New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-24
BURNED m RAILWAY WRECK

FIVE LIVES LOST on THE ERIE ROAD
FATAL ACCIDENT At roGA STATION IN IToGA
COUNTY, IN THIS srarE-roUR POSTAL AGENTS
AND AN EXPRESS MESSENGER BOsg THEIR iv.s
FRIGHT AMONG THE PAssRSGERs-rfFTEEN
PERSONS wOUNDED-CAusE OF THg CALAMITY.
Five men, four in the United States Postal
Service, and one in the employ of the United
States Express Company, were burned to death
early yesterday morning in q wreck on the New
York. Lake Erie and Western Railway. at Tioga
Station, near Oweeo. N. Y. The disaster was
caused by the breaking of the axle of driv-
ing-whee on the locomotive engine, while the
train was going at the rate of about thirty
five miles an hour. Several of the forward
cars were thrown from the track and broken
up; and they Immediately took fire. The
train was the Atlantic Express from the West
and carried many passengers. Besides the
loss Of life fifteen persons were slightly in'
jured.
THE SCENE AT TIOGA STATION.
A LONG TRAIN ON THE ERIE ROAD THROWN FROM
THE TRACK BY A BROKEN AxLE-PARr OF THB
WRECK BURNFD-FIvE LIVES LOST.
ELMIRA, N. Y, Jan. 23-Erie train No. IL left
EImra last night at IL o'clock for New-YOrk. hav.
ing started from Buffalo The train consisted of one
postal car. one express car two baggage cars and
nine passenger coaches most of the latter Pullman
sleepers When five miles west Of Owego, Tioga
County, and twenty-five miles east of Elmira, near
village in the vicinity OF Tioga Centre, of the
driving g-wheel axles of the locomotive engine
broke close up to the wheel. and the entire train
was thrown off the track. The train running
at the rate of about thirty-Rve miles an hour The
accident occurred level where there was no
embaukment. The engine kept It's upright position,
the engineer, Thomas Dewitt Of Hornellsvilles ap-
plying the air brakes as as he felt the shock.
The cars were stopped very quickly, and the for
ward ones turned over, some going on on6 side Of
the track and some the other. The engineer and
fireman escaped unhurt.
The postal car contained four clerks. It almost
instantly took fire and burned with great rapidity;
the oil lamps used probably exploded, and their in
fammable contents came in contact with the fire IN
the stove. Every man in this car, four In ALL were
burned to q crisp The remains Of one map who
had weighed over 200 pounds were gathered up
aud deposited in small box. Henry c. Brewer. OF
Elmira, the messenger was in the express car Et.
forts were at once made to relieve him by breaking
a hole in a side door, he managed to get his head
through this hole, but his legs fastened inside
by the piled up mass of express matter. The train
men made great efforts to pull him ont, but the
flames drove them away. 1t was noticed that his
hair and whiskers had been burned oil. He put his
hand up to his eyes and, receding. disappeared in
the flames.
Five men in all were burned to death. Mono Of
the passengers was injured, aud all were forwarded
to their destination by Train No. 4. A basgageman
was bruised somewhat In the shoulders. Harvey
Lamb was conductor of the train.
The postal-car victims must have pershed very
quickly as not sound came from the wreck to de-
note their presence. The names of the dead are
Joseph Reidinger. mail agent, and Henry Z.
Brewer express agent, of Elmira; mail-agents Sey.
bolt, of Mount Hope. and Ingraham, of Bnghamton,
and mall weigher Fox, of New-York. The remains
were taken to Owego, where an inquest was held
this forenoon. The bodies have all been identified.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
BINGHAMToN, N. Y, Jan. 23.-The Atlantic
press train mo. 12 ast-bound on the New-York,
Lake Erie and Western Railroad was thrown from
the track at 12f5 o'clock this morning. just west of
Toga Station. on the Susquchauna Division, PAL
miles from New-York by the breaking of a driving
the pOstal-car and two baggage-cars were burned,
with their contents excepting portion Ut the bag
gage.
ham and Fox, and Messenger Brewer. of tho United
States Express Company were burned IN the cars,
and their remains are nearly unrecOgIli5able Two
by fire, bnt as they had not upset the passengers
were all enabled to escape uninjured with the ex-
cepton of some slight scratches.
No injury happened to the other day coaches or
sleeping coaches OF their occupants.
After several hours delay new train was mado
up and will arrive in New York this evening
New-York and delivered to their friends Baggage
master Peter Perry escaped from his car with his
left arm dislocated.
A