Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-08-15
PLUNGED THROUGH A BRIDGE.
A New Jersey Passenger Train Takes a
Fearful Leap.


says: The 7:45 A. NJ. train from New
York on the Long Branch division Of
the Central Railroad of New Jersey, due
here at $50 this morning, was thrown
into the Shrewsbury river at Ocean Port,
some sixty passengers in all being hurt
more or less seriously. One has died,
and it is feared that others will die The
accident occurred on the draw of the
bridge which spans the Shrewsbury
river and was due to the displacement
of the draw, a space of six inches or
more intervening between the rails of
the main track and those on the draw.
The first sign of trouble to the passen-
gers was that the cars jumped the track
as the cars moved onto the draw After
running on the tressle-work Of the draw
the engine telescOped the mail and bag
gage-car, and rolled over the embanS-
ment at the edge Of the water. There
were a mail-car, a baggage-car, a COM
bination-car, and three coaches attached
to the train, and on leaving the station
at Redbank the passengers numbered
more than four hundred, the cars being
so packed that people were standing in
the aisles. Three of the cars in the rear
of the mail and baggage car fell on their
sides into the river The rear coach,
although jumping the track, remained
standing on the draw AS the cars fell
the screams and cries for help from
women and children, and even men,
were heartrending. The greatest con-
sternation prevailed. Shouting and cry
ing for help were heard on all sides.
Those who could stand were waist-high
in water, while others were chnging to
and supporting themselves by clutching
the arms Of seats, bundle-racks, win
dows, etc. The passengers in the last
car left it at once and helped their more
unfortunate fellow-passengers in the for
ward cars, lying side up in the muddy
stream. The inhabitants in the vicinity
and fishermen out grabbing in the river
assisted like heroes, and, one after an
other, the passengers were taken
through the car windows and through
holes stove in the roofs of the coaches,
until it was supposed all were removed
Conductor Gus fairfield, although badly
cut about the face, assisted In hel ping
to rescue the passengers, and when this
work was finished he telegraphed to
Long Branch for a special train and
medical assistance for the wounded
The train was soon forwarded, and
those who were able to be removed
were put on board and sent to Long
Branch. Among the number was Hat
field himself who did not think of his
injuries until arriving at the depot, when
assistance had to be given to carry him
on q stretcher from the car to d bed
At Long Branch depot the Central rail
road authorities had prepared cots for
the wounded, and as fast as they were
brought in they were conveyed to them
The depot looked like hospital, with
its row of cots and stretchers, the means
Of the wounded being heartrending. Of
the wounded brought to Long Branch
many who were only slightly injured
were removed to hotels by their friends.
The farm-houses and cottages in the vi
cinity Of Ocean Port were turned into
hospitals also. At one little farmhouse
that of Capt Edwards-there were no
less than eleven of the sufferers. On a
couch lay the worst case, that of a
young man named Edward Vermeuler,
son of Dr. Vermeuler, of Philadelphia.
His spine had been cut nearly in two,
and no hopes of his recovery were en-
tertained by the surgeon who attended
him. In the room adjoining. were DR..
Love, of Montclair, with a deep cash on
the top of his head, while by his side
lay his wife, with cut in the back and
another over the right eye. Next to the
mother lay the daughter, Miss Edith
Love, suffering from scalp wound !;
| while the youngest Of the family, Daisy
Love, had confusion over the eye.
In an adjoining room was Charles Car
| telyon, of New York. with ten broken
ribs and cut in the back; Miss Allie
Todd, Of Elizabeth, N. j., with her fore
head laid open; Mrs. r. Remsen, of
Augusta, Ga, suffering from cash on
the side and another in the temple,
while her husband had broken leg, a
dislocated arm, and cut in the fore
At Smocks cottage there were seventeen
cases, one of which proved fatal, that of
Mrs. Augusta White, Of Red Bank
Mrs. White was internally injured.
Our VICEs.-From whisky, tobacco
and beer the United States government