Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-02-05
WHAT A PASSENGER SAW.

NEW YORK, January %.
The passengers on the train wrecked ut Tioga
Station reached New York tonight. Among
them was Henry C.Vias, of Cleveland, General
Manager of tho South Shore Line, one of the
passengers in the forward sleeping car. He
said to Il Tribune reporter: 1.-The crash oc-
Cured ut about II :55 o'clock. should think
some time after 1 had gone TO bed. IL was
very severe, and woke with a start. Hastily
putting on my coat, rushed out and found
myself one OF the first on the ground AT once
/ began to look out tor tho unfOrlu u late people
in the forward cars. The sceno that presented
itself was terrible. the postal car, which was
directly behind the engine, had been
thrown OF into a field at right
angles to the track, at distance
of nearly one hundred feet, and
It was smashed all to pieces. The flames i'm.
medlately began to rise from it, doubtless
caused by the fire in tho stoves and the ex-
plosion of the kerosene lamps with which the
car was lighted, and in less than five minutes
the whole car was in n blaze, which lighted up
the baro fields around with ghastly glare. II
lay in II heap under n large elm tree, which
soon took fire and was cnveloped in flames.
Nothing could be seen at first of tho mail
clerks who had occupied the car. and no sound
was hoard from thom. But when the roof OF
the car cavcd in threo of the bodies could be
distinctly seen huddlol up In one corner of
the 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 so charred and blnckened that idcnti-
ilCaton was almost impossible.
"The cars which followed the postal car
ho Juo htt txuara
lying across the track in the utmost confu.
sion. Tho express and baggage cars and the
smoking car were OF the track, ana the first
caught fire immediai ely. 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
a small window in the end of the car where
he begged in pteous tones for those outside
to save him. The door was forced open few
inches, which let In the air, and the flames
bursting out of the window, he fell back with
groan and was not seen again alive. The
passengers had by this time collected from all
parts of the train, and were supplied with shov-
els from the village. They tried to extin.
|
the burning cars. They were soon
assisted by the Fire Department Of owego.
The three forward cars were burning at the
same time, and soon afterward the smoking
car 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 It's side and it was some time be-
fore all got out with the assistance of those
outside. The baggage master, Perry, was
found to have dislocated his arm, and
/ assisted two other men in pulling
his arm into joint while he lay or
the snow. After this he worked like
Trojan, and with the help Of some Of tht
passengers he was able to save every piece o.
baggage. The GOODNESS and good discipline
displayed by the employees on the train was re
markable. 1t was by their efforts that seri
Gus panic was prevented. As it was, all the
passengers were at first much frightened
many rushed from the cars, half dressed, bu
when they saw the danger was over they be
came quiet, and were very willing to lend theil
assistance in caring for those. who were in
tured and in putting out the fire."