The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-15
DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

LIEUTENANT TOTEM, OF TIE FIRST ARTIL-
LERy, KILLED on THE RAILROAD, AT COLD
SPRING, ON THE HUDSON. r~@
West Point and the village OF Cold Spring, on tho
Hudson, wero yesterday morning saddened by The
,raglc death OF Lieutenant Edward H. lotten, OF
the First artillery. which occurred on the track
OF tho New York Central ana Hudson River
Railroad a few hundred yards below the
Cold Spring station. Lieutenant rotten had come
on from Fort Adams, Newport, where his battery Is
stationed TO attend tho Alumni dinner at West Point,
which took place on Thursday evening. he spent tho
night at the home OF his friend, Mr. Gouverneur
Kemble, of Cold Spring and It was while on
his way from Mr. Kemble's house to the
station nearby that tho accident The young
officer about to return TO West Point TO bid fare
well departing friends, and instead OF taking
the train 10 Garrson's and crossing thence by the
regular ferry, 1t was his intention to mako the trip
IN a small boat going directly over from tho Gold
Spring wharf Tho house where he was vi sting bor
ders on tho double track within quarter OF
leading from The rroupds TO the bed OF the road In
the short walk 10 tho main street OF the village on
which stand tho depot and the dock Lieutenant Tot
ten was accompanied by Miss May, Miss Gertrude amt
Master Gouverneur Kembie, his hosts children and
their cousin, Miss Maria Kembe, who was about 10
return visit to her fathers house In this city.
The ages OF the young ladies' ranged from thirteen,
Whereabouts 10 twenty, and the boy Is bright lad OF
twelve or fourteen -
Tho party proceeded quickly along tho track dis
tancc OF six eight hundred feet, until rocky
cut reached that leaves oIt little space on either
side OF tic tracks, Suddenly tho snrill whistle OF mn
approaching train was heard, aud looking behind
them the girls and young man discovered the Pough
keepse local traip aue 9:10, coming up from the
south. Without the least excitement or alarm they
all stepped to the west track but were there con
fronted by tho ST. Louis express coming down upon
them at The rate oi forty miles hour, the train
being several minutes behind time. Tho danger was
imminent and for moment the frightened girIsran
rapidly back forth the tracks, Lieutenant
Totem doing what he could 10 calm thcm and get
them a place of safety. Finally the youngest,
to an open space Doiore a TOOL house some seventy
away Miss Maria, the cousin sprang from Tho rails
and clung close 10 the rocky wall tverhangng the
western track. The young lieutenant stood between
thu two tracks calling to MISS Maria KEN bio TO come
to him. but she wisely remained whore she was nd
tried 10 persuade him 10 come to her.
THE ACCIDENT
But few seconds had passed when the approach
Ing rans rushed through the cut 10 either direction
When hey had passed the liieess body OF Lieutenant
Tottcn stretched on the gravel road, whore
he had been staining The accident had been wit
the depot, and In moment crowd had gath
cred on tho scene II was found that one
train had struck the un man with fatal effect
savngely, ana the blood was flowing from deep
wound IN the back OF the head. The neck and arms
were also broken etretchcr was procured. and
Mr.. Kembles ran to the West Point foundry, Of
which that gentleman Is part owner to tell him OF mis-
p pursy carrying his friends remains across
tho grounds surrounding hts house, and had them
horne TO small parlor tho ground floor, where the
body was soon cared Tor by the village under
takcr The expression OF the dead mans features
natural ana composed that IL Is believed he was
struck instantly dead without knowing OF the danger
In which he stood,
LIEUTENANT rorrExs CAREER.
Lieutenant Totten was, Mr.. Kemble believes, q
native OF Washington, where his father, the late Cap
tain Totlcn Of the navy, and his mother were buried,
the former ton or twelve and the latter two years
since. He was born in 1874 and graduated from tho
Military Academy in 1866. For a imo he was sta
toncd at Newport ana later acted assistant pro-
lessor OF drawing at West Point Wnilc
thercs Ave six years ago, he was admitted
TO the Masonic lodge ut Cold Spring Afcrward,
while stationed at Charleston, $. e.. he was 50 kindly
Tor by lodge IN that place that he hnaly Joined
It, though still belonging TO the chapter Of the Cold
Spring lodge. About TWO years ago his battery was
removed 10 Fort Adams, whittier no was to have
returned to-day His vile, formerly Miss Marian
K,nsey, has been teegraphed to, and Is expected TO
arrive from Newport to-day.
Many Of Lieutenant rotten's old friends at tho
Academy VISITED his remains yesterday afternoon,
and will, II possible take some measures to show
their esteem ana friendship for thor former COM
rode. II II not yet known when or where the inter-
mcnt will rake pIace though II Is supposed be VIII be
buried In Washington.
An inquest was held early last evening by Coroner
kesd, OF Hrcwstcrs Station, twenty nve miles from
the OF Inc uccf1ont, vcrufct wa. !
in accordance with the iacts given above. Inc
nesses tho fireman OF the Pougnkccpsio train and
Gouverneur Kcn,blc, Jr., hts older sister being
shock Lieutenant Totem leaves NO children, bus an
unusually largo number Of friends.
young man named Totten grad uatcd ns West Point
on Thursday, ana the coincidence OF names led 10
rumor In shis city that he was the victim OF the
cident.