The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-01-19
A Terrible Railroad Collision.

A frightful accident by which about ten lives
we're lost, including Now York state Senator
Webster Wagner, occurred on the Harlem River
railroad, near Spuyten Duyvil, in the upper
part of New York city The heavy Atlanuc ex-
press train on the New York Central and Hud-
son River railroad, due in New York at 7
O'Clock p. NJ, halted to repair damage TO
brake Just after having rounded the curve
short distance from Spuyien Duyvil There
we're thirteen cars in the train, the last Six OF
which were drawng-room cars. In front were
two passenger coaches, two mail cars and an
express car. Among the passengers In the
drawing room cars were many members OF the
New York Legislature, including Senator Web
ster Wagner, and other well-known politicians.
While the express train was standing on the
track a local train from Tarrytown, running at
apparently full speed crashed into the rear OF
the standing train The two rear drawing.
room cars were telescoPed. They then caught
fire and were burned. Among those who per-
ished besides Senator Wagner, were Park VAL
entine, of Bennington, VT, aged twenty-one
years, and Mrs. Valentine, aged nineteen,
Young couple who had BEEN married the pre-
vious evening and were on their wedding trip,
accompanied by the grooms father, who es-
caped unhurt The following account OF the
disaster is taken from the New York papers:
The express train, consisting of several Or
dinary passenger coaches, three draWlnS-room
coaches and baggage cars, passed Spuyten
Duyyil station about p. NJ, and rounded the
curve at that point on its way TO the Grand
Central depot Soon after getting around the
curve and through the cut there was q sudden
stoppage OF tho train. 1t was learned that the
air brakes had given way, and the engineer
had stopped to repair the break. Some min
utcs passed, and while passengers were taking
over the delay, the train was struck by pas
sengsr train from TaTytowp, which was fol.
lowing the express. The locomotive engine OF
tile Tarrytown train instantly telescoped the
lear coach of the Albany train. This was the
the Id.ewild, Wagner drawing-room coach.
The rear end of the coach was broken in and
the coach was thrown upon the next one, the
Empire. The roof of the second coach was
broken in, and both coaches rolled OH the track
| together.
| The coaches took fire Immediately. The
| shock Of the collision had been terrific. In all
| the forward cars of the Albany train the pas
| sengers were thrown from their seats, and many
| of lhem were injured In the cars of the Tar
| rytown train the shock was also great enough
| 10 throw passengers out of their seats. One
woman with baby in her arms was hurled
| against hot stove in the end of the second car
from the engine, and she and her infant were
both burned severely. Many other persons on
| the same train were badly bruised.
| From both the trains the passengers rushed
| to look upon the wreck. A terrible scene con-
| fronted them. The two drawing-room cars,
The IdleHild and the Empire, lay together
| broken and in flames. From the Empire few
| persons made their way with difficulty, bruised
| and eedlng. Many or tne passengers set 10
| work at once 10 rescue other persons from the
burning cars but at first their efforts were una
| vailiug. Water was carried from the Harlem
river and from the locomotives and dashed upon
the flames, but the amount was TOO small TO 10
any good. The fire burned up brighter and
stronger, and il was soon seen that the
| cars must be destroyed. few
persons were rescued from the burning wreck,
| and some of the rescuers we're burned about
the hands and faces, Cries and groans from
the injured were heard on every side. The
wreck had occurred at distance from any sta
ton whence any relief could be obtained. A
few farmers living in the neighborhood visited
the scene OF the collision and offered their
homes as places OF shelter for the wounded.
The forward part OF the Albany train at length
started for the city, leaving behind the TWO
burning cars. Most of the passengers who had
escaped death or serious injury came TO the
city on the tIa!p. The engine ofthe Tarrytown
tain was disabled, but the train was drawn
back to the Spuyten Duyyil depot and sent u
the city at a later hour over the up track.
Senator John W. Browning was found at his
house in New York. He bore evidences of the
accident. His head was cut and otherwise
badly injured, and his left knee was severely
cut. He was badly shaken up, and could with
difficulty collect his thoughts sufficiently &c
give detailed account of his experiences. H'
said:
"l was in the next 10 the last car Of the
train. In that car were Police Commissioner
Nichols. Edward Kearney, Senator Grady, AS
semblylnan sheehy L. B. Spnola and Others
Of the Tammany party. A short time befor'
the accident occurred Senator Webster Wagner
came through our car and said, laughingly
'Ah, here are all the Anti-Monopolists.
He added: i am opposed I.
monopolies myself for sometimes they smasl
my cars The party laughed at this sally, am
Senator Wagner passed forward into tn
coaches. The train slowed up, and was thel
apparently about to start again when the cras
came. felt the concussion, and saw the en-
of the car raise up, followed by shower G
! roken glass and splinters. was thrown vic
lently down, and have no very clear idea G
how got out. Every one in the car, togethe
with everything movable, was thrown into
confused heap. 1t was evident from the groan
that several Of the party were hurt. Assem-
blyman Sheehy was badly hurt. Police Con
missioner Nichols was cut in the knees"
7 Senator Wagner was born at Palatine Bridg
N. Y, October 2, 1917, and was of Germs
I parentage. He received common-scho
: education, and was in ea.ly youth farmt
| and later wagon maker. He was appoints
8 as station agent of what was known there
/ the Utica and Sche enectady Railroad compan
q and was at the time of his death the preside
: and principal owner of the Wagner Sleepi
|. and Drawing Room Car company, in one
O whose coaches he was killed. He was elect
o Republican membsr of the assembly In 49,
|. and was elected to the Senate in 1871. He "
j elected to the present New York Senate vii
a | nuf onr osition