New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-02
HOW rur ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

The Coroner will probably order the arrest
OF Lestrangc.
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
The engineers of the two trains which came in
.oison on the Long Island Railroad on Saturday
MONT at Morris Grove, an account of which was
oablshcl in Yesterdays TRIBUNE. were brothers
named John y. and Henry Wolcott. They had
been in tie employ OF the company for number OF
YEARS and were regarded as faithful employees.
John the Younger, had been in charge OF a train
rupuing from Flatbush ave, Brooklyn, TO Jamaica.
II was known as a local train, and carried only
few passengers. For great part of the distance
between these points there is only one track, and
the local train was supposed to give the
night OF way to throu gh trains going in the opposite
direction Henry Wolcott was in charge. for the
frs. time. of the train which left Jamaica for Flat
bush-ave. 1t took the Brooklyn passengers from
the train coming from Long Beach. Three cars con-
tanning them were detached from the excursion
train but as they were overcrowded another car
was added.
The tram left Long Beach at 9:05 p. and, ac-
ordiug to the schedule the cars for Brooklyn should
have started from Jamaica at $3.50 p. delay of
several minutes was caused however, by the change
AZ ian. aica and the train drawn by engine No. B.
did uot ge. away until 9:39 p. Ii started off at
high speed and ran at the rate of twenty miles an
hour The schedule starting time of the local
tram from Brooklyn is p. m., but
for some unexplained reason 1t started
ten minutes late This tram, which was drawn by
engine No. 33. stopped at Van Sicen-ave, aud
while on the switch there train passed 1t, coming
from Rockaway Beach. Although then much be-
hind time John d. WOlcOtt started his train, think
ing he could reach the switch at Morris Grove be-
fore the regular train from Jamaica got there. AT
IL. :. tIa,o fob ha gSaH
il by feeling certain that he could reach Morris
Grove IN time. There is a in the road a little
west of the station. As as the local train had
turned the curve the calamity that was
to follow was apparent to both of the engineers.
The approaching trains only about quarter OF
mile apart, and the two brothers instantly re-
vefsed their engines and shut off steam. This was
hardly done when the two engines came together
with dreadful crash. The shock was so great that
both engines were thrown off the rails and Law al
most at right angles with the track. No 33, draw
ing the local tram, was completely turned around,
and its front wheels pointed IN the direction OF
Brooklyn The tenders were completely denollsneo.
SCENES THAT FOLLOWED.
The passengers had no warning OF the collision.
There were only about i've persons on the eastbound
tram, and about 200 on the one going west. The
inst they knew of the accident the sudden stop
ming of the train They were pitched forward in
their seats and many were violently thrown to the
floor The windows were broken, and pieces of fly
ing glass struck many passengers. Women tainted
and screamed, and pumber Of frightened men,
not knowing what had occurred, tried to get
out of the windows. As as the passengers were
Quoted little, and had learned the cause of the
disaster, search was made tor the engineers and
fremen and for any others who might be killed:
The brother VINO was III charge OF the east-bound
tram was found under the forward car OF the west
bound tram. He had been pitched ont of bis en-
gine, and was covered with blood IRON mead TO
foot He had been cut across the oins dis bowels
had gushed out. There no sign OF conscious
ness about him. and he died in short
time aherward His brother was found insen-
slble the track a short distance away. Az
first IL was thought that lie was dead. He had
several scalp wounds, and did not revive for long
time. Search was then made for other bodies near
trains had jumped off before the collision oc-
CURED. Joseph Sawyer was the fireman OF the
west-bound and James Hayes the fireman OF the
east-bound train. The conductors we're also found
10 be safe S. 5. Allen, the conductor
of the train from Jamaica, had been thrown to the
ground while entering the rear car. and James lie
strange the conductor of the tram which lett
Brooklyn, escaped uninjured. Some of the pas
sengers were badly injured, and their names are
gwen below.
The dead man and tho injured persons
were carried to the station at Morris
Grove. which was only short distance aS
away and physicians sent for TO Brooklyn and
jamaica After being cared for the injured per-
sons were taken to their homes. Early yesterday
the body of John ID. Wolcott was removed to the
empanelled a Jury in the afternoon. viewed
the remains ana gave permit ior DuIlal. WIN
the Jury lac then inspected the scene OF the accident
and the wreck and adjourned the inquest until
D. H. today on account of the absence Of witnesses
He gave notice to the railroad authorities that he
wanted all the employees on the trans at the inquest
which Will be held in the Town Hall.
THE TRAVEL YESTERDAY.
There was heavier travel on the Long Island
Railroad yesterday than on the previous Sunday
Many persons went to Jamaica to view the wreck
At Morris Grove large hole in the ground made
by the engines when they topplod over, was all
that could be seen. On an open car close by were
gathered few Of the iron fragments OF the two
engines. Most of the wreck had been re-
moved to Jamaica. The two engines and the tender
OF engine No. were fastened together 10y chains
and theu drawn by another locomotive engine TO
Jamaica. The tender of No. 33 was placed on an
open and taken to the same place. large hole
could De seen in front of No. 3. The sides of the
boiler were jarnmed IN, the casing was torn away,
the machinery broken into small pieces and
the engineers house completely demolished.
no: So was In nearly the same condl-
broken and all the iron work was smashed The
two tenders looked like huge pieces of old iron.
There large holes In the front Of each and the
sldes were broken. The tender Of engine No. 50 had
lost It's four forward wheels.
PEW WORDS FROM HENRY wOLCoTT.
Henry Wolcott, the surviving engineer, was at
Jamaica nearly all day yesterday. He refused to
talk about the accident. because his friends say.
at least. he would have to blame his dead brother
for 1t. IL did not see the train coming until was
close by her" he SAID sadly TO a TRIBUNE reporter,
and then did all could to avoid the collision.
! did not expect to meet traiu there, and can't
imagine how such mistake could have been
made"
Sawyer the fireman Of the west-bound train, said
hat as soon as he saw the other train approaching
ne Jumped off and thus escaped uninjured. Hayes.
'ne other fireman, said ho saw tho dead engineer |
shut OIL steam and reverse tho engine. lie then |
missed him, and thought he had jumped of. Be- |
heYng that he alone on the engine Hayes said |
ne lnmped off too.