The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-09
TERRIFIC RAILROAD COLLISION.
DISASTROUS Results of One Freight Train
Running Into Another.

INV BRUNSWICK, y. j.. Feb. AT O'Clock
this morning ali extra freight train from Philade-
phia, owing to a broken truck, stopped upon the
bridge over the RaritSn River for repairs While
waiting a through Southern freight which left
Philadelphia at 1890 O'Clock last night, came
dashing along through the city, aud not until
within 500 feet OF the extra did the engineer see H.
The brakes were applied to no purpose. The engine
of The freight struck the csbOose of the extra tele.
scoped il, struck an oil tank, of which there were
four in the train, and an explosion folio we'd
The burning oil and wrecked cars were thrown
over and down from the high bridge into the
streets below. The burning oil ran through the
cutters down the streets into Raritan Canal. This
being covered with ice. the oil ran over and down
the canal to the wall paper manufacturing estab-
lishment OF Janeway & Co. This was soon totally
DESTROYED, together with seven dwellings oppo-
site. In the immediate vicinity OF the collision,
aud just under the long bridge, was a building
used as box factory by the Consolidated Fruit
Jar Company. This was destroyed. and the flames
then spread TO the main factory or the company,
which was also totally destroyed BY 6 O'Clock
this morning the flames were under control. The
woodwork OF the bridge burned. The dam
age to the structure is not yet estimated.
Engineer French and Fireman Harrison, OF the
regular freight, jumped from the engine when
they saw the inevitable collision and escaped
with but few bruises. A brakeman on the front
VI tue tThlU, TIdUk Vi heusluRLOu. la,
failed to jump. and carried down in the
wIeckage into the street below, and was roasted
TO death. Patrick Dougherty. young mechanic
OF this city, foolishly entered the burning build
ing of Janeway & Co.. in search of tools. and has
not been seen since. 1t is feared he, 100, became
victim OF the most terrible fire this city ever
had. But for the iavoring wind. the whole man
ufacturing part of the city would have been
destroyed. At no point on the whole road
could the accident have occurred at so
disastrous place, The burning oil and cars were
literally poured over and flung upon the roofs of
the manufacturing establishments Only a bat
tered locomotive and an unexplOded Oil tanK
stand upon the track.
1t is now thought that two brakemen on the oil
train were also burned to death.
The loss is estimated at between $780, 600 and ST..
CO0,i0Q. Fire engines were sent 10 the aid OF the
burning city from Elizabeth and Jersey City,
Only one span OF the bridge is damaged. The
bridge was the finest on the Pennsylvania Road
All travel on that road is greatly delayed as long
detouTs have TO be made.
p, m.-The loss on Janeway d Co.'S buildings.
stock and plant is S175000; Insurance col COO The
Consolidated Fruit Jar Companys loss is $500. 000
fully insured. The loss by railroad can not as
certaincd for lack of willingness on the part OF
officials 10 i'm part news. The loss on dwelling
houses IS $1,000. The insurance is distributed
among a large number of companies. The bridge
is not weakened and trains are now running on
time.
One OF the burned buildings was a stable con-
tanning a number OF horses, all OF which were
burned to death.
The accident was caused by the carelessness of
the telegraph operator in not giving the proper
signals on the east side OF Raritan.