New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-06
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
A swITCHMAN'S FATAL CARELESSNESs.

A SWITCHMAN'S FATAL CARELESSNEcS'
COLLISION on SWITCH OF 1HE ERIE RAILROAD
WHEREBY A CONDUCTOR AND AN fNdiNEtR
WERE KILLED.
The Penn Horn Creek siding OF the New-lork'
Lake Ere and Western Railroad, on the lacEen-
sack Meadows. was the scene of a disaster at
O'Clock Yesterday morning. Two men were killed
outright and several we're severely injured: the
caboose of freight train was crushed Iocomo-
tive was wrecked and several passenger cars were
slightly damaged
The Ncw-Jerscy and New-Yorll Railroad Com
pany has no track Of its own wittn seven miles oi
Jersey City. and runs its trains the Erie Com
pauys tracks "a far as ETie Junction. The Penn
Horn switch is situated abont mile north OF inc
Bergen Tunnel. Early yesterday morning 'rciSn'
train No 10 of the Ncw-Yorl Lake Eric and west
ern Railroad. heavily laden with hogs poultry ana
live stock arrived at the switch. winch had been
opeped by the switchman on duy, Clark Bogert.
The train was switched off the siding to allow
passenger train on the New-Jerscy and New-York
Road-9ue in New York from ilavcrstraw at GIL
to pass along the main track. Train No 10 had only
been few minutes the siding when the passenger
train reached the switch aud instead Of continuing
on the main Inc it entered tho side track at full
speed and crashed into the of the freight tram
Owing to the fog and the darkness the engineer OF
the passenger train, David Quackenbush. had not
only failed TO see that the switch was
open, but had been unable to catch a
glimpse of the train ahead OF INN. The
caboose of the freight train crushed into
splinters, while the locomotive OF the passenger
train was completely wrecked So great was the
shock that portion OF the foremost phsscnsci ''i
As soon as the passengers. and the conductor and
other employees recovered from the FIRST shock they
hurried 10 the spot where the shattered car lay.
few moments search disclosed the bodies OF
Engineer Quackenbush. of the passenger tram and
of James De Bev0ise. a conductor on the caDoose OF
the freight train, both terribly mutilated. Inc
engineer was disembOwelled and one of his legs was
completely severed DE BevOse was found with
the top of his head cut Off Conductor George ).
Glllett of Train No. 10, was on the caboose with
De Bevoise, and seeing the engine coming, gave
the warning to his companion. The latter
caught by an iron bar and killed on the spot.
Besides the two men killed, several were severely
injured Among them was Garrett oorhis,
brennan on the passenger train. whose foot was
crushed Y. H. Hale an employe on the same tram.
and Miller Burnley. a passenger. Hardly had the
employees and others realized the full extent OF tue
accident when the swltchmau, BOgert, was seen 10
approach the switch aud close 1t steaithy. 1t was
believed that his carelessness was the cause OF me
dis3ster and that lie was trying To destroy tie
evidence of his negligence. rush was made to
secure him. but he fled hastily
The railroad and police authorities and coroner
were at informed of the disaster and before an
hour had elapsed number Of men was AZ WORK
clearing away the remnants OF the wreck. ne en-
CINE of the Passenger tram was taken TO JeTsIy
City by the Ere Company's wrccklng ear. The
wreck OF the caboose was quickly cleared away and
the traffic on the line was only slightly delayed.
The coroner ordered the bodies OF the two
deceased men 10 be taken to jersey CITY,
David Quackenbush was over thirty wears old and
was married. lie mas been considered for a long
time a capable engineer. HIS wife lives ~ Hills
dale. DE BevOise was Young man and hVed III
Port Jervs. whittier his remains were forwarded
last night.
Great indignation was expressed at the switch
mans conduct. Justice Peloubet ISSUED a warrant
early III the afternoon for his arrest on charge OF
maIlSlaugater and a detective was immediately sent
to Clos er ~ j.. where lie is said 20 live. Garrett
NOOrnis. the fireman of the passenger tram, was
seen by TRIBUNE reporter IN the ST. francIS HOS
pltal in Jersey CITY. " When We reached the Penn
Horn switch he said, we could neither see mat
the switch was open nor that train on the sid
ing because the headlight of westeTn-b0uud tram
which was passing shOne full in our eyes ana some
than 100 Yards from the switch. We entered
the track at speed OF about
thrty-tve miles hour, and crashed INTO
the ght train minute after. At the time OF the
collision think was putting on the tank brake.
Qaackeubush his post III the front part OF the
engine. The shock stunned me completely, and
when regalned conselousneSs tumpled around
among the debris. aud finally succeeded IN making
NV way TO the passenger car which was also half
wrecked. In my opinion the fault of the accident Is
with the swilchman He was told 10 shut the switch
by the on my tram fully ntteen minutes before
the collision occurred, out lie nevertheless failed to
do So.'
At the Office of the New-York, Lake Erie and West
ern Railroad il this city few additional particulars
could be learned. he superntendent OF the East
EN- Division of the railroad, whose office Jersey
CITY, admitted that the fault lay with the switch
man. who IN the pay of the Ere Company, adj
ding that the man had hitherto performed his duties
satisfactorily. The regular SWltchm1n OF the Penn
Horn switch had been sick for several DAYS, and Bo
CERT was ouly mpOJary occupying his place.
the damage by the collision Is estimated at
$1,000