before it, and Col THOMPSON was IN the car
nearest the locomotive. - All know about It,
he said shortly before his death, as that while
the train was standing still on tue side track
there was a slight shock, and In a second the car
was n ed with smoke and steam. hen came
IN 81 aIstrtF FAaA N nf n ~
and was blown into the air. ] don't know how
went out; either toy the window or door. or
through the roof suppose, but l saw the tele
graph wires below me. and as | came down l
could have put out my hands and seized them,
stop myself" He was not scaded or wounded
10y the flying fragments Of the wrecked engine,
Were broken and he s,,st lined internal INJURIES
Col. Thompson formerly commanded Penn
sylyanla regiment. lie was OF colossal size
sive and muscular proportions presented
magnificent specimen OF physical Development:
He was very popular among the laborers, and
not less with tho people OF Bound Brook.
Hts conduct after the accident was heroic.
knowing that bis own life was almost closed,
he attended to the comfort OF the wounded men
as they were placed In the passenger train with
as much solicitude As though he were himself un-
injured. when the train arrived ~ Bound Brook
and Dr. Fields took charge OF the wounded he
found Cot Thompson trying to encourage tue
sufferers. The ply siciau WAS proceeding to tx
al me mis- injuries, but he mOtioned him away,
desiring him to attend to the Others FIRST. lie
was ANXIOUS that his wife, who was III, should
not be made acquainted with his con0ition. but
bound Brook. lie was taken home. and died
about 3 o'clock. lie leaves widow ana one
chiId.
oTnER VICTIMS.
Thomas G. Cooe Is said to have been an expe-
reured engineer lie has had charge Of the
locomotive on which lie rode to his death anout
two months. lie WAS killed instantly, his body,
| wnIcu was thrown several yards from The track,
hciug shochiugy di,n-ured. lie was native of
rhllhpsDurg. y. J was about forty-hVe years Of
age. ana leaves WIDOW ana Culi0feu.
Iue others killed we're Allen King. brakeman,
! Of Sunleryille y. j., thirty year, ~ age, mar
REQ; Henry Nicolar, Italian, lahorer and Pat
| rick Feeney, transient litorer, who died shorty
| af cr reaching bound Brook.
william Cdrlcing tho d cman, escaped with q
| few bruises and srads. lie was unable or un-
| Wiling to give any opinion 'is To the cause Of
| about the occurrence WAS that he saw the broken
boiler turn twice Ia the arr before II alighted the
! A9Nelcr. for soi6nd aiteI ward he was nla,solf
/ hurled upward, he says, tniriy feet, and cast
| twenty feet away from the locomotive.
Patrick McGardn labofcr, rode on the loco
motive. lie also was thrOwn con-idrra 10
! dis ancc, and fell without sustaining injury
beyond slight scalding ol the lower part of his
| lrss aud a scyete shock. when he arose he saw
! Cot. InOmI-On lying near lin, hardly conscious
! and bleeding protuseb from several cur-. Like
| all the iabDrcrs, VI Garan WAS warmly attached
| To inc foreman ana ne tllcd o varrV him to
more comfortable place, but the Colonel, a. he
! reeained his senses, refused 10 De removed from
In the construction cars or "cabooscs" as
| they are called, the men were talking, laughing,
and smoking when the catastra phe occurred.
| They were all 30 hewildered that not one
| could give an intelligible account Of the acci-
| dent. rush Of steam into the cars, a sudden
| rending asunder of the roof, sides, and end, a
monientary view Of the shattered lOcOmo i've,
! and their recollection went no further. ThirfV-
| eight men were scalded or named. some
| slightly, others 30 terribly as to be almost par
| boiled.
several Of the injured cannot recover. One OF
| tho worst cases, after being attended TO bv Dr.
Fields was % sent by tram 70 Newark ana 1t was
| however, LACKS confirmation.
THE DEAD KNGNEKR.
Around the railroad station and In tho hotel
In Bound Brook IN the evening men with ban
the centre of a group Of villagers trying to OBJ
tain an account OF the calamity. hut though
they told various and conflicting stories In re-
gard TO the main facts Of the accldept, on one
point they all seemed to agree this was that
HopIe the engineer was blameless- assertions
thar sprang rather from desire TO shield
a man who, whatever may have been
his errors, had passed beyond the reach
any knowledge Of the subject possessed
BY the sneakers. The engineer was undoubted-
months lie had taken them to their worn every
morning, and they relate gratefully how, when
II was necessary TO remove truck from / he track
| TO allow his engine to pass he stopped the loco
motive and always allowed them their own time
AT the work. His loss Is hardly less felt by them
| than Is tnat Of Col. Thompson. But with all de-
sire 10 shield him, more than one Of the laborers
admit 90 have seen him forcing cold water into
| the boiler OF his engine while 1t standing
sull. The water 1t Is said, was allowed To get
so low that II had To be repenished with haste
| which brought about the calamity
The watchman who had charge OF the
| locomotive IN the night said II was in
| good condition when taken out in the morn
| Ing, except that the safety valves were
somewhat out OF order, 1t Is said TO have start
| ed out with a head OF a hundred and twenty
| pounds OF steam. II Is extremely doubtful
| whether the boiler had been entirely safe flra
| long time. Several practical machinists and en-
| gipeers examined tho broken parts, and ex-
| Dressed an unihvorabe opinion OF its soliditv
| The engine WAS probably not more than eight or
ten wears old, hut II WAS Of heavy, clumsy build,
| calculated To draw great weights rather than
attain high rate Of speed. IL was built at 1aun-
! ton, Mass. ana has not been used to draw pas
senger train. II was employed wholly TO draw
material used In the repairs and construction of
the road, aud to take labOrers TO and from their
work. John tarleing. careful and experienced
| engineer, mad charge Of the locomotive before
| 1t VIA given to Copie. lie Is said TO have been
| very dsirustful Of II, and when suTrendenng IL
lie cautioned Cope shout the boiler.
THE WOUNDED IN NEwARK.
Nine men were sent to 81. Michaol's Hospital
In Newark. They weTe the worst cases, and OF
them James 4. Hardy, Patrick MCGEE, and
Thomas Casey VIII probably die.
Coroner James p. Bush lmpanelled Jury, and
viewed the bodies OF the three men who were
killed. Patrick Feeney died In the room to