The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-09
BIG CRASH IN HOBoKES.
A Terrible Accident on the Car Elevator
Many Passengers Fatally Wounded.

The steam elevator of the North Hudson
County Railway, at the foot OF Ferry street,
Hoboken, was tho scene OF an accident last
night that resulted In fatally wounding two or
three persons, and seriously injuring three
others. The elevator Is used for the hoisting Of
the horse cars from the Hoboken meadows up
the incline Of the Palisades Of Bergen Hill, and
Is close to the new tunnel OF the Delaware,
Lackawanns and Western Railroad. 1t was
constructed about a year ago last November,
and was projected by Russian engineer,
who was annoyed at the cirouitous route
by the cars In their winding way around the hill
top. 1t carries passengers up the steep deollvity
IN less than twenty seconds, while BY the old
route fifty minutes was consumed. The plat
form rests on a grooved foundation, and the
base is made like a carpenters wedge. so the
car rests perfectly level. Wire cables draw the
Rke the aoat. u.ea IN tren.norting y frsigst earn
across the Hudson.
When the car arrives at the foot of the hill
driven on the platform. An iron bar swines
back and locks in the vehicle. and then a teie-
The bell Is In the engine room. close to the en-
eineer, who Is seated In small room at the
has an unobstructed view Of the car In a clear
moonlight night be can clearly define the sur
roundings, but II 1t Is cloudy the light from the
car Is mis- only guide. The signal therefore Is
used to prevent accidents.
Last night shortly before O'Clock, car No.
Of the west Hoboken line was driven on the
platform. Although q box, or one-horse car, II
was packed with n passengers. The engineer
Alfred Deoevoise, received the signal imme-
diately after the car reached the level, and
pulled the lever Of the engine at once In mo-
ment a creaking noise was heard, horse was
seen to rear on his hind legs, a fash OF IRE from
the exploded lamp burst in the air and loud
shrieks followed. The car was seen to turn over
AMI then tumble Into the abyss below. The en-
gineer reversed the wheel and then were heard
the IN oans Of the wounded.
Ohicer Short and some friends hurried down
the hillside. Not only had the victims been
hurled from the car, but many lay buried be-
the doors and windows of the car were hat
tered. Blood was strewn on the track.
The wounded were carried, some to their
homes and some to the Charity Hospital.
Mr. Frank Gerring Of New York avenue, Jer-
sey City Heights. was taken from under the
the bumpers OF the elevator. He was uncon-
scious, aud his spine WAS broken, his shoulder
fractured, and several ribs broken. He cannot
live.
Julius Grocsbel. Of Hutton street, Jersey City
from a. severe confusion of the scalp, a disio-
GATED Jaw, and complaining Oh Internal In
juries. He was taken home.
Julius Bette. of ll6 Washington street, Ho-
boken, was crushed beneath tao roof OF the car.
lie was also unconscious, and was bleeding from
the mouth and nose, denoting serious Internal
injuries HIS left leg and arm are fractured and
his back Is injured.
boken, was thrown against the door of the car
and buried under the wheels. His skull Is frac-
tureu, IIgNt reg DTOkeD, Lnu ne nds a CONFUSION
OF the left arm. Hts recovery IL very doubtful.
Mrs. Meinken, OF 1gS Hudson street, Hoboken,
was picked up unconscious. The shock to her
nervous system was so great that she shrieked
for fully half an hour after the accident. She
was taken home In coach.
Mrs. CathaIine Hastings was injured about the
body, and her left foot was crushed. one Hol-
brook Of the Heights had both legs broken.
william Rechell of New York suffers from
broken knee cap and other injuries.
Alderman Henry j. Powell Of jersey City was
on the rear platform OF the car when It
4 a
cavern.
Conrad Buesch and William Hoessing. youths,
were slightly injured. OF the twenty seven In
the car scarcely one Escaped injury. George
Goez, the driver, and Martin A. Day, the con-
ductor, were slightly bruised.
The truckman, James Spence, whose duty II
Is to give the signal to tho engineer, declares
that he did not ring the bell, ana his theory Is
that IL was TuOg by the action OF the heat IN ex-
banding the wire attached to the bell alarm.
The engineers theory is that the explosion Of
Saturday night caused a disarrangement of the
battery, and thus made IL more delicate to the
touch, or else the jar Of the being driven on
the platform caused vibration Of tue wire and
rang tue alarm.