The New York herald., 1876-10-28
RAILWAY DISASTER.
A rRKIoHT TRAIN CRASHES THROUGH A

rRKIoHT TRAIN CRASHES THROUGH A
BRIDGE ON THE NEW JERSEY MIDLAND
RAmRoAD-Two PERSONS KILLED.
Yesterday another accident occurred the New
Jersey Midland Railroad which, during BRIEF unfor-
tunate existence has become notorious for such
events This last, however, can hardly bo attributed
TO any negligence or carelcssncss the part OF the
company The bridge which broke down not con-
sdcred defective in its construction and could only
have been destroyed by some such unforeseen circum
stances characterized the peculiar accident yester
day. It's position upon angular abutments may have
rendered the crash easier, but IS doubtful II any of
the modern IRON railway bridges could have withstood
the force directed against II in such o manner
Most OF the facts in tho following account ofthc
cdent were given TO a HERALD representative last
evening by Charles S. Story, tho agent Of the Erie
Railway nj Hawthorne station.
DISASTER
at point milo and n half north OF Pater
son, wbero the Midland crosses over.thc Erie road
The former runs upon high embankmen and trestle
work IRON the Passaic River and the Erie at
angie Of about tortyfvc degrees. Tho bridge rested
upon heavy stone abutments, which reach about
twenty i've eet above the Erie track II was one OF
Posts patent iron bridges the same are beng
struced TO largo extent over all modern
was unusually long being between 20 and ioo ice,.
The bridge erected in 1871 and II is said that q
test was made with tho weight OF two engines upon H.
when the DETECTION was Uny three inches
AT eight O'Clock yesterday morning the regular way
freight train No 20 reached this point, ON tho route
from Jersey City 10 Middletown. AS nearly as Mr.
Story could estimate the train was made up OF eloven
small coal trucks. two lumber cars one box Car lled
with cotton. about ten empty flats, caboose and
several ''ponGolas' belonging to the Pennsyivana
Railroad Company and used tor transporting ores
Toe coal dumps. well loaded, were beng pushed
ahead OF the engine, and were to have been
put into Midland Park Immediately be-
lore reaching the bridge defective break upon
double with the behind it, At once they struck
the standpost OF the bridge upon the right hand
Side, breaking It out OF IT'S position and destroying the
whole strength OF resistance Of the structure. Car
THE BRIDGE CRASHED THROUGH
and then the engine and entire train, with the cxcep
ton OF six cars, pushed INTO the gap The SIX cars
upon the rear end Of the train wcro only stopped by
the resistance oil the great heap OF ruins which piled
up 10 the surface Of the road
MIR. story in tho Erie station Office, below and
little tho of the BRIDGE when II Tell The first
warning he had Of the accident the sound OF the
sudden check given to the The instant the
bridge iell and Mr. Story jumped from window just
of tho crushed through the end of his
Office The people OF the neghborhood rushed to the
of disaster ana commenced the work OF removing
the killed aud injured from tno wreck Erie passenger
train No. 25 stopping for water short distance
Of the accident Conductor Garrison at
the train up to the scene and waited 10 carry the
wounded to Paterson.
Tnx KILLED AND WOUNDED
There but fve persons the train ut the time
OF the catastrophe. all Of them employees OF The Mid
land Company. John Duane, the engineer, ana Pat
rick McAuliiie, the fireman, the only persons
killed outright. They both inside the cab which
was utterly demolished, and their bodies when taken
out were terribly nutilated. They were taken IN
charge by COroneTs Vaudenbyhardt and Meyers. OF
Paterson, and atterward sent to their former
homes. An inquest will be held at Paterson to-day.
Duane lived in Port Jervis and McAude in Middle
town.
John Krom, the conductor, jumped from the train
upon the right hand side down bAnkment ol fully
iorty feet. When found he WAS in q conscious
condition. his head being badly bruised and several of
his rDs broken.
A brakeman likewise jumped from the train upon
the lett Eand striking the hard packed ground be-
low One of his legs was broken and his body was
shockingly cut and0pruised
A lagman, who was upon the rear part OF the train
was the only who escaped uninured II Is thought
that the conductor and brakeman may survive.
CLEARING UP TIKI WRECK.
About hour alter the accident Eric wrecking
from the Eric track commenced under the charge
of superintendent Hill .Mossra Hobart and
Mccullough, receiver OF the Midland road, and Super
intsndent William f. Lewis soon after arrived with
another iorce Of men. Trans upon the Eric Road
were meanwhile run by way Of picrmont Al three
O'Clock the track was made clear, and the Erie trains
usual
The scene of the wreck, viewed last evening,
was desolate and appalling. Along the sides OF tho
Erie track for a number o rods, either side of
CROSSING scattered the fragments OF the bridge
and Ono broken In its centre, hung half
this suspended fiat, whose forward end rested
the ground beneath.
The midland trains have TO transfer thor passen-
gers around the wreck, running extra trains upon
both ends OF the read. They expect to complete
another structure over tho break within week p
time.
The price of the HERALD to- dav and henceforfh tciu