The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-01-20
A TERRIBLE CALAMITY.

One of the most frightful railroad ac-
cidents ever chronicled, occurred on the
Hudson River railroad, near Spuyten-
duyvil, last Friday night. The special
express train from Albany after rounding
sharp curve was brought to stop, as
is alleged by some one pulling the check
rope, and before it could get under way
again the Tarrytown local train crashed
into the rear cars completely demolishing
them. The stoves were overturned and
set the cars on fire The locomotive of
the Tarrytown train was so imbedded il
the last car of the Albany train (he
palace-car Idlewild) that when the en-
gineer tried to back out she drew the car
and the one in front (the Empire) with
her. Every effort that was possible
under the circumstances to save the
passengers in the two burning cars was
made, but the confusion and fright, com.
bined with the lack of necessary APP
pliances, rendered these efforts to a
great extent unavailing. AT the sug-
gestion of the conductor of the Tarry-
town train, whose GOODNESS is greatly
praised by the survivors, the passengers
formed themselves into bands, some of
whom rolled snow down the sidehill to
the right of the track into balls. These
were thrown into the burning cars and
aided materially in reducing the flames.
Others sought and found pals and
buckets and used them etfectually. Not
a person in the last car escaped The
three drawing room cars were filled with
Senators and Representatives on then
way home from Albany. Eight bodies
were recovered from the wreck, all OF
them horribly burned.
The following is list of the dead:
Brown, Mrs. Mary l., 30 years old, o,
455 West Fifty third street, New York
Kelley, Oliver b., 36 years old, o
Spring City, Pa.
Marcehal, the Rev. Francis, So year.
old, of the Jesuit order.
Ransem, Darwin l.. 80 years old,
the Hoffman house New York.
Valentine, Park, 2l years old, of Ben
nington, Vt.
Valentine, Nj. Louise, 10 years old
wife of Park Valentine.
Wagner, Senator Webster, GA year
old, of ii East Forty fourth street, New
York.
An unidentified body of man in MeI
rit's undertaking rooms, believed to b
that of Mr.. Richards of Troy.
The only person who is seriously in
| jured is Miss Mary Daniels of Fiftl
avenue and Forty fourth street. lie
| physician expresses fear that she ma
not recover
Many others sustained injuries NOR
or loss severe. Senator Wagner was tn
owner of the drawing room and palac
cars which run over the roads controlle
by Vanderbilt Mr.. Valentine and hi
wife had been married only the day be
fore the accident and were on thei
wedding journey, Both were caught b
broken timbers of the car and burne,
to death, in spite of the most energeti
efforts to release them. There seems t
be little doubt that the horrible sacriiic
of human life was due TO the carelessnes
of a brakeman, George Meius, who's
duty il was to run back and stop the ap
preaching train. Instead of doing this
he remained only short distance in tn
rear of the standing train, and used boil
red and white lanterns in signalling tn,
TaTytown train to stop This man ha
been arrested and held in $4,000 bond
TO answer the charge of manslaughter
If the facts are as stated, he richly de
serves the seyerest punishment.