Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-01-21
FATAL RAILROAD DISASTER.
Collision and Loss IF Life on the
Hudson River Railroad.

A frightful accident occurred on the
Hudson River r abroad. near Spuyten
Duyvil, New York, on Friday evening
about seven o'clock. The afternoon cx-
press train which left Albany at 2:4O
came to a stop on account Of hot ,ur-
nal CT some arrangement of the running
gear, and was run into by the local
train from Tarrytown to New York city,
which was close behind it. Tho two
rear cars Of the Albany train were
wrecked and caught fire. They burned
so rapidly that several OF the passengers
were unable to escape. The train was
filed with members of the Legislature
and other prominent persons. Senator
taken from the burned cars and many
of the passengers were injured. There
were not more than twelve passengers
in the last car who were caught in the
wreck. Many Of the occupants of the
car next to the last were hurt.
About the middle of the rear car sat
Park Valentine, - years of age, son of
Mr.. Valentine who stood at the rear of
the car and escaped. Young Valentine
was on his welding trip, having been
married to Miss Louise Gaylord of
North Adams, Mass, ON Thursday
night Both bride and groom perished
in the flames. They were on their way
to Florida on a wedding trip. Their re-
mains were found not much disfgured
and the sad news of their death was
sent to their home.
A witness of the disaster says In q
breath fire had added its horrors to the
other dreadful accompaniments Of the
disaster. The overturned stoves and
the dropping ashes from the railroad
furnace had done their work. The wood
and upholstery had burst into flames
aud blaze was now leaping up above
the wreck and sweeping along as il to
swallow it, Dreadful cries rang upon
the mir. The hoarse calls of men we're
mingled with the horritied shrieks of
women, and there was o depth of agony
about tie tones that betokened too well
how keenly those who uttered them felt
the sense of the fate that was over
taking them. All along the train the
lights had been put out by the shock of
the collision, and now the long line of
forward cars lay dark aud sullen with
the engine snorGng in front, while they
disgorged from platform and window n
throng of terrified and bewildered
beings. The glare of the fire brought
all swarming to the rear. Train
hands hallooed and went rushing wildly
about in quest for buckets. The more
cool headed passengers lent a hand
where it could be of most service. As
semblyman Robb crawled through n
window and came out bruised and
bleeding. Senator Browning, shut up
in a compartment of the Empire,
smashed the window frame and took
ont with him couple of ladies impris-
oned there.
Bold acts and miraculous escapes
everywhere marked a few moments
which will never be forgotten bv the
actors in that dreadful scene. Mean
time the residents of the neighborhood,
aroused by the internal glare in the
railroad cut and the wild hubbub that
arose from it, came thronging down in
dozens ready to lend what assistance
they could. But their appearance was
of no avail whatever, although they
showed an earnest of the best inten-
tions. The train was hopelessly devoid
of any appliance that could quench the
flames. Buckets were unknown yes
sells of any kind were unheard of. Con-
ductor and brakemen hustled about and
made furtive sallies in quest of axes
which did not exist and iron utensils
which could not be found. The pas
sengers stood about in groups, utterly
unnerved, or wandering about seeking
in all sorts of improbable places some
method of relief. Many big, stalwart
men utterly lost control of themselves
and went storming about like mad men,
and some of the cool headed fellows
who sit in legislative halls and keep
perfect rein on their tongues aud tenn
rers were as impotent as children to act
in the emergency.