The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-01-02

rye rsasns s.saasA With women
and Children Crash Together in
the Air.
From the New York Herald, Dec. 81.

I From the New York Herald, Dec. 81.
Through the grass and criminal care
lessness OF a switchman an accident oc
Cured yesterday afternoon on the Ele.
4 waited Railroad which only the kindly
Intervention OF Providence prevented
from resulting in serious loss of life
The 2:48 down train from Fifty-ninth
street, and the 2:52 up train from the
p. m, just above Vandam street, on
! the siding running from Vandam to
Houston street. 1t appears that the
switchman (who had up to late hour
last evening eluded the search of the
police) had misplaced the switch at
Vandam street. Instead OF placing
the switch for the up train so that the
latter should move up the main track,
il was turned toward the siding
Hence, while the down train was com
ing down upon the siding, tho up train,
instead of moving straight mp on the
main track, glided of upon the siding,
aud at distance of about fifty feet
above Vandam street the two trains
collided with TREMENDOUS force. Each
train consisted OF an engine and two
cars. In the down train were about
twenty-five passengers, several ladies'
and children, aud the up train was full.
There was quite number OF old ladies
on both trains.
As the two trains met with thun-
dsring crash, q long shrek of terror
went up from the cars. while the pass
ers-by in Greenwich street underneath
stood rooted to the spot in mortal fear
that the swaying cars should fall over
their heads. As soon as they recover
ed their senses they ran for their lives
and gave the Elevated Railroad wide
berth. Meanwhile scene OF the wild
est excitement ensued. People living
| in the neighboring houses ran 10 the
windows and out on the housetops,
crying ont to each other, while the
shrieks from the women and children
in the two trains added TO the confu-
sion and general alarm. When the
trains struck the passengers expected,
OF course, that they would be precipi-
tated below, and had this been the
case there 10 no doubt that many would
have been crushed under the wrecked
cars or died from the shock. But for
tunately neither train was thrown from
the track. The up train moving with
greater celebrity than the down train the
latter was hurled back for somo dis
tance. Officer Hart, of the Eight pre-
cinct, who happened TO be on the spot
| at the time, stated that the engine OF
the down train, which was in its rear,
was uncoupled by the shock, and shot
back IA far nearly as Leroy street, but
this is denied by employees of the
company.
The fireman OF the up train, James
/ +. John, heard the engineer give
piercing shrek of "Oh, my Godl" and
thinking that all was lost he madly
leaped down to the roadway, where he
was soon after picked up unconscious
by the police, carried to the Eighth
Precienct Station House and thence
removed IN an ambulance TO his resi-
dence. No. IA st. Marks place. John
Blsdsley, the conductor Of the down
train, was standing on the platform
and was thrown back with great force,
injuring his left shoulder and legs,
while the engineer, Garrett Briggs,
was hurt in the ribs. Other employees
also sustained slight injuries.
In the cars the greatest consterna-
/ ton prevailed, even after the immi-
nent danger OF being precipitsted-bs.
low had passed of. The crash had
completely smashed the engine of the
up train, aud the steam, which had
luckily been let of by the engineer,
filled the cars nearly to suffocation.-
Several of the terrified women tainted,
and, according to the statement OF one
OF the passengers, several children al
so swooned away and vomited from
fright. At the first crash all had leap
ed from their seats to save themselves,
but were thrown on their faces and sew
errl sustained slight cuts AID bruises,
which, however, were serious
enough 10 be rep.r.' the police
station. But as the steam now filled
the cars the men smashed in the win
dows, thus cutting their hands, and
some who we're more frightened than
the rest proceeded 10 jump from the
platforms, and would probably have
done so had not officer Hart halloed TO
keep still in the cars, as ladders would
be fetched at once to take them down.
Sergeant Reilly, OF the Eighth Pre-
cinct, arrived in few minutes with a
posse of about fifteen men, aud then
with the aid OF numerous ladders the
lucky passengers who had so providen-
TALLY escaped not only death, but even
serious injury, came down with slow
and trembling steps. 1t was no slight
task TO bring down some OF the old Ia
dies aud children who had tainted
away from fright, and Who were pale
as ashes and quivering in every limb;
and the great crowd OF curious sight
seers and street roughs which had
meanwhile gathered, as well as the In
tense cold, by no means added 10 the
pleasures OF their situation. But the
fright was not confined 10 the women
and children-eyen the sturdiest men
were thoroughly scared-and as they
shook themselves aud stole away il
could easily be seen that they had ex.
perienced a most painful sensation oi
mortal fear which they had not yet goi
quite over. Carriages we're quickly
fetched to remove some Of the ladies
and their children, and all the passen-
gers soon left the scene Of the accident
The peighborhood remained tho
scene Of considerable excitement
! throughout the afternoon. The sight
OF the wrecked engine of the mp train
which had crashed into the track and
which for some time kept spoutine
forth steam and water, and of the bat
. tered engine and platform OF the dowr
train in the rear, seemed TO afford tia,
crow great satisfaction, for they re-
NAMED there until dusk.