The New York herald., 1878-09-13
OFF THE TRACK.
Disaster on the South Side Railroad
of Long Island.
ONE KILLED, TEN WOUNDED.
an Express Train Rolls Down on Embank-
ment and is Completely Wrecked

Another accident added yesterday TO tho upen-
viable histcry of the Long Island Railroad. The
Rockaway express train which left the Hunters Point
depot at hafpast ten O'Clock A. NJ, composed Of
engine No. IA and throe passenger cars, thrown
or the track and down embankment ten feet high,
near Sprague's lane, just beyond BIissvie, and 30
completely wrecked 1t that It is miracle that the
great majority OF tho sevensy-fve passengers on tho
train escaped unharmcd. Unfortunately, ono passen-
ger lost his lie and ten Others more or iess
severely injured. Near the place above mentioned,
only about mile from the starting point is sharp
curve, and here the locomotive suddenly lurched into
the swamp below, alter tearing up about ono hun
dred feet of the rail- The first dragged
along and finally landed on top OF tho
locomotive Tho Two other cars, the nrst Of
which Q smoker Of course became uncoupled
and rolled over tho smbankment until they became
imbedded In the mire below. The passengers In the
front car which rested the locomotive, sustained
NO injury, but the fearful punges made by the two
rear caused serious damage. II was not long De-
fore tho passengers the narrow escape from
death which had been vouchsafed them. The first
shock and they scrambled out OF tho wrecked
cars up the embankment the best way thcy could,
forming scene OF confusion and excitement. II was
not then known contom plating they dd the fear.
tul wreck below, how slight had been tho physical
suffering Of their fellow passengers The most dire
tmprecations were heaped upon the head OF the rail-
road officials.
CAUSE or THE DISASTER.
While yet she passengers were walking along the
torn up track and many women anu children were
drying their tears from fright, several gentlemen ex
amineI the tics and seepers. Ono Of those stated
that In tho Immediate Vicinity OF the sharp the
ties were actually rotten. Though expert, he was
emphatic in charging that these rotten ties caused
the Disaster At any rate, is known that the nange
OF the front wheel OF the engine broke there then
and at caused the dcraiment Of the entire trau
Whether this 1asge broke in consequence the sud
ion upsetsna OF the locomotive, by tho rotten
alleged, or whether 1t broke owing 10 a flaw in the
Iron. remains subject for future investigation.
Word at once sent 10 both ends OF the road
train from Fresh Pond soon along and took
those who desired to proceed on their Journey to
their respective destinations. They were lew how.
ever, as many remained on the ground 70 nurse and
Ing tram from Hunters Point, with Receiver Snarp
superintendent Spencer and several physicians
sim worse. Everybody desired to say something to
the officers OF the road, whose first duty was OF
course 70 The helpless wounded. lying bleed
was noticed lying under one OF the wrecked It
was then not known that life already extinct but
mansed features Of Isaiah Weaver recognized
by his brother, who himself Injured. 1t s pre-
sumed that Weaver attempted TO jump out OF one of
the windows OF Tho car when ne notccd danger
ahead, but the poor. fellow must have been whiricd
rgh. aong with the turning passenger car and thus
well known by tae employees OF tho road by ire.
qucntcrs at Reckaway whero be had been performing
us negro minstrel ut Da,zs Pavilion Hts body was
placed in the wrecging train. Drs. z. p. Denier Bur.
nett and Gray at once set to work in caring for the
wounded, postponing moro deliberate treatment OF
several OF their patients till they reached hunters
Point
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
When all had been placed tne wreckinR train Il
was fopnd that tho following casualties had been
ISAIAH L. WEAVER, No. 842 West Forly.eighth
street, New York, killed.
MICHAEL DURKIN. fireman, Greeepo,nt, severely
scaldod about The body and lower limbs. At late
hour last evening no was reported In dying con.
ditiOD
b. FRIEDMAN, pedIer, Allen street, Now York.
arm dislocasod, serious internal injuries.
FRANK vONDERSMlTH, No. 28 East Twenty first
street. New York, seriously Injured internally, also
GEORGE A. DECKER, news ascut on tho train,
deep cash right temple skull probably fracured
HERMAN GHOBE. No. "a Prioco street, Now York
proprietor OF Rocknway hotel, injured about the
MICHAEL MULLIGAN, fireman, slightly injured.
GEoRGE WEAVER, brother Of the ono killed, In
ternaI injuries.
jurics
HENRY HTEMEYBR New York, another hotel
Keeper a. Rockaway, internal injuries.
Doctor Denicr speaks In lhe highest terms Of Dur
ke, the fireman, who stuck 10 tho engine as long
he possibly could. The Doctor said he had much
to do quoting the Of the women not OF
whom was Injured, as In bandaeng the wounds Of
the moro unfortunate male passengers Arrived at
Hunters Point, beds had already been provided IN
Soltans Hotel, at the corner Of Third street aud
Front, which was turned into a temporary hospital
their respective homes by employees OF the road,
while ctbers, who only slightly injured, were
taken charge OF by their friends.
TRAFFIC susPESDEe.
During tho entire day no ono could take the South
S!dc road There being only single track no cars
could pass the scene OF the disaster. W was impos
sibie TO clear that single track IRON the mass of
a6bris aud broken cars that lay deeply mbeddsd In
tho SAND and along the cmbabk mcnt. A large gang
Of men were work. but they could make but little
headway their difficult task OF raisn ng the iifatcd
cars from the mire In tho meantime the horso cars
and other vohicles taken advantage OF by those
Who were compelled to visit the villages along tho
south SIDE road II Is beloved, however, that the
sranio viii BIO entirely restored during to-day.
THE sUPBRiNTEspENr's STATEMENT
Mr. s. spencer, superintendent Vi .be Long leland
the HERALD representative yesterday evening He
scknowlcdged that IL was sad accident which
body regrs,ted more than The officials Of the road
ue said:-"rhe Southern road IL leased 10 the Long
Island road. The train which loft here this morning
At thirty five mnutes past nine contained three pas-
senger cars, one OF which was for Brighton Beach.
The tram IN charge Of Conductor Ricard. II mad
only proceeded four miles whom tho nsnge Droko
tho forward truck wheel OF tho engine. which
~ once threw the engine OF the truck Tho
passenger contained about seventy 70 seventy
uvo passengers: Ths.ensine had been GU. Of The re-
huc, wero not repaired, and Is but natural 10 sup
pose that when goes into the repair shop 10
safety OF the engine as you are aware depends upon
this nanec. Most Of the injured Passengers wen, on
their way hoMcward without requiring any medical
attention. We have now a large gang OF men work
20 clear tho track, and trust will bo 10 run
ming order tomorrow"
ACTION CORONER.
Coroner Daoren, Of Long Island City, who took
charge of the remains OF poor Weaver EN- pan elcd q
Jury In the afternoon aud proceedsd TO the OF
the disaster. The engine was then still embedded In
the swamp, but the Jury made careful examination
OF the place where the 0ange broke. blacksmith,
nod d hs d n v. IA no N ed Out
naw In the hsnge, witch, ho maintains, caused the
break IL appeared to him 10 be an exceedingly pad
piece Of iroB. The other members OF the Jury also
examined H. and most Of them stated that there
no question but this flaw caused the breaking OF tho
nsEse. master mechanic also pointed out 1av In
the irop The jury's attention wes directed TO tbs
indenturo ON tno rails and on the seepcrs. They
were surprised 10 sec sucn q large portion OF the
Track torn up showing that the must have been
dragged through Tho sand some distance before they