The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-16
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
The New York Central Depot at Buffalo
Falls and Buries an Entire Passenger
Train.

The New York Central Depot at Buffalo
Falls and Buries Entire Passenger
Train.
BUFFALO Feb. S.-Shortly after Q O'Clock this
morning. the arched roof Of the old New York
Central depot, on Exchange Street, overweighted
with accumulated snow and weakness by the re-
moyal of former Offices which had formed a large
portion OF its support, fell, burytng number of
cars and human beings beneath the tangled mass
OF Iron, wood glass, snow and brick. The ST.
Louis Express on the Central Road was three
Lake Shore composed of four cars with its sleeper
Meta" stood upon the outer track. The Canada
Southern train had just hauled out and only
twenty minutes before, the day express on the
Central had borne Eastward a large load of living
freight. Switch engine, No. 1877, Frank Schaefer,
engineer. was on the middle track, ready to take
Coroner Scott to East Buffalo. Near the other end
OF the new depot was train of fiat cars On
the track, Just outside the south wall,
SsFe some old fashioned ,S passenger cars
the people known to be in the depot just previous
to the crash were Depot Master Byron Kring and
John Reedy, of Johnston Bros eating house.
who stood near together about the center of the
building. Dewitt G. Gibson, a switchman, f. NJ
Stevens; and Robert Berry, baggageman, r. c.
smith, Passenger Agent of the Lake Shore, p. J.
employees.
A half dozen passengers were in the cars wait
ing the Lake Shore train, and one or two others
believed lost were standing in the depot near the
fiat cars. Coroner Scott had just boarded the
switch engine and was on the point of bidding
inghast's Confidential Secretary. through whose
orders the engine had been placed at his dis
posal, when "A sudden hollow sound as of snow
falling in mass from the roof was heard, and
Immediately the south wall, about sixty feet
rom iron the new portion. began to totter and
tall. Depot Master kring succeeded I'm getting
beneath the brick wall, which held its position
but his cap was torn from his head by the falling
fragments Smith ran into the vestibule of the
Walters, who was just behind him, was caught by
me timber and held prisoner until other por
lions OF the falling roof crushed out both life and
human shape. The Lake Shore train was buried
from sight by the roofing material, and the
switch engine was broken and partly dismantled
An unsightly gap was torn out of the wall of the
beautiful new waiting room, a fatal mass which
had crushed the life out of Captain Byrnes The
old cars on the track were torn to pieces The
work OF overhauling the ruins was Immediately
begun by the Fire Department and employees of
railroad. The first two bodies recovered
were those of Captain Byrnes and
found the mangled body OF VIM. Wells. clerk for
Car Inspector Howe. of the Lake Shore Railroad
Two other bodies were found later. John III.
room. and Immediately on hearing the crash
smashed the window and jumped into the street
He was followed by VIM. T. Odell, Agent of the
Wagner Sleeping Car Company. J. Corey who
has charge OF the news stand, escaped through a
window; in smashing the glass of which he cut
his hand severely.
The work of clearing away the debris was COM
pleted this afternoon, and the number Of killed
are the Confidential Clerk of Superintendent
Iillinghast, Henry Waters, Captain John W.
Bryne, OF this city. who was waiting to take the
train for Erie: William ID. Wells, Car Inspectors
Clerk. and Levi Hunting Clerk in the Office of
the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Rail-
road. Captain Byne is the only one Of the vic
tins married. The cause OF the disaster is properly
attributable 10 the weakening of the north wall
OF the depot by cutting openings and passage
ways 10 connect with the new structure. which
attaches to the old, and by the removal of the
timber of the different walls which formed the
different offices inside of the old structure and
n Nrh had
lated, and was made additionally heavy by the
recent thaws. The scene presented by the fallen
bricks, iron girders and heavy timbes
lay piled In an indescribable mass while the rag
ged walls tattered and fell in sections The noise
resembled that Of an earthquake and was heard a
height OF walls, % feet; width, 100 feet and the
height OF arch, 76 feet save fifty feet of wall and
IN iSoS and 1856. At no hour
OF the day or night could the
accident have happened without more
comparatively deserted. The only train made up
and in waiting was the Lake Shore to Erie which
was waiting the coming Of the New York Central
hind time. The Falls train went out about five
minutes before the crash, and the Eastern train
had been gone about an hour. The first mail
train due about the time OF the accident. was be-
hind as was the heavy. St. Louis and Pacific Ex-
press, No. II, which was three hours
m S5e number n6m1s Of , narrow escapes were
masters Clerk, said: IL was stepping into the
office to make out my report when the crash
occurred. Bricks, mortar and other debris fell
around me, and l may be slightly bruised,
put my injuries are not of much
consequence. In the midst of the trouble l
looked out of the door aud saw water rushing
from the engine toward the Office. When / had
almost got 10 it | was struck by falling timbers.
t Sl on my face and was quickly covered up"
sleeping Car Conductor Grimes, Land Agent of
the central, and A. Smith, Passenger Agent OF the
Lake Shore, and Britman were also seen running
oy Williams, and they all escaped In the cars of
me waiting tram were few passengers; perehaps
niteen or twenty-five persons in all were
seated Not one Of these was
injured. OfcourSe all were much frightened, and
Delng inside the could not tell at first Just
what had occurred. They promptly realized. how
ever shat they were virtually buried but the roof
ana tide wall in falling had made sort of arch
way over the cars, protecting them from
harm The passengers, recovering from the first
shock and surprise had no difficulty in getting
out in safety. The telegraph wires have been
repaired and all distractions removed.
The Coroner will make an early investigation.