The New York herald., 1876-11-12
ANOTHER RAILROAD DISASTER.

4 TRAIN or CARS RUNS OFF THE TRACK IN THE
JERSEY CENTRAL RAILROAD DKPor-wAs IT
AN ACCIDENT, OR THE LACK OF HANDS?
Yesterday afternoon when tho Philadelphia passsn-
ger tram, due at the Communipaw Jerry NJ ten min
utes past four. reached the Jersey Central Railroad
depot, or tho track. carried away portion Of
the freight oncs and plunged into the river Fortu
pately only slight injuries sustained by any OF
tho passengers, and but the conductor at
all seriously injured. The OF the accident
has not az yet received any plausible expana-
ton, but a theory prevails that the vacuum
brakes gave way and the engineer unable 10 slow
up In time to avoid the dsastsr~ II appears that the
train was precisely on time, coming at the usual
rate Of speed Tho switches were adjusted and safely
passed and the engine rushed along entering tho
passage to the depot at its road pace and showing
evidences OF stacking up At once It occurred to the
few bystanders that something was wrong An alarm
was given, which caused loungers the tracks
to scamper out OF the way and the clerks IN the
freight oinco, which lay almost on line with the
from the scene OF their labors Warning lights were
swung by the guards and cry burst
ing through the depot But only moment passed
before the mighty engine rushed OF and beyond the
track. caught with the smokcsack the projection OF
the roof dashed through the wall OF the freight once
and plunged into tho river alongside. As the Train
whried along and just as II reached tho end OF tho
out, falling TO the ground senserss moment before
tho urcman had jumped OF further up the depot.
depot which was responded to BY tho startled passeu
| gers and thsn thcro was hurryng 10 the
spot. while the crushed wall piled up It's
| rights, wrenched from their places, ratified
down The engine bursting into the freight Office.
was brought 10 The end OF the pier and, crashing
through The beams underneath, IL topped INTO the
river and sunk from sight Just behind Il was CON-
b,na.ion baggage and smoking and y was thrown
/ II N block
ing the noxt car ana Al once stopping tho rest OF the
train Tho hands employed on tho road wore through
the wreck OF tho fallen wall IN moment and tender
ing hcir assistance TO tho occupants of the smoking
car which lay on one side, partially immersed In the
by tho force OF The collision and through these open
ings the passengers were helpca one by one.
serious injuries 4 fow bruises aud scratches
| being tho only wounds complained Of The adjoining
held last between tho beams was largely occupied by
ladies' and, except for the fright, they the
worse When they had been released from their un-
pleasant condition the englDoer became the centre OF
plying group He was able to speak, but did 30 in .
rambling incohercnt way that proved hts be
wavering His ribs 1t AZ first thought crushed
IN. but examination proved his injuries compare
| lively slight HIS condition, however, precuded tho
possby Of getting any information or the causes Of
the accdens from him, and they lott to the
conjecture OF the road employees The opinion
most generally Expressed was that tho AR brakes
had broken failed AZ the train reached the
depot and no chance given of slowing up in any
way lsssening the speed OF tho trasn William Pebbles
!
those who know him consderats and com petent
workman. He remained At his post, too. .l the last
moment, and only left u when longer stay would
have made his death q certainty.
soon after the accident The superintendent OF tho
road arrived but declared himself unable discover
the cause OF the disaster. Ho too disposed
tribute 1t TO some accidental failure OF the brakeA
During tho evening tho boats bringing people TO
the trains increased the gathering that camo to look
upon the smash up. and Incoming trains contributed
their quota 10 tho crowd
Judging from the wreck left behind IL tho engine
| mn hav n 4 rata al
speed, which in measure slackened till Il crushed
through timbers walls and pier Heavy supports
was q heap OF spnters. ferryboat had been at
the extremity Of the pier WHOM tho engine plunged
s,rcnrsh Of the spiles around i which were crushed
In and displaced. Last nght the lay the acc
don't lott them, the smoking car overturned and rest
ing upon the battered engine, which buried under
the water and the other passenger supported be-
tween the shattered dock timberA
while q HERALD reporter was ON the scene Of the
disaster ho made inquiries touching brake
men the train, who must have been able account
for the accident IN some way number Of employ q
OF the road hand at the time and OF them
invountarily. doubt let drop that there only
one brakeman on service, and that he mad jumped
mcd,ateiy turned to question this man, when one o
tho other employees, understanding his mission inter
posed with statement that there were three To th
tho rss employ6 objected and backed his opinion b.
offer to bet $40 that therc was bat one brakeman
which the other, alter some wrangling, declined tc
accept
This information II Il DO true reflects rather badly
the officers Of the New Jersey Central Railroad II
aot one brakeman train OF eight cars can hardly
be tho rule OF tho road, but II Is such disasters
tnat OF yesterday may be attributed to other
than tho failure Of the paten. air brakes to perform
reporter failed to satisfactorily settle the question
whether the train had been properly manned or not
Railroad look well 10 It that lack Of assistants
their trains may be mado the cause OF accidents which
yesterdays nigh. have done. had not peculiar crcum
stances providentialy prevented IT,