The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-05
FRIGHTFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

fklGHTFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
FOUR EMPLOYEES or THE LONG BLAND SOUTHERN
RAILROAD KuLED-sEvERAL OTHERS PRoBA-
BIZ FATALLY NJURED-HEAvY DAMAGE TO
THE RAILROADS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND
FROM THE LATE STORM.
Near Norwood station, on the Hampstead
branch OF the Southern Railroad, about midway
between Valley Stream and Hampstead village, 10
sluceway through tue emban kment, on which
the track is laid. through which water Is carried
nom the upper to the lower side by means OF
concrete sewer ppe-a plan which IL adopted at
various points on the main road as wel ~ on the
branches, PROBABLY to save The expense which
would be entailed BY the construction
OF s'one cuverts. In the rain storm OF
Wednesday, which ragged with great severity
In the afternoon on the south side OF
Long Island, heavy bodies Of water collected ct
various points, the Ice and the frozen condition OF
the ground preventing Its flowing on In its natural
channels. and one OF these bodies OF water caused
"wash' under the track at the point indicated,
the sewer pipo being OF lnsu1iciens capacity 10
carry 1t on As soon a. the fact was ascertained
party OF trackmen were sent to repair damages,
and the break was, as supposed, put in Q condi.
I ton of safety.
THIS very spot, however, was tho scene Of a ter
!
plosion, involving the loss OF FOUR. and perhaps
SIX, lives, the wounding Of number Of persons
and the complete wreck OF locomotive tender
and passenger car.
In anticipation Of the arrival OF the seven
O'CLOCK train from New York at Valley Stream,
where passengers change to the Hempstead train,
Mr. John J. Barr, the Assistant superintendent
for the Southern Railroad. TO make sure that the
track was IN proper CONDITION, ran the train over
the road to Hampstead village. no persons but
employees being on board. viz. Ell Thorpe, road.
master; D. Rancour. conductor; James Scott, en-
gineer Barney Callahan. fireman; Benjamin Car
man, brakeman. and two trackmen, beside Mr..
Barr himself Upon arriving al the point OF the
previous "wasn," near Norwood It was nouced
that large body Of water mad backed up on the
ment appeared 70 be entirely secure and the tram
started to return 70 Valley stream; backing the
vance Of the tender and engine. The engine was
what IL known as 'double.ender,n and caicu-
equal facility. Mr.. Barr was seated in the forward
part OF the car, aud the other employees were
speed Of ABOUT twenty.dve miles an hour mad been
attained, when suddenly. at the point Indicated.
himself to meet . SHOCK. In an instant aiterward
ne heard an explosion and Immediately lost oil
con cons, The car mad run INTO an immense
1sngsa ne lender ssa ie!lovss;' the zen engine u
the water, IN sudden Contact with which the ne
boiler mad expicded. carrying death on every side,
million OF fragments Tho engineer was blown
fifty or sixty feet away where his dead body was
master, the fireman and the brakeman were also
instantly KIlled-the former at the time being in
posts OF duty Inc conductor was buried under
the DEBRIS and dreadIully injured; one Of the
other was severely bruised.
Tine escape Of superintendent Barr from instant
death appears %. almost miraculous; de renamed
found himself partly 10 the rushing water and
bleeding proiusely rom wounds in his mead. He
asrknsss IL ssFss S'G S,s companions DTrS Ss
lrackmen. whom he assisted out. and nnding
that he was not badly hurt, despatched him Tor as
tracted ais attention. He had great difnculty in
rescuing him, working without neip but at last
freed him from The wreck and laid him upon the
ENHANCEMENT. The other trackman was IN even
worse position than the conductor, ana Barr
ing ithfuily to do so and urged to cxerrion by
the pittu appeals OF the su1ering man, wadinQ 10
10 rssase s L oss9 to
remove the conductor TO more comfortable
place, and tacing him upon his back car
mile distant. where he was received and
tender,y cared Ior. Barr then returned 70 the
arrived, and under his direction the wounded
trackman was released and the bodies OF those
killed were recovered. Barr thinks he was at
work ct the wreck nearly an hour before he mad
any assistance. the casualties were t9en found
Instantly kiied-Eh Thorpe, road master;
James scott, engineer; Barney Callahan, fireman !;
Probably fatally wounded-D. Rancour, con.
6uctor tsince reported dead); trackman named
Severely brulsed-John 1. Barr. assistant super.
intendent; rrackman, name unknown. MIR.
EARS G1ooy Is amos: Covered Win bruises and
! usual
The men killed we're oil old employees on the
road, and all. with the exception OF Callahan, were
! married and eave families.
The report Of the explosion OF the engine boiler
was heard at Garden City, about TOUR miles ais
! tant, although the cause was not known there
engaged in Gle ring away the wreck Of the train
and III repairing the track.
Coroner Hicks. or Hampstead. took charge OF
the bodies, and will probably hold an inquest to.
day.
fne residents In the neighborhood of the
hurried to the scene, and did every thug in
their power to alleviate suffering and care Tor the
dead. Their assistance Is gratefully acknowledged
BY the comp,ny's ofnccrs.
GREAT DAMAGE TO ALL THE LONG ISLAND RAIL-
ROADS.
Although no loss OF lite occurred on the Long
Island Railroad the damage done to the roadbed
and cuverts BY the storm Will no doubt amount
to many thousand dollars, ana cause considerable
detention Of travel. especially on the local trans
Along the line OF the main road the track was IN
many places submerged with water, and sand was
washed upon IL to the depth OF two feet. THIS
was especially the case between Mineoa and HICKS
vile. and the impeachment IN consequence was so
great that 1t was Impossible for the Iour'o'cIock
express train Tor Greenport and the I'VE ana six
P. NJ. trains for Port Jefferson TO proceed further
than Mineoa on Wednesday evening, the eastern
bound passengers beng obliged to nnd shelter for
the night a. the single hotel ana IN the cars. so
deep was the water In and about the depot at
Mineoa that the lady passengers we're obliged TO
be carried py the train hands from the to the
depot.
TIE mail train from Greenport did not reach
Hunters point wnere II was due at halLpast SIX
r. NJ. until one o'ciocx yesterday morning. Just
as the train mad passed the culvert ABOUT one mile