The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-02-12
WHAT A PASSENGER SAW.
N,ru Wa.

WHAT A PASSENGER SAW.
NEW York, January "A.
Tue passengers on the train wrecked at Ti0gs
Station reached New York tonight, Among
them was Henry C.vilas, of Cleveland, G eneral
Manager OF the South Shore Line, one Of the
passengers In the forward sleeping car. He
said to Tribune reporter: "The crash oc.
CURED at about II is o'clock. should think
some time after had gone to bed It was
very severe, and woke with start Hastily
putting ON my coat, l rushed out and found
myself one OF the first on the ground. At once
AOegan to look out torthe unfortunate people
lnthe forward cars. Tue scene that presented
Itself was terrible. The postal car, which was
directly behind the engine, had been
thrown oil into field at right
angles to the track, ut distance
OF nearly one hundred feet, aud
IT was smashed all to pieces. Tho flames i'm.
mediately began to rise from it, doubtless
caused by the fire In the stoves aud the ex,
plosion of the kerosene lamps with which the
car was lighted, and in less than five minutes
the whole car was In blaze, which lighted up
the bare fields around with CHASTITY glare. 1t
lay in heap under large elm tree, which
soon took fire and was cnvcoped in flames.
Nothing could be seen at first of the mail
clerks who had occupied the car. and no sound
was heard from them. But when the roof of
the car cxved In three of the bodies could be
distinctly secn huddlcd up in one corner Of
tho car, where it Is supposed they were thrown
and killed by the first shock. The other body
was found In the opposite end OF the car, and
oil were 80 charrcd and blackcned that idcnti.
iicatiOn was almost impossible.
The cars which followed the postal car
were not thrown from the roadway, but were
lying across tho track in tho utmost confu.
sion. The express and baggage cars and the
smoking Car were of the track, and the first
caught fire immediat oily. q The door to it was
completely blocked by the express matter in
the car, and Brewer, the agent, was impris.
oned amid the flames. His cries attracted
attention and great efforts were made to ex-
tricate him from his terrible position, but In
vain. He had managed to get his head out of
small window In the end of the car, where
he begged in piteous tones for those outside
TO save him. The door was forced open few
inches, which let In tho air, and tho flames
bursting out of the window, he fell back with
agroan and was not seen again alive. The
passengers had by this time collected from all
parts Of the train, and were supplied with SHOW.
els from the village. They tried to extin.
guish the flames by throwing snow upon
tho burning cars They were soon
assisted by the Fire Department Of Owego.
The three forward cars were burning at tho
same time, and soon afterward the smoking.
oar began to blaze. One Of these had been oc-
cupied BY the Alabama Negro Minstrel
Troupe, the members Of which had been able
to escape without any further injuries than
some severe scratches and bruises. This car
was lying on lis side, and It was some time be.
fore oil got out with the assistance of those
outside. The baggage-master, Perry, was
found to have disiocated his arm, and
I assisted two other men in pulling
his arm, into Joint while he lay on
the snow. After this he worked like
. Trojan. and with tho help Of some Of the
passengers he was able to save every piece of
Baggage. The GOODNESS and good. discipline
displayed by tho employees on the train was re.
markable. 1t va by their efforts that seri.
Gus panic was prevented. As it Was. all the
passengers were at Arst much frightened,
many rushed from the cars, half dressed, but
when they saw the danger was over they be.
came quiet, and were very willingt to lend their
assistance In caring for those who were in.
jured and In putting out the nre." g..