The New York herald., 1878-02-23
A RAILROAD WRECK.

DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT ON THE HUDSON
AND CENTRAL RoAD-FEARFUL DASH OF AN
EXPRESS rBAIN-FIvE HUNDRED FEET OF
TRACK TORN uP-ENGINEs AND FREIGHT
CARS DEsrBoYED-No LIVES LOST.
Low POINT Feb. %, 1873.
brief account only OF tho accident on the HUDSON
River Railroad could be last evening. so as
escape from loss Of lie is concerned this disaster
the most wonderful on record As stated In the
ond telegram the freight train onsisted Of fortynve
empty cars In charge OF conductor James Dobos.
and was bound north. 1t passed Fishk, according to
Mr. Dobbs' statement. At thirty threo minutes past
seven p. NJ. tho six O'Clock express from New York
being due tbcre at eight minutes 10 eight p. NJ Dobbs
hurrying his train along TO strike the ard track,
or switch, Just north Of this station he says he
reached hers at twenty minutes to eight p NJ, and
the express due at three minutes 10 eight That
gave him seventeen minutes TO get the switch and
let the express pass. twenty-five OF his forty.hve
cars had passed the switch when the other
twenty cars broke loose. Ho says that as
soon as he found tina, his tram had broken
in two be hurried to McElroy, his caboosemap, and
started him back with red light to signal the ex.
press IL is 600 fost from where the capooseman
started to the south OF the station and just
ns he reached that curve the express laundering
around IT, The latter train composed oil two
powerful LOGON oiivcs-No. s6 by John Greenach,
and No 80, run Dy John Burns-one express car, one
baggage cur, two postal cars, one smoking car, two
sieepins soscncs No SO was The head engine, and
as soon 40 engineer Grecnhlch the cheeseman's
signal he blew quick sharp whistle for brakes;
then another and another
PLoucnIxG INTO THE FREIGHT CARS.
The train was on time and running at tho rate OF
forty miles hour. Tho speed seemed 10 slacksn
hardly any, and the big engines, backed by tho heavy
coaches smashed into the caboosc of tho freight train
with appalling force, hurlng IL cast OF the track and
then poughed through four or 1vc moro cars huring
them side and another win terrific crash, when
suddenly No SO LEI. The rnck, and turning almost
end for end fell on her side and lies diagonay across
the track. Grecnach and his fireman jumped just
before the engine struck the caboosc, and Inc wonder
is they were killed instantly, bat they were only
partially stunned and In moment were on their feet
and started for their engine. Greenalcn's knee was
the nead Engine SO also left the track and her ton
der Iammed into her, but Engineer Burns and his
:%.nsd ~ 'ns Gse sns
over saw, aud II IS doubtful II she can bc repaired
Not single platform on the cars Of the
cept the forward the forward baggage car, and
the injury TO that is hardly percepbie, tho roddng
only bong little twisted Al the first smash all the
passengers on the train were snook about some ia
thor seats, but that was ALL and not car or atruck
on the tram eit the track II was remarkaoio, anu
to tho new platform. Tho locomotives drawing the
poughed their way through 300 feet OF cars be-
ARRIVAL or wRroKiso CARS.
As az tho excitement died out wrsc<ing trains
that had been Tor arrived ~ was o0emc0
yisablc TO the broken IN tho river In ordor
TO got down track clear tha trains could pass
The obstrucions were removed about nve A A., ana
At quarter TO six A. M. tha ilfa express reached
Poughkecpsic. The express which lett Poughkccpsie
At five minutes TO oight last night Also passed
the break a. halfpast nvc this morning and then all
other detained trains moved along slowly. During
the long hours o the night the passen-
gers on both trains were detained, curled
thsmselvss up In Their seats and slept with one eye
open. their maps being interrupted and then ~
sand wioh podIes who went up through the cars sell.
ine smoked beef sandwiches for fftecu cents each
There were quite number OF Poughkecpsans on tho
up express, and largo number OF nombers OF tho
Legislature on the down express, also Ar. Clark,
superintendent OF Public Works, Cbarics h. Smith,
OF The Albany Journal aud others
A
The scene the this morning is O very DESC.
lats enc. The track for 500 feet is sTewn with car