The Portland daily press., 1875-07-07
SHOCKING RAILROAD ACCI
DENT.
Collision of Two Passenger Trains
Seven Persons Kille ed and Twenty
Injured.

New YORK, July Sat 2 o'clock this after
noon collision occurred on the South Side
railroad, Long Island near Far Rockaway, be-
tween trains going eastw ard and westward, by
which two passenger trans were smashed
Seven persons were killed and about twenty
others injured.
New YORK, July 6.-Full details of the
shocking accident at Rockaway, yesterday,
seem to show that the collision was a slaughter
brought about by the criminal carelessness OF
dent Poppenhunser had his head badly hurt.
A passenger states that the two engines were
piled upon one another, that of the down train
being underneath The latter was total
wreck, the iron and brass work being mangled
and twisted into every possible shape. Mean
while the smoking car had been literally smash
ed to pieces, the centre and sides bnlging out,
and the top being crushed under the tender
The dead and wounded lay under the ruins of
the smoking car, from which they were ex-
tricated by the railway officials and.passengers.
Six dead bodies, including those of the con-
ductor, brakeman and fireman. were rescued
from the wreck and laid on the grass by the
side of the track. The three passengers who
were killed were N. Hartman, cigar dealer, b.
Thurmer, jeweler; and Mr.. Pteifer, notary
public of Williamsburg. From IL to 10 pas
sengers were injured, two of them seriously.
The latter were unknown.
At the time of the collision the down train
was approaching Rockaway station at speed
of IL miles an hour, while the up train had
just left the station. The two Grains met on on
the curve at point where view of the track
in both directions was limited.
Further Details.
The collision was on the South Side Railroad
and was between a train from Williamsburg,
heavily loaded with passengers going to the
beach for pleasure, and lighter train from
Rockway bound to Williamsburg. The pas
senger train was several minutes behind time
and wa ondaavOripu n mako in lost iuoo md
pass the siding when the train from Rocka
way was expected to be in waiting. This train
had on board Mr. Poppenhausen, president of
the road, who is reported to have become inn
patient at the non-appearance of the overdue
passenger train down, and ordered his up train
to goj along. There is but onestrack with a
few turnouts. The result was the collision.
The engineer of the passenger train saw when
within half mile of Rockaway station the
smoke of the engine above the trees, and had
it not been for slight curve just this side of
the latter station he might have seen the train.
He Immediately blew the whistle for down
brakes, reversed his engine and still chung 10
his post He had just succeeded in slowing
his train when the lao train from Rockaway,
engine Montauk, Geo. Miller, engineer, Hol-
speed upon them. They were lightly loaded
and had only three cars attached, and among
its lively party bound for New York was Pres
ident Poppenhausen. Ashmead, the engineer,
stuck to his post until be knew it weuld be
suicidal to remain longer, and when the Mon
tauk was within 30 yards he, together with his
fireman, jumped from the train, and almost
simultaneously the engineer and fireman of
the Montauk were seen to follow suit. After
rolling over into the ditch they scrambled to
their feet and were transfixed with horror at
the terrible sight that met their gaze.
1t is stated that after the slaughter yes
terday, the thieves and roughs who usually &C.
company excursions to Rockaway and Coney
Island were present and commenced differing
the dead bodies Conductor Hubbard, whose
body was completely cut in two was despoled
of his watch, money, shirt studs and other val.
uables, and other bodies were treated III like
manner.