Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-01-20
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Two Trains ON the Harltm nm River
Road near New York Tel scope and
Burn with Great Loss OF Life.

HUhhlbLE ACNlDENT.
Two Trains ON the Harlt nm River
Road near New Iork Tel, scope and
Burn with Great Loss OF Life
NEw YORK, Jan. 1S.-The Chicago
express train leaving Albany ut $50
this afternoon, with many members of
the legislature on board, was run into
b. the Trrytown special train about
3 quarter of mile east of Spuyten
Duyvil junction with the Harlem main
ime. The two rear cars, Wagner's
drawing room cars, of the Chicago ex-
press, were telescoped and set on fire.
II Is reported seven bodies were taken
nom the wreck. Senator Wagner, it is
feared. Is burned, as he was last seen
entering the drawing room car, Idle
Wild, few minutes before the collision.
The facts of the accident are these:
I The express from Chicago TO New York
} reached Albany 2S minutes late. 0w-
my 70 the great crowd of legislators and
others who desired to leave the capital
hiteen additional cars were put On.
eight of them being palace coaches.
Two extra engines were attached and
the tram got under way. 1t was filled
1
both IN the republican and democratic
parties. The Tammany hall delegation
WAS about the last to arrive at the de-
pot, and As all other cars were filled
they took the rear car (Empire).
Inc tram got under way, and when,
at East Albany, the signal to stop was
received and the palace car Idlewild
from Troy was hitched on at the lear
OF the train. There were some ten
passengers on board this car. The run
was made safely until Spuyten Duyvil
junction was reached NJ : O'Clock,
when a heated axle made necessary
stoppage 10 gain time to coal. Con-
ductor Hanford ordered Brakeman
MelinS To signal the Tarrytowu special,
which left Tarrytown at 6:S5 Z. NJ. and
! Spuyter Duyvil station at 7:07. The
latter train was in charge of Conductor
Evans. MelnS apparently did not
signal properly, and the Tarrytown
special, which ran ut the rate oftwenty-
five miles an hour, came around
the curve out Of Collins Cut, and
struck the rear palace car Idlewild.
IN which were twelve passengers.
Tie engine ran unGer the platform into
the car and drove the ldlewild into the
| Empire with such terrific force as Ia
render ii necessary To cut it out with u
saw and axe. The stove and lamps in
the parlor cars were upset and ignlted
the woodwork and upholstering. The
passengers were jammed between the
seats and sides of the car and held
while the flames rose around and en-
veloped them. Of twelve passengers
III the ldlewild nine are dead One
has been taken in the ambulance to
the Nlnty-ninth Street Hospital, pro-
badly fatally injured. Another, Il lady
passenger, Miss Mary Daniels, % years.
of Sherwood House. New York, who
was returning from visit To Vermont,
Is badly scalded about the arms and
breast, and is lying ut the hotel near
the scene of the accident Oliver Il.
kealy, stone manufacturer of Spring
City, Pa, had his right arm burned To
a crisp, and was also burned about the
body. He was taken out of the car by
Detective Dokin and died ut midnight
at n hotel
Among the passengers were young
couple named Valentine. from Ben
nington, VT, who were married Thurs
day evening and were on wedding
tour. They were - years of age each.
and were accompanied 10y the grooms
father, A. Il. Valentine, who escaped
uninjured. Both of the young couple
might have been saved but for the
desperate clinging Of the young bride
to her husband.
No other bodies were identified up
to l 80 A. NJ 1t is stated that Senator
Wagner was seen on the car at Pough-
keepsie and not since. Senator Wagner's
son was at the wreck, looking for his
father. J. ID. Ransome, of the Hofl-
man House, is also missing. The car
burned brightly until the last vestige of
wood was destroyed.
A later dispatch gives the list of the
dead as follows:
Senator Wagner.
Park Valentine, agent, 81 Bennington
street.
Mrs. Valentine, North Adams. VI.
Oliver b. keely, Spring City, Pa.
ID. j.. Ransan, guest of the Hoffman
House.
Rev. II. Morichael, residence not
given.
Miss Brown, 3S4 Third street, New
York.
An unknown man.
All the injured with the exception of
Miss Mary Daniels, a guest of the Sher-
wood House, were able TO 20 home, and
no list was kept by the police. Miss
Daniels was severely burned; but will
probably recover.
Police Commissioner Nichols who
was on the train says: Senator Wagner
passed through the car in which | was
seated, greeting friends pleasantly us he
platform Of the following car and
second later. following Immediately the
bang of the door Senator wagner closed
behind him, came
A TERRIBLE SHOCK AND DEAFENING CRIES,
crushing timbers and swapping iron.
How escaped don't know, but when
! got out of the wreck | turned To look
for Senator Wagner. The car Mt the
spot where | saw him last was burning
fiercely, and out of the fire came the
despairing cry: For Gods sake help
mel" With axes and bars Commits
sioner Nichols and his companions
attacked the car to free the imprisoned
man, but were driven back by the fire,
and the voice was stilled.
Senator Wagner's remaii were sent
down to the city first, in one Of
THE DEAD SENATOR'S OWN PALACE CARS.
Two hours later seven bodies were
brought down ia baggage car, accom-
panied by Captain Yale and Coroner
Knox. Six of the b.dies were packed
in ice boxes, and the charred remains
of the seventh was borne on a stretcher
covered by fur-lined cloak of Mrs.
Valentine, the young bride whose we'd
ding tour ended in such n horrible
death.
New YORK, Jan. IA. Geo. Meltus,
brakeman on the Chicago express
train, charged with responsibility for
Friday evenings disaster, was arrested
at the Grand Central depot this evening.
and locked up on the charge IS - :
al carelessness. He
ing statement: w,
/ got my lamps,
walked to the back =
In about two minutes
around tll5 curve, abou,
cars from where stood.
4 I 4. <..nlr